Well, I’m down here in the bowels of the Sheraton where the Federation has its convention operations–very “attractive” temporary offices made up of steeel poles draped with beige curtains…some one get a stylist in here.

Anyway, today the big public event is a diversity summit. It will be interesting to see whether the issue of the constitutional amendment I reported on yesterday comes up. Though I don’t have the exact language, a change was made to the amendment yesterday in the Constitution committee. First thing this morning it was described to me as “cosmetic”–removing the langauge of “industrial sectors and crafts” and replacing it with “sectoral breadth” or words like that.

A little clean up with two things that came in after I put my fingers out for a break: You get the official text of the amendments and resolutions passed by the Executive Council yesterday.

And below is a press release from the Federation on the work of the Council from yesterday:

Top AFL-CIO Leadership Makes Historic Changes
Executive Council Backs Sweeney Reform Plan

(Chicago; July 22) – –

Authorizing some of the most sweeping changes in the history of the AFL-CIO since its founding in 1955, the AFL-CIO’s top leadership body – – the Executive Council – – passed a number of resolutions and statements today supporting AFL-CIO President John Sweeney’s proposed program. The program changes will now be voted on by the more than 900 delegates at the AFL-CIO Convention next week.

The changes include:

· Creating Industry Coordinating Committees: Industry Coordinating Committees would be formed at the request of affiliated unions and would bring together unions who represent workers in an industry, employer, occupation, or region. The committees would be responsible for establishing contract standards and a strategic organizing plan for that industry. They would also set up joint political and legislative programs designed to increase bargaining power and membership growth. All affiliated unions with membership in the industry would participate and be bound by the standards and organizing plans.

· Changing the core rules which the AFL-CIO uses to settle disputes about raiding and organizing jurisdiction. Under Article XX of the Constitution, one union is not allowed to try to organize workers who belong to another union, or “raid.” Under the new rules, if a union undercuts industry contract standards, another union could have the right to try to organize those workers. Under the old Article XXI of the Constitution, unions are not allowed to try to organize a group of workers when another union has already tried to help those workers form a union. Under the new rules, another union may be allowed to organize a group of workers – – even if a campaign has been underway – – if its makes more strategic sense for that union to organize the workers.

· Establishing an Executive Committee: In a dramatic move to share power among the officers of the AFL-CIO and the leaders of largest unions, the Executive Council set up a smaller constitutional leadership body – – a 20-member Executive Committee. It would include the presidents of the 15 largest unions, plus four members who would bring diversity to the committee among women and people of color, as well as by union sector. The AFL-CIO President would also have a seat. The old Executive Committee was only advisory and had no decision-making power;

· Encourage mergers: A blue ribbon commission would be set up to make recommendations on unions mergers and how the AFL-CIO would support those mergers. They must make their report by February of 2006;

· Change the rules governing state feds and CLCs: Require all central labor councils in a state and the state federation to do joint budgeting and planning every two years, and to establish disciplinary procedures if they don’t comply;

· Legal action to enforce Article XX and Article XXI: If a union is found by the AFL-CIO to have violated Article XX or Article XXI, yet they continue with their raid or attempt to organize workers who have been forming a union with another affiliate, the union that has been wronged may seek permission from the AFL-CIO to seek court enforcement.