Six local unions from the Change to Win Federation submitted applications for Solidarity Charters Wednesday to affirm their commitment to participation in the Minneapolis Central Labor Union Council (CLUC).

"We chose the Minneapolis CLUC because the work that is done here is important work that needs to continue," said Brad Slawson, Jr., chair of Change to Win Minnesota and secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 120.

After months of negotiations, the national leadership of the rival AFL-CIO and Change to Win federations negotiated terms for so-called Solidarity Charters to enable the AFL-CIO's central labor councils and state federations to retain Change to Win locals as members. The deal was announced Nov. 16. A spokesperson from the national AFL-CIO reported that "large numbers" of applications for Solidarity Charters now are being received.

In Minneapolis, the CLUC received Solidarity Charter applications Wednesday from SEIU Local 26, SEIU Local 113, SEIU Local 284, the SEIU Minnesota State Council, UNITE HERE Local 17, the Lakes & Plains Regional Council of Carpenters, UFCW Local 653 and Teamsters Local 4. Slawson said an application from SEIU Local 63 would be forthcoming.

"I am pleased to announce that we do have Solidarity Charter applications," CLUC president Bill McCarthy told CLUC delegates meeting Wednesday. He said he expected national AFL-CIO approval for the applications within a week.

McCarthy noted that he had been working hard since last July to keep the local labor movement together despite the national split between the AFL-CIO and Change to Win.

Although Change to Win representatives were dropped from the Minnesota AFL-CIO executive board and some central labor councils, Minneapolis took no such action. "I've had no direction from the national AFL-CIO to remove them and not allow them to vote," McCarthy said. He also noted that the Minneapolis CLUC had continued to receive monthly per capita dues from the Change to Win unions.

AFSCME rivalry with SEIU prompts debate over CLUC voting rights
The Change to Win applications came to the CLUC the same day that AFSCME planned to seek CLUC support for a resolution endorsing AFSCME efforts to organize childcare workers. Nationally, AFSCME is embroiled in a dispute with SEIU, which also is working to organize childcare workers.

After McCarthy announced the applications, AFSCME Council 5 Director Eliot Seide questioned whether the Change to Win unions could vote that night, arguing that the applications were still pending.

A spirited, hour-long debate ensued. The debate was anticipated: the room was full of new and infrequently seen delegates from AFSCME, Change to Win unions, Building Trades unions and others.

Seide and other AFSCME representatives argued that AFSCME deserved CLUC support for its childcare worker organizing campaign. They maintained that since Change to Win unions no longer belonged to the AFL-CIO, jurisdiction was not an issue.

"SEIU has never stopped being part of this organization," countered Shane Allers, executive director of SEIU Local 284. "We have never stopped paying per capita."

"The international fight is being brought into this organization, here in Minneapolis," said Steve Claypatch, business manager of IBEW Local 292. "We can't control these guys in Washington, D.C. I don't want to see anybody try to divide us? and break a strong organization that's been around for 100 years."

The debate ended with a vote on CLUC President McCarthy's ruling that AFSCME's challenge to voting rights for Change to Win unions was out of order.

"We have a whole slew of new delegates this evening," observed Kyle Makarios, CLUC political director, calling out names of affiliate unions and their apportioned number of votes while he conducted a roll call vote.

The final result, not counting votes from Change to Win unions: 635 votes to support McCarthy's ruling to allow Change to Win voting, 190 votes against. Adding the change to Win votes made the margin 1,333 to 190.

"Clearly we don't have the votes here this month," conceded AFSCME's Seide.

Cliff Poehler, treasurer of AFSCME Council 5 and a CLUC officer, echoed earlier calls for unity. "Our enemies would be happy to see us split," he said. "Let us not let this divide us in a year when we can take back the [Minnesota] House, take back the Governor's office."

The meeting adjourned, followed by handshakes ? and continued arguing. "I'm sure this issue will be taken up at the national level," McCarthy acknowledged.

Steve Share edits the Labor Review, the official publication of the Minneapolis Central Labor Union Council. E-mail him at laborreview@mplscluc.com