Working Life

    This is a good day to check in on the lay of the land regarding where unions are going in the Democratic presidential primaries. Today, two important unions are hearing from the Democratic presidential candidates: The Service Employees International Union and the Laborers International Union of North America (LIUNA).     For SEIU, here’s the […]

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The AFL-CIO meeting wrapped up late this morning, Vegas time—and with some last minute fireworks between SEIU’s Andy Stern and AFSCME’s Gerry McEntee. Stern distributed a resolution entitled “Resolution to Enforce Mutual Accountability in the Labor Movement’s Campaign for Freedom of Workers to Choose a Voice At Work.” (Okay, not the most Hemingwayesque formulation). The […]

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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 […]

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It’s 4:30 and there’s about to be a sit-down between John Sweeney and Jim Hoffa. Sweeney will try to sway Hoffa but I don’t think Hoffa will bite. I don’t think Sweeney really understands the depth of frustration with the bureaucracy at 16th Street. Take the Firefighters—they are not part of the rebels but if […]

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I think you can get a feel for the different approaches in the debate about the future of labor. I don’t agree with every piece of anyone’s proposal but having open debate is essential. SEIU’s website (www.unitedtowin.org) is freewheeling–it lets anyone post a comment and go on for as long as they wish…though that’s not […]

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