Working Life

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 […]

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I’ve made this point here and there but I think it’s worth underscoring (maybe you want to print this out and stick it on the computer?): the ultimate decision on whether a resolution or constitutional amendment becomes the law of the AFL-CIO land comes by a vote of the entire convention, which opens on Monday. […]

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Today, the International Labor Communications Association put down its marker on one aspect of the debate–at its convention, which is taking place today and tomorrow in Chicago, the ILCA approved an amendment to its constitution that allows unions not affiliated with the AFL-CIO to belong to the ILCA. Here’s what the amendment says: “Associate membership […]

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Whew…it just keeps coming. Another game of political chicken is afoot. The Laborers executive board is going to meet this afternoon to authorize its president, Terry O’Sullivan, to pull out of the Building and Construction Trades Department (BCTD). Which may lead to the Laborers leaving the AFL-CIO–by being forced out by a Sweeney-backed Constitutional amendment […]

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The United Farm Workers has jumped on board the insurgents’ campaign. The official announcement was going to be held up until 3 p.m. so Arturo Rodriguez, the UFW’s president, could notify John Sweeney before it became public. But, it’s started to leak out so the dam is bursting…and the embargo was off (so I can […]

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Just a few minutes ago, the Executive Council passed a resolution about the Iraq War. It does not call on the U.S. to withdraw from Iraq. As I discussed recently, there is a fair amount of pressure coming from various local unions and state labor bodies that the AFL-CIO convention should pass a strong anti-war […]

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I was just handed an amendment being proposed by the AFL-CIO officers that could be fairly construed as a backsliding on diversity. Close readers here will remember that there is a struggle over the creation of a new Executive Committee, which would be a subset of the full Executive Council–the Executive Committee exists but was […]

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Catchy, huh? Well, that’s what greeted me at the crack of dawn here from someone in the know in the insurgents’ camp. Big caution here: It’s only Friday and two days is an eternity in labor movement politics. But, on the other hand, a number of people tell me the percentages are quite high that […]

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It’s just as warm and humid here in Chicago so it’s not much of an escape from the thick soup in New York. But, you don’t want to hear a weather report. Alright, down to business… This is the time when the pressure heats up a bit and we see whether any movement is made. […]

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Well, that’s kind of the message we’ve been bombarded with for the past decade or two: the solution to future employment is to get retrained and get smarter because, guess what, you’re too dumb and unskilled in the great “New Economy” of the future. This has been one of my pet peeves for lo these […]

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