David Bacon, Portside, July 27, 2005

Chicago - On the second day of its convention in Chicago, the AFL-CIO took an historic step, calling for the rapid withdrawal of US troops from Iraq, and an end to the country's occupation. Public attention has focused largely on the split in US labor, and the decision by two of the federation's largest unions to leave. Yet the impact of this call will reverberate for years, with as profound effect on the future of US workers and their unions. ... AFL-CIO Convention

Nathan Newman, TPM Café, July 26, 2005

Well, if this resolution, passed today in Chicago, is the first result of the split, things are looking really good. Not only did the AFL-CIO convention vote to demand the "rapid" return of the troops, they condemned the lies of the Bush administration, called for debt and reparations relief for the Iraqi people, and condemned the failure of the US government to protect labor rights for Iraqi workers. ... AFL-CIO Demands

Tom Raum, Associated Press, July 26, 2005

Washington - The AFL-CIO fracture is posing potential problems for Democratic leaders, who rely heavily on unions for money and volunteers. And it could play into the hands of Republicans seeking to extend their clout among one of the most traditionally Democratic constituencies.

Two unions representing 3.2 million workers - the Teamsters and the Service Employees International Union - bolted from the AFL-CIO on Monday. Further defections were possible. ... Divided labor

Teamsters, service workers cite steady membership decline
Diane E. Lewis, Boston Globe, July 26, 2005

Two of the country's largest labor unions formally broke away from the AFL-CIO yesterday, creating a serious rift within organized labor at a time when many Americans have become increasingly insecure about their jobs, health coverage, and pensions. ... 2 major unions

Breaking the NED-Solidarity Center Link
Kim Scipes, Monthly Review, July 19, 2005

In the increasing "heat" of labor reform issues - which is not always the same as "light" - it has been discouraging to see how little attention has been paid to Labor's foreign policy issues. This is, in my opinion, the 500-pound gorilla that no one wants to touch. Yet, I argue it is absolutely essential that Labor do so. ... Freeing Labor

Rose Ann DeMoro, Executive Director, California Nurses Association

During the Schwarzenegger era, we have seen in California a sharp escalation in attacks on nurses and other public service workers - including teachers and firefighters and working people - and on their collective voice through their unions, led by well funded corporations and a governor who promotes their agenda. Increasingly, the assault parallels and reflects the gravest corporate offensive against labor nationally in decades. ... Debating Our Future

Jay Fitzgerald, Boston Herald, July 26, 2005

Yesterday's decision by the Teamsters and the Service Employees International Union to bolt the AFL-CIO is raising concerns about possible local feuds breaking out between labor groups over membership, jobs and financial issues.

The best-case scenario is that the planned departure of the Teamsters and the SEIU - announced yesterday at the AFL-CIO's national convention in Chicago - will be like an amicable divorce in which both sides agree to cooperate after the split, labor leaders and experts say. ... Union split

Thomas B. Edsall, Washington Post, July 26, 2005

Chicago - Two of the nation's largest and most powerful unions resigned from the AFL-CIO on Monday, fracturing the 50-year-old federation as the labor movement struggles to stem decades of decline and lost influence in both the workplace and the political arena.

The withdrawal of the 1.7 million-member Service Employees International Union, the biggest union in the AFL-CIO, and the 1.3 million-strong International Brotherhood of Teamsters is a blow to the political clout and finances of the AFL-CIO ... Two Top Unions

The AFL-CIO and the National Endowment for Democracy in Venezuela
Democracy Now! July 26, 2005

... Another major issue for some at the AFL-CIO convention in Chicago is the issue of the federation's alleged involvement in destabilization campaigns in countries like Venezuela. This weekend, activists held a demonstration in Chicago to protest what they see as the federation's cooperation with the Bush administration's hostile foreign policies and covert operations. ... Unholy

Steven Greenhouse, New York Times, July 25, 2005

Chicago - Leaders of four of the country's largest labor unions announced on Sunday that they would boycott this week's AFL-CIO convention, and officials from two of those unions, the service employees and the Teamsters, said the action was a prelude to their full withdrawal from the federation on Monday.

The schism is the biggest rift in labor since the 1930's, when the Congress of Industrial Organizations, which was trying to unionize mass production workers in automobiles, steel and other industries, split off from the American Federation of Labor ... 4 Major Unions

One of the Largest Shakeups Ever in the American Labor Movement Democracy Now! July 25, 2005

The future of organized labor is hanging in the balance. Last night, four of the nation's largest labor unions announced they are boycotting this week's AFL-CIO convention in Chicago.

The dissident unions represent about one-third of the AFL-CIO's 13 million members - they include The Service Employees International Union, the Teamsters, United Food and Commercial Workers and UNITE HERE which represents textile and hotel workers. ... Two Unions

Four of Six "Change-to-Win" Unions to Boycott AFL-CIO Convention
Jerry Tucker, Portside, July 24, 2005

In a meeting held late Sunday afternoon, the leaders and delegates from the rival "Change-to-Win" (CTW) faction of the ALF-CIO announced their intentions with regard to participation in the AFL-CIO Convention, scheduled to convene tomorrow, Monday July 25 in Chicago.

The presidents of all six CTW unions, SEIU, Unite-HERE, Teamsters, UFCW, Laborers, and UFW participated in the announcement at a press conference held in a separate hotel from the Convention hotel. ... Big Labor Split

Jerry Tucker, MRZine, July 24, 2005

Whether this week's AFL-CIO Conventioneers, celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the merger of the American Federation of Labor (founded in 1886) and the Congress of Industrial Organizations (founded in 1935), could produce a united front to combat the long ignored "one-sided class war being waged [relentlessly] on workers in this country" was never really in question. They can't! Labor's leadership is organized in a "circular firing squad." ... The AFL-CIO Convention

Kim Fellner, Monthly Review Online, July 24, 2005

The battle over labor's future is heading toward a showdown at the AFL-CIO Convention, beginning Monday July 25th in Chicago. But the confrontation pitting a team of insurgent unions led by the Service Employees International Union against the AFL-CIO establishment is shaping up to be organizationally bloody, but spiritually bloodless. We're fighting for the heart and soul of the labor movement as though we had neither.

Given the general ho-hum about all things labor, one might say that any news is good news, and most of us progressive labor folks think a shake-up is long overdue. ... The Labor Movement

Teamsters, UAW are key players as dissension jeopardizes the future of the union movement.
Richard A. Ryan & Jeff Plungis, Detroit News, July 24, 2005

Washington - Organized labor is on the verge of its biggest split in 70 years, as four unions - including the Teamsters - threaten to withdraw from the AFL-CIO.

The rift in the nation's biggest labor organization is driven by a dispute over how union dues should be spent and whether political activism or grassroots organizing of campaigns is the best strategy to reverse labor's steady decline. ... AFL-CIO rift