John Sweeney and his supporters just wrapped up a very spirited and rocking rally in the Sheraton ballroom. I’m going to bring you details here in the next hour as I unwind the tape (digitally speaking) and give you some pics.

You would have to describe the mood of the Sweeney team as confident, upbeat and also kind of angry, depending on who was speaking. Obviously, this rally, which had been scheduled at this time several days ago, came as news broke that four of the major unions in the Federation had decided to not participate in the convention which opens tomorrow.

Before the official speeches began, I caught up with two Executive Council members–AFSCME’s Gerry McEntee and the UAW’s Ron Gettelfinger–and got their reaction to the news. McEntee (here at left): “I think if SEIU leaves and other unions join them, you know maybe three other unions, I think it’s very devisive. I think it weakens the American labor movement when it’s so necessary and needed in terms of solidarty at this particular time. But I would also say, on the other side of the coin, any union that leaves the Federation will also be weak. It’s a no win except for the people in the White House and George Bush.” (McEntee also held an improptu press conference after the event…I’ll try to transcribe the full interview later…if the fingers survive).

As for Gettelfinger, he was far more conciliatory: We would prefer they stay, the House of Labor needs to be united but if they leave, it won’t be the end of the world and it won’t be the end of organized labor. They are all good union people and they just have a different approach. They’ve made a lot of dramatic changes already within the AFL-CIO. If nothing happens, all they’ve done has been very encouraging. Alot of unions who are not directly associated with them support them and alot of the changes that have come out. and it’s because of their initial effort to force the AFL-CIO to focus. They are all good people and I hate the word dissident. They are all good people–a lot of the changes that have been introduced are because of them.” (A reminder: I’m a UAW member).

Once the rally kicked off, all the Executive Council members present were introduced and took a place on the stage. The first speaker of the three top officers, Linda Chavez Thompson, took a heavy swing at the Coalition. She brought up a series of adversaries who are trying to divide the labor movement: The Right To Work Committee, The Chamber of Commerce, George Bush…and the Change To Win coalition. Ouch. Putting the coalition in with the sworn enemies of labor had several reporters–and even people around me in the crowd–shaking their heads and raising their eyebrows.

She was followed soon after by McEntee who said the Coalition’s unions have lost members. “John Sweeney when he was elected in ’95 said all the unions should spend 30 percent on organizing. Some have, some have not. Some of the unions in the Change to win team have not devoted 30 percent of their resources. They say John Sweeney has not been organizing, John Sweeney took SEIU from 500,000 members to a million members, sisters and brothers (applause). 4 million workers have joined the AFL-CIO in the last six years.” McEntee also said that anyone who voted for the Central American Free Trade Agreement should not get the support of the labor movement.

Leo Gerard, president of the Steelworkers, blasted the coalition, saying the fact that they were not there today proved that “this was nothing but a disguised power grab. This is about what is real, this is about changing rotten labor laws. This is about fighting for health care. You don’t build a movement from the top-down. You build a movement from the bottom up…I’m disgusted by those who would characterize us as those of us who organize and those of us who don’t…today is a tragic day…because those who left the House of Labor and didn’t show up to our convention this week are weaking our house and shame on them.”

Sweeney gave his usual low-key, non-charismatic speech. But, that’s just the way he is–leave the roof-shaking to Rich Trumka and Mineworkers president Cecil Roberts. “All of us are here for the best of all reasons…we’re here for our sisters and brothers all across America struggling to win their right to organize. Who are struggling to win the pay and respect their work deserves, to secure safe and health lives for themselves and their families, a right that god has given us.”

More to come later…Change to win Coalition is about to hold their own event.