Insurgents Comparison of Their Proposal versus the AFL-CIO Officers Proposal
It is what it is: the insurgents views of how their proposals for change differ from those proposals contained in the document presented by the officers of the AFL-CIO. You judge for yourself.
AFSCME: Labor’s Main Challenge: Increasing Political Power for Working Families
Summary: heavy emphasis on political action (not surprising since prez McEntee heads Federation’s political committee). Advocates securing financing for central labor bodies as a vehicle for mobilizing members to the polls. Mild, implied criticism of perception that SEIU proposal focuses too much on internal structure.
American Federation of Teachers: Joining Voices-Inclusive Strategies for Labor’s Renewal
Summary: makes a variety of arguments and suggestions for organizing non-traditional workers, particularly professionals, using models that do not necessarily include majority-based collective bargaining. Lots of rhetoric about the need for labor to stand for more than just “more powerful unions…” Calls for a increasing internal democracy–an interesting demand from a union typically viewed as one of the more centralized.
AFL-CIO Building and Construction Trades
Summary: this two-page letter resembles a number of communications to John Sweeney that have a feel of orchestration with one point in mind–attacking the SEIU proposal to merge unions. Gotta love this line though: “We neither need nor want advice from self-appointed labor ‘gurus’ who couldn’t tell a spud wrench from a paintbrush.” So there!!!
Coalition of Black Trade Unionists
Summary: focus on building alliances with community groups and allies.
AFL-CIO Department of Professional Employees: Organized Labor in a White-Collar World: Can the Labor Movement Rise to the Challenge?
Summary: has the most detailed argument, and carries the flag for, advocating that labor’s future is in white-collar and contingent worker organizing. Has an interesting section on the failed attempt to merge the Screen Actors Guild and AFTRA. Criticizes the AFL-CIO for failing to respond to off-shoring fast enough.
International Association of Firefighters: AFL-CIO–Changing for the Future
Summary: Criticizes Federation’s political action efforts, taking the view that Federation must target “God and country” issues and orient its legislative work to include Republicans. Suggests that traditional “Shop floor” model is outdated. Calls for smaller top AFL-CIO leadership body.
Western Region State Federations: A New Process to Strengthen the AFL-CIO in the States
Summary: core programs for state and local bodies should include building campaigns, more vigorous political action, strategic legislative campaigns and more…but none of this is new. Reader is left thinking: fine, what are we changing that will make those core programs successful?
Central Labor Council Leaders: Uniting Locally, Growing Nationally
Summary: not surprising, declares that local central bodies are essential. Calls for creation of 75 regional labor federations bu uniting weak and smaller local labor councils.
Connecticut State Federation, “How to Strengthen America’s Union Movement for the future.”
Summary: odd document…essentially a report from a meeting of state labor leaders who voice a variety of concerns. Nothing concrete.
Florida AFL-CIO State Federation
Summary: mostly focused on internal restructuring but devoid of any larger vision. Worth reading to see views of labor people working in large right-to-work state.
International Labor Communications Association
Summary: good example of a proposal that can be short (two pages) and decisively direct. Argues for large investments in independent media and communications training. Calls for opening up AFL-CIO magazine to dissenting views and makign media reform top priority.
Laborers International Union: A Time for Action: A Five-Point Perspective on the Future of the AFL-CIO
Summary: Spends a good percentage of the document, relative to other proposals, arguing for leveraging labor’s financial resources (retirements funds total more than $5 trillion in assets). Other four points: reallocation of resources to organizing (surprise!!!); political mobilization; organizing corporate giants; and restructuring state and local feds.
International Association of Machinists: Use Our Power
Summary: Starts from the curious notion that labor is “not politically impotent” and has a “considerable” power base. Argues for disciplining politicians who oppose labor, including challenging them (presumably Democrats) in primaries. Calls for labor cable channel. Thinly-disguised distaste for SEIU approach.
Maryland AFL-CIO State Federation: The Crisis Is Real
Summary: entirely focused on staffing and structure of state federations but makes no persuasive argument about how suggested changes will radically transform labor.
Monterey Bay Central Labor Council: Pandora’s Box: A Summary of Proposals for Strengthening the AFL-CIO
Summary: fitting for people who live in Monterey, the proposal begins with a plea to consider all ideas. But, it performs a useful service in summarizing most of the various proposals (at least those appearing at the time of writing) and their components.
Mississippi AFL-CIO State Federation
Summary: a plea from a federation in a staunchly right-to-work state–don’t forget us. Appeals for national unions to consider how to attract potential union members, even if they seem to be in small units.
New York State AFL-CIO: Strengthening State and Local Labor Movements
Summary: Emphasizes strategic planning, training and building capacity. Supports Area Labor Federations (consolidating smaller labor bodies) and suggested state feds should supervise ALFs (more power for state feds). Spends some time on explaining how state feds can play key supportive role in organizing.
North Carolina AFL-CIO State Federation: Building A Stronger and More Vibrant Labor Movement: On the National Level
Summary: argues that national unions should force their local unions to fully affiliate with state federations. No surprise: it’s a chronic problem for local labor bodies that unions typically pay dues based on a portion of their members (except when there’s an internal political election!!!).
AFL-CIO Northeast Council: Changing the Paradigm: A Bold New Vision for AFL-CIO
Summary: most controversial suggestion is that state feds should be funded via direct payments from the AFL-CIO.
North Shore Labor Council: Cutting Per Caps to AFL-CIO by 50% Would Be a Tragic Mistake
Summary: Strong objection to the rebate proposals put forth by international unions, arguing that such a cut in per capitas will weaken local labor bodies.
Operative Plasters and Cement Masons
Summary: three-page letter to John Sweeney focused on one thing–hell, no, we won’t merge.
Oregon AFL-CIO State Federation: A State Federation’s Perspective
Summary: general plea to change and for more cooperation between various labor bodies. Unobjectionable and unremarkable at the same time.
Labor Constituency Groups: Unity Statement
Summary: an argument on behalf of people of color, women and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) workers who, the statement argues, are not included at the decision-making levels of labor, even though people of color and women, in particular, represent the majority of recently successfully-organized workers.
Service Employees International Union: Unite To Win: A 21st Century Plan to Build New Strength for Working People
Summary: this is the document that got the fur flying. Virtually every proposal on change came in reaction to the SEIU document. Whatever you think about the specifics, the labor movement should be thankful to SEIU for kicking the can. While many of its critics focus on the suggestions for internal changes, this proposal has a lot to say about organizing and the global economy.
Teamsters: Which Way For the AFL-CIO?
Summary: it’s been given the moniker “SEIU Lite.” One could view the IBT position as timid, not original and derivative—or politically doable. But, it carries weight simply because it comes from the house of Hoffa.
Westchester-Putnam Counties Central Labor Body: State Federation and Labor Council Pre-Convention Discussion Questions & Answers
Summary: raises idea of a national strike fund, gives its views of the various proposals to restructure labor bodies and argues for community alliances.
Winning for Working Families: Recommendations From the Officers of the AFL-CIO for Uniting and Strengthening the Union Movement
AFL-CIO Committee on Working Women: Overcoming Barrier To Women
Summary: outlines barriers to women and womens’ issues within the labor movements and recommends steps to address the barriers.
