Group issues plan to reorganize AFL-CIO

Alana Roberts

Tuesday, May 17, 2005 | 11:02 a.m.

A group of four unions, including Culinary Union Local 226 parent UNITE HERE, has issued its own proposal on how to reorganize the AFL-CIO.

The unions that have expressed dissatisfaction with the leadership of the AFL-CIO include the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the Service Employees International Union, UNITE HERE, the United Food and Commercial Workers Union and the Laborers' International Union of North America.

A UFCW spokesman said that union did not specifically sign onto the other four union's proposal, but that the union joins the group in rejecting a proposal by AFL-CIO President John Sweeney. He said the union is taking the dissident union's proposal to its own executive board for action.

The dissident unions have said proposals devised by Sweeney don't go far enough toward making the kinds of changes they think are necessary for the labor movement to remain relevant.

The dissident unions' "Restoring the American Dream: Building a 21st Century Labor Movement that can Win" plan includes devoting $60 million, or half of the AFL-CIO's annual budget, toward growth initiatives. Of that, the group proposes to redirect or rebate $35 million of the dues unions pay to the AFL-CIO back toward unions that aggressively organize.

The group plans to spend $25 million a year on campaigns, such as the federation's effort in targeting nonunion retail giant Wal-Mart.

Sweeney has outlined his own plan for streamlining and reorganizing the federation. Sweeney has already cut one-fourth of the federation's staff and has proposed forming a $22.5 million strategic organizing fund as well as devoting $7.5 million to assist in campaigns against companies the group says abuse workers.

John Wilhelm, president of the hospitality division of UNITE HERE, had reportedly planned to run for president of the AFL-CIO against Sweeney in July. On Monday Wilhelm denied that he is a candidate to run for the position, saying the issues of reform within the labor movement are more important than who runs for the presidency. However, his comments leave that possibility open.

"Our four unions believe that the question of the issues come first and the question of candidacy comes second," Wilhelm said. "That's because if the unions representing the majority of AFL-CIO union members believe, as we do, that dramatic change is necessary, then new leadership would be required."

Wilhelm said the issues will likely be discussed at two upcoming AFL-CIO meetings before the July AFL-CIO convention. He said at that time the group will have a better handle on whether enough unions will support the dissident unions' proposal.