AFL-CIO Unions Changing to Organize

by James Parks, Jul 27, 2006

Summer is the time when most unions hold their annual conventions. This year, as AFL-CIO unions meet to set their priorities for the future, delegates are voting to put their money where their priorities are by allocating millions of dollars to new initiatives to change to organize.

AFT, Communications Workers of America (CWA), International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE) and UAW all are changing to organize by devoting funds to back up new commitments to strategic organizing.

In his July 10 keynote speech to CWA’s convention, CWA President Larry Cohen said energizing and educating members is essential for CWA to help light the fire of a resurgent labor movement:

We all know that the reason union membership has fallen below 8 percent in the private sector in the U.S. has been a relentless attack by management and their government allies, which weakens union bargaining power across every industry and sector.

Some leaders of other unions today say that we can “change to win” but do it mainly top down. They took their unions out of the AFL-CIO. We, in CWA, have the opposite view. Real change means mobilizing more of us. We need a more unified movement, not more splitting. All of us here need to work to build unity on every front, from the workplace to the labor council. We can help lead but not alone, not without resources, and it will not be easy. 

Speaking at AFT’s convention in July, AFT President Edward McElroy highlighted how effective political action benefits workers’ rights:

At this moment in our history, we have a golden opportunity to create a sweeping change in this country—to sweep out of office those who would undermine the role of government to promote the common good, those who would destroy public education and the union movement, and those who would take away retirement and healthcare benefits—starting with this November’s congressional and gubernatorial elections and ending in two years when we put a friend of all we stand for in the White House.

Here are some convention highlights:

• CWA members approved creation of a $24 million per year Strategic Industry Fund at their annual convention July 10–11 in Las Vegas. The fund will support campaigns to change employers’ anti-union behavior and provide for grassroots efforts to change public policy on such issues as trade and health care that affect working families. The central theme of the plan is strengthening CWA’s bargaining power. From there, Cohen says, the union developed its “Ready for the Future” plan, which includes four key goals: strengthening employment security, maintaining quality and affordable health care, ensuring retirement security and restoring workers’ fundamental rights to organize and bargain collectively. 
   
• Delegates to the UAW’s 34th Constitutional Convention created a new $60 million war chest for strategic organizing and mobilizing campaigns for national health care, fair trade and other key working family priorities. They also authorized a one-time $50 million transfer from the union’s Strike Assistance Fund to the General Fund. UAW President Ron Gettelfinger, who was re-elected to a second four-year term, told the delegates:

The truth is, we’re facing tough, complex challenges in every sector of our union. Everything we’ve fought for at the bargaining table is under attack by a number of multinational corporations who want to rip up our contracts and impose poverty-level wages on workers….We’re not going to surrender. We’re not going to lower our sights, give up our dreams, or give up our fight for a better world for our children and grandchildren.

• AFT’s national convention July 20­–23 in Boston explored strategies for member grassroots activism, from political action and organizing to professional development and disaster relief. Delegates also approved a dues increase to be devoted to organizing.

In his keynote address, McElroy, who was re-elected for a two-year term,  emphasized the importance of member involvement in organizing and politics and asked the delegates to return to their local unions prepared for an unprecedented effort to activate their union colleagues. The convention also highlighted the union’s efforts to help the thousands of AFT members affected by hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma last year. In addition, delegates voted on resolutions addressing such issues as No Child Left Behind, higher education, health care reform, public services and more. The union also released a state-by-state report that highlights the need for standards-based school improvement based on smart testing.

• IFPTE put a high-profile emphasis on organizing by electing Paul Shearon as secretary-treasurer. Shearon was organizing director of the Society of Professional Engineering Employees in Aerospace (SPEEA)/Local 2001 in Seattle, the union representing Boeing engineers, technicians and professionals. He was instrumental in strategic planning for the SPEEA strike in 2000 that won recognition for the union. He told the convention he intends to immediately begin working on plans to increase the number of unions in industry sectors, boost membership and identify opportunities for affiliation in overlooked areas.
• The Railroad Signalmen’s (BRS’s) 49th Regular Convention in Las Vegas re-elected all the union’s leadership. President W. Dan Pickett told the 260 delegates:

We must continue the tradition of placing the betterment of the BRS before anything else. Working together, I am confident that we will do just that. Like our brothers and sisters before us, I know that we all have the best interests of the BRS at heart.

We will highlight more convention action in upcoming weeks.

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