Unite-Here rejoins AFL-CIO

[KC]

PITTSBURGH — The last day of the AFL-CIO Convention opened on a high note as newly elected federation President Richard Trumka announced that Unite-Here is re-affiliating with the federation. The 250,000 member Unite-Here was one of the unions that left the AFL-CIO in 2005 to join the Change-to-Win federation.

Unite-Here President John Wilhelm said, “In Unite-Here, we know what a fighter for workers Rich Trumka is and we pledge to stand with him and fight to get workers what they deserve: a piece of the American dream. Solidarity will always overcome division and we will continue to be a strong and growing member in the house of labor.

The newly elected leadership of the AFL-CIO has been saying that organizational unity in the labor movement would be a natural outgrowth of de-facto unity that has been building in the movement for years — particularly around the 2006 and 2008 elections, the fight for national health care and the struggle for passage of the Employee Free Choice Act.

The move by Unite-Here indicates, observers say, that the new AFL-CIO leadership will push for unions that left the federation to rejoin. At one time it was thought that consideration was being given to form an entirely new federation.

http://www.pww.org/article/articleview/17018/

[blake 3:17]

Interesting. I suppose it's not a real shock. I'm a little more concerned at the AFL-CIO convention didn't have any visibility. Was it just a change of jobs? Does it matter?

[redasheville]

UNITE HERE had a leadership dispute with SEIU. A faction split off and formed Workers United. UNITE HERE rejoined AFL CIO because SEIU dominates CTW.

The dispute centered around SEIU raiding UNITE HERE members in the hotel and gaming industries.

EDIT: It is interesting that the article above mentions none of that.

[blake 3:17]

Are Worker United affiliated with the California Nurses??? There's been all this scum fuckery with the SEIU that makes me feel like laying down in a ditch.

Here in Toronto, Unite Here 75 has been of the very few unions to do decent community bridge building work in difficult to organize sectors.

[redasheville]

Workers United is affiliated with the SEIU. The CNA had the war with SEIU a couple of years ago...over a struggle organizing nurses in Ohio.

[chimx]

The CNA had the war with SEIU a couple of years ago...over a struggle organizing nurses in Ohio.

It has been going on for longer than that. Things just came to a head after the Ohio incident. They are two unions looking to represent the same group of workers. We have a similar... disagreement ...between my union of roofers and waterproofers and the tinner's union, at least here in the west. We try to jack each others work (and workers) all the time.

[Red Rebel]

Minus the Obama speech (pretty sure everyone there had a 10 minute orgasm before he spoke), the AFL-CIO convention was rather conservative. The federation really wasn't that lively. Hopefully the two federations will come back together and form a more united labour front against capital. According to their philosophy they only have a small window of reform while the Democrats are in power.

[Dean]

PITTSBURGH — The last day of the AFL-CIO Convention opened on a high note as newly elected federation President Richard Trumka announced that Unite-Here is re-affiliating with the federation. The 250,000 member Unite-Here was one of the unions that left the AFL-CIO in 2005 to join the Change-to-Win federation.

Unite-Here President John Wilhelm said, “In Unite-Here, we know what a fighter for workers Rich Trumka is and we pledge to stand with him and fight to get workers what they deserve: a piece of the American dream. Solidarity will always overcome division and we will continue to be a strong and growing member in the house of labor.

The newly elected leadership of the AFL-CIO has been saying that organizational unity in the labor movement would be a natural outgrowth of de-facto unity that has been building in the movement for years — particularly around the 2006 and 2008 elections, the fight for national health care and the struggle for passage of the Employee Free Choice Act.

The move by Unite-Here indicates, observers say, that the new AFL-CIO leadership will push for unions that left the federation to rejoin. At one time it was thought that consideration was being given to form an entirely new federation.

http://www.pww.org/article/articleview/17018/

Actually, UNITE-HERE is going bankrupt.* In fact, UNITE HERE is dead - the new union will now be called Needletrades Inc. or something. They are being forced to reincorporate as a result of union dues being put in escrow across the board by corporate lawyers. The narrows office is being sold for a measly amount and they are struggling to meet basic financial obligations.

Just my little bit of insider knowledge for you guys :cool:

Edit: I shouldn't say bankrupt. But they are without funds atm.

[Shin Honyong]

Not really shocking; I'm more interested to see how long Change to Win will last before it falls apart and becomes part of the AFL-CIO again.

[YSR]

I don't think that'll happen, Shin. SEIU is the largest single union in the U.S. today, with an enormous amount of funds and a powerful body of staffers (albeit mistreated ones.)

I think SEIU will continue to remain outside of the AFL-CIO, because it will allow them to raid with relative impunity. What's the purpose of SEIU going back to the fold if all that's going to happen are federational disputes about jurisdiction and raiding? It makes much more sense for Stern to remain outside the federation. CTW may continue to be the name, or it may be dropped, but I don't suspect that SEIU will be rejoining the fold any time soon.