Labor Leaders Seek to Reunify American Labor

Steven Greenhouse writes in the New York Times that: “The presidents of 12 of the nation’s largest labor unions called Wednesday for reuniting the American labor movement, which split apart three and a half years ago when seven unions left the A.F.L.-C.I.O. and formed a rival federation. The union presidents issued their joint call after the transition team for President-elect Barack Obama signaled that it would prefer dealing with a united movement, rather than a fractured one that often had two competing voices. David E. Bonior, a member of Mr. Obama’s economic transition team who withdrew from consideration as labor secretary, helped arrange and oversee a meeting of the union presidents on Wednesday in Washington.” The labor leaders have set April 15th, as the date for reunification to take place. Mr. Bonior will soon attempt to bring the labor leaders together for meetings that will establish the structure that the “reunified labor federation” will assume. A joint statement has been agreed to and released by the presidents of the 12 unions: “The goal of the meeting is to create a unified labor movement that can speak and act nationally on the critical issues facing working Americans. While we represent the largest labor unions, we recognize that unity requires broad participation.” Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers explained that: “There was a real sense of commitment to unifying our movement again ... It was clear that many of us felt that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts, and we really want to do things to help American workers get their rightful place in society.” Numerous questions remain before reunification takes place, Greenhouse explained, including: “several labor leaders,” who “have called for revamping and modernizing the A.F.L.-C.I.O., and “several” other “labor leaders” who “have called for replacing the A.F.L.-C.I.O. with a new, more dynamic group.” Regardless of these differences, Greenhouse continued: “There was general agreement that any future federation should focus on political and legislative matters, while also serving to encourage individual unions to do more to organize workers.” In addition, according to Greenhouse: “...some union leaders, especially those in the rival labor federation, say they want a fresh voice leading organized labor. The reorganizing proposals that union presidents have floated in recent days include a rotating presidency for the A.F.L.-C.I.O. or its successor federation, with the presidents of individual unions serving two-year terms as head of the parent federation.”There is opposition to the idea of a “rotating presidency” reports Greenhouse by leaders “saying the parent federation needs a strong, visible president who, by dint of serving for several years, is recognized by Congress and the news media as the undisputed voice for labor.” Also: “Several presidents have also called for creating a strong executive director’s position, partly in the hope that the parent federation would have two strong voices rather than one.” Democrats would benefit greatly from a reinvigorated labor movement. It would mean that what is left of the middle class could create a thriving future with sufficient union wages. The unions would serve as the backbone for a push to educate and motivate middle class union members to vote for a Democrat-union coalition. But in order to gain a strengthened, all encompassing union, Obama and the Democrats must pass union friendly legislation that will in turn fortify and increase the political muscle of the unions. One very important example concerns the Democrats' enactment into law of the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) that will face stiff opposition from Republicans and various business organizations including the American Chamber of Commerce. But first, the Democrats must pass Obama's American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan to create jobs and ensure sustained, long-term growth that will strengthen the middle class. The Democrats then need to pass economic and financial regulatory reform that will prevent future crisis’s that currently confront our nation. Finally, the Democrats must demonstrate their commitment to passage of a nationalized health insurance plan to bring health care to the uninsured. These legislative objectives represent an arduous and contentious process that the Democrats can only achieve with the help of strong union backing. David E. Bonior’s attempt to bring the unions together is an extremely important first step to achieving the Democrat-union coalition that is needed to strengthen America by creating the conditions for the regrowth of a dynamic and vital middle class And Mr. Bonior deserves applause for his tireless efforts.