Last week in Chicago the AFL/CIO had its annual meeting/Democratic fundraiser. Usually the meeting is a backslapper with the obligatory bashing of all things non-labor (Read: Wal-Mart).
Only this meeting provided a few more fireworks. As expected, AFL/CIO President John Sweeney won a reelection, but in the face of it he is staring at a massive defection that has never been seen before in the labor union.
Both the Teamsters and the SEIU have stated they will be splitting off and taking their members with them. More than likely other unions will follow suit. The reasoning for the split is both simple and reasonable. The AFL/CIO has become too concerned with raising political dollars and in the process put recruiting new members on the backburner.
The decision to split makes sense. Labor representation in the workforce is at historic lows and everywhere you look companies are either shunning labor (Wal-Mart) or shafting them (the auto and airline industry). The mantra that the AFL/CIO has followed for years (being lap dogs to the Democratic party) has done zero to advance the cause of the labor union.
Hawk's View: Competition is a good thing. Having two competiting groups out there fighting for members will mean less time will be spent on funding Ted Kennedy's campaign and more time advancing the labor cause. Frankly this split should have happened ten years ago and that if nothing else it will make for great fun to watch the two groups out there shouting their message. The Hawk has his wings crossed that their first target will be Wal-Mart.
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