Here’s a run-down of the press conference held just a little while ago. The scene was the Al Dente restaurant just off the main casino area. Double long tables covered with linen table clothes sat in the center of the room. Sitting at the head of the table were UFCW president Joe Hansen (UFCW) and Teamsters president Jim Hoffa. They were flanked on their right by John Wilhelm, President/Hospitality Industry, UNITE-HERE and Bruce Raynor, general president of UNITE-HERE. To their left sat, Laborers President Terry O’Sullivan, SEIU Secretary-Treasurer Anna Burger and SEIU President Andy Stern.

They had just come from a Executive Committee meeting where two proposals had been debated: the Teamsters proposal, which suggested a number of changes including the controversial idea of returning 50 percent rebate of dues paid to the AFL-CIO back to the affiliated unions to invest in organizing efforts; and the proposal advanced by AFL-CIO president John Sweeney to increase the amount of money spent on politics by $47 million. The Teamsters proposal garnered 40 percent of the vote (unions vote based on their size) and, thus, failed. The same 40 percent vote was cast against Sweeney’s proposal. Now, both proposals go before the full Executive Council this afternoon (the Executive Committee is a subset of the full council and includes the major unions).

Hoffa read a statement of principles which I’ve posted. I’ve also posted a rough transcript of the press conference. By the way, Sweeny was supposed to hold a press conference at 1:15 but, when he didn’t show up, the entire press corps moved quickly to the Al Dente (a side note: there have been far more press people at this AFL-CIO meeting than any previous ones, well, probably because this time there was some actual debate to cover, rather than pre-packaged press releases).

Here are a few observations:

I’m told the UAW voted for the Teamsters rebate proposal—which was a breakthrough because the UAW had not been publicly supporting it.

While some may view this as a defeat and certainly this group of dissenters was not victorious today–if I were John Sweeney, I’d be a bit concerned. There is a long time between this meeting and the AFL-CIO convention in July. Where SEIU stood alone in November, a 40 percent bloc is significant this far out from the convention. Look for a careful campaign to start today to persuade other unions to back either part or all of the Teamsters’ proposals.

After you’ve read the materials, I’d like to hear what you think about where the debate stands. Post a comment.