In attendance at the session, called by former House Democratic Whip David Bonior, chair of American Rights at Work, were presidents of five of Change to Win\'s seven unions, six of the 56 AFL-CIO unions, and new National Education Association President Dennis Van Roekel. His 3.2 million-member union is the nation\'s largest.
The presidents\' joint statement said: "The goal is to create a unified labor movement that can speak and act nationally on the critical issues facing working Americans." It added that "while we represent the largest unions, we recognize unity requires broad participation."
Local union leaders hailed the news. Chicago Federation of Labor President Dennis Gannon said it would be "welcomed by local labor movements and stands to benefit all working people in this country."
Reunification at the top of organized labor would also ratify what has, to some extent, happened on the ground since Change To Win split from the AFL-CIO in 2005: Close cooperation in elections and legislation. There have been some state-level splits, notably in Michigan and Minnesota. And the Service Employees and AFSCME have battled over organizing home health care workers in several states.
Attending the meeting, besides Bonior and Van Roekel, were AFL-CIO member union presidents Larry Cohen (Communications Workers), Leo Gerard (Steel Workers), Ron Gettelfinger (Auto Workers), Gerald McEntee (AFSCME), Ed Hill (IBEW) and Randi Weingarten (Teachers). Change to Win presidents attending were Joe Hansen (United Food and Commercial Workers), James Hoffa (Teamsters), Terry O\'Sullivan (Laborers), Bruce Raynor (UNITE HERE) and Andy Stern (Service Employees).
The statement also said AFL-CIO President John J. Sweeney and Change to Win Chair Anna Burger joined the session, contradicting news reports that specifically said no AFL-CIO officers attended.
The New York Times reported Bonior would arrange future meetings to try to push the unity effort. Weingarten told the paper "there was a real sense of commitment to unifying our movement again," ending the split that created Change to Win. Her predecessor, Ed McElroy, carried on behind-the-scenes reunification efforts during his term as AFT chief, according to retired CWA President Morton Bahr. And IBEW and UFCW have kept in close touch, with Hansen speaking at IBEW\'s 2006 convention.
Other topics included mobilization for labor\'s legislative agenda – headed by the Employee Free Choice Act – and the structure of the revised labor movement.
Reports differed on whether they discussed who should succeed Sweeney, who will be 74 by the next AFL-CIO Convention, scheduled for Pittsburgh in September. Names mentioned for the top job, none of which have been confirmed, include Cohen, O\'Sullivan and AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Richard L. Trumka. But other past reports noted if Trumka wins, the Teamsters would not rejoin the AFL-CIO. Trumka strongly supported the Teamsters president whom Hoffa unseated, the late Ron Carey.
Mark Gruenberg writes for Press Associates, Inc., news service. Used by permission.
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In attendance at the session, called by former House Democratic Whip David Bonior, chair of American Rights at Work, were presidents of five of Change to Win\’s seven unions, six of the 56 AFL-CIO unions, and new National Education Association President Dennis Van Roekel. His 3.2 million-member union is the nation\’s largest.
The presidents\’ joint statement said: "The goal is to create a unified labor movement that can speak and act nationally on the critical issues facing working Americans." It added that "while we represent the largest unions, we recognize unity requires broad participation."
Local union leaders hailed the news. Chicago Federation of Labor President Dennis Gannon said it would be "welcomed by local labor movements and stands to benefit all working people in this country."
Reunification at the top of organized labor would also ratify what has, to some extent, happened on the ground since Change To Win split from the AFL-CIO in 2005: Close cooperation in elections and legislation. There have been some state-level splits, notably in Michigan and Minnesota. And the Service Employees and AFSCME have battled over organizing home health care workers in several states.
Attending the meeting, besides Bonior and Van Roekel, were AFL-CIO member union presidents Larry Cohen (Communications Workers), Leo Gerard (Steel Workers), Ron Gettelfinger (Auto Workers), Gerald McEntee (AFSCME), Ed Hill (IBEW) and Randi Weingarten (Teachers). Change to Win presidents attending were Joe Hansen (United Food and Commercial Workers), James Hoffa (Teamsters), Terry O\’Sullivan (Laborers), Bruce Raynor (UNITE HERE) and Andy Stern (Service Employees).
The statement also said AFL-CIO President John J. Sweeney and Change to Win Chair Anna Burger joined the session, contradicting news reports that specifically said no AFL-CIO officers attended.
The New York Times reported Bonior would arrange future meetings to try to push the unity effort. Weingarten told the paper "there was a real sense of commitment to unifying our movement again," ending the split that created Change to Win. Her predecessor, Ed McElroy, carried on behind-the-scenes reunification efforts during his term as AFT chief, according to retired CWA President Morton Bahr. And IBEW and UFCW have kept in close touch, with Hansen speaking at IBEW\’s 2006 convention.
Other topics included mobilization for labor\’s legislative agenda – headed by the Employee Free Choice Act – and the structure of the revised labor movement.
Reports differed on whether they discussed who should succeed Sweeney, who will be 74 by the next AFL-CIO Convention, scheduled for Pittsburgh in September. Names mentioned for the top job, none of which have been confirmed, include Cohen, O\’Sullivan and AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Richard L. Trumka. But other past reports noted if Trumka wins, the Teamsters would not rejoin the AFL-CIO. Trumka strongly supported the Teamsters president whom Hoffa unseated, the late Ron Carey.
Mark Gruenberg writes for Press Associates, Inc., news service. Used by permission.