The United Food and Commercial Workers will not attend the AFL-CIO convention which begins tomorrow. I just learned that from a UFCW board member in the midst of the union’s executive board meeting which began about one hour ago. However, the UFCW will announce later today that it is not yet made a decision to disaffilate from the AFL-CIO.

This is the first of what is likely to be a series of decisions made by the various Change to Win Coalition unions. It’s the first big blow–and first confirmed indication that a deal has not been struck between the two camps. I find it highly unlikely that the UFCW would be moving in this direction without being sure that a majority of its other coalition partners will also take at least the step of not attending the convention (it’s pretty clear that the Farmworkers will stick the convention out, and I’d bet the Laborers will stay–but that depends on the outcome of a highly contentious meeting no underway behind closed doors within the Building and Construction Trades Department…more on that later).

Today, there will likely be a series of decisions by the Change To Win unions culminating with a Change To Win rally/meeting for its delegates and staff at 4 p.m. local time. A minor indication: SEIU yesterday cancelled its hotel food order. Hey, if you’re not going to be here you don’t food…though I wonder if you can get the food to go? After all, with airline food that way it is…

The Teamsters are holding an emergency meeting at Noon local time–staff and delegates have been summoned. It is likely that the Teamsters will make an announcement later which will at least also be a declaration that it will not attend the convention either.