Minnesota unionists attending the national AFL-CIO convention said they are disappointed by the split in the federation, given the strong cooperative history of labor in the state.
"We will do the best we can in Minnesota because that's the kind of people we are," said Mark Froemke, president of the Northern Valley Labor Council and a state leader for the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco and Grain Millers union.
Four unions, the SEIU, Teamsters, UFCW and UNITE-HERE, are boycotting the AFL-CIO convention and the SEIU and Teamsters are poised to leave the federation. Two other unions ? the Laborers and the United Farm Workers ? are part of the new "Change to Win" Coalition but are attending the convention.
Both Minnesota AFL-CIO President Ray Waldron, a member of the Roofers union, and Secretary-Treasurer Steve Hunter, a member of AFSCME, are attending the national convention, along with several local central labor council officers and delegates from individual unions.
Waldron and Hunter said they are frustrated by the divisions at the top levels of the labor movement.
"Minnesota's unions share a strong tradition of working together to improve the lives of working people," they said. "As a result of that, nearly 20 percent of the workers in our state are union members -- well above the national average. It is our hope that Minnesota's unions will continue to work toward our shared goals -- good jobs, good healthcare, good schools and a secure retirement for all Minnesotans.
"We are disappointed that differences in how to best reach those goals have caused divisions among national union leaders. And we pledge to continue to devote all of our resources to improving the lives of Minnesota's working people."
Maintaining a cooperative spirit may be difficult, however, if tensions at the national convention are any indication. Some unions are urging the adoption of rules that would prohibit state and local federations from working with unions that are not part of the AFL-CIO.
Eric Lehto, organizing director for AFSCME Council 5, said already he has seen evidence that the Change to Win unions are going to raid existing AFL-CIO unions.
"Now it's going to be war," he said, shaking his head.
Hunter cautioned that it's still early and that splits in the labor movement have occurred in the past and were overcome.
With a Congressional vote looming on CAFTA, the Central American Free Trade Agreement, and workers' rights threatened across the country, the split couldn't come at a worse time, Froemke said.
"It shows disunity of labor at a time when we're under the greatest attack," he said.
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Minnesota unionists attending the national AFL-CIO convention said they are disappointed by the split in the federation, given the strong cooperative history of labor in the state.
“We will do the best we can in Minnesota because that’s the kind of people we are,” said Mark Froemke, president of the Northern Valley Labor Council and a state leader for the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco and Grain Millers union.
Four unions, the SEIU, Teamsters, UFCW and UNITE-HERE, are boycotting the AFL-CIO convention and the SEIU and Teamsters are poised to leave the federation. Two other unions ? the Laborers and the United Farm Workers ? are part of the new “Change to Win” Coalition but are attending the convention.
Both Minnesota AFL-CIO President Ray Waldron, a member of the Roofers union, and Secretary-Treasurer Steve Hunter, a member of AFSCME, are attending the national convention, along with several local central labor council officers and delegates from individual unions.
Waldron and Hunter said they are frustrated by the divisions at the top levels of the labor movement.
“Minnesota’s unions share a strong tradition of working together to improve the lives of working people,” they said. “As a result of that, nearly 20 percent of the workers in our state are union members — well above the national average. It is our hope that Minnesota’s unions will continue to work toward our shared goals — good jobs, good healthcare, good schools and a secure retirement for all Minnesotans.
“We are disappointed that differences in how to best reach those goals have caused divisions among national union leaders. And we pledge to continue to devote all of our resources to improving the lives of Minnesota’s working people.”
Maintaining a cooperative spirit may be difficult, however, if tensions at the national convention are any indication. Some unions are urging the adoption of rules that would prohibit state and local federations from working with unions that are not part of the AFL-CIO.
Eric Lehto, organizing director for AFSCME Council 5, said already he has seen evidence that the Change to Win unions are going to raid existing AFL-CIO unions.
“Now it’s going to be war,” he said, shaking his head.
Hunter cautioned that it’s still early and that splits in the labor movement have occurred in the past and were overcome.
With a Congressional vote looming on CAFTA, the Central American Free Trade Agreement, and workers’ rights threatened across the country, the split couldn’t come at a worse time, Froemke said.
“It shows disunity of labor at a time when we’re under the greatest attack,” he said.