Democracy in the Workplace—CWA proposals for the AFL-CIO

Toward a Stronger Labor Movement

The AFL-CIO has asked affiliates to examine what we must do to strengthen the labor movement. Please read CWA's statement below.

You may read other unions' proposals here.

Democracy in the workplace is the basis for popular support for collective bargaining, provides the best foundation for union organizing, and should provide a framework for union infrastructure at the local and national levels as well as for the AFL-CIO. It is widely accepted that there is a collective bargaining crisis in the US driven by the worst management repression of workplace rights in any democracy. CWA believes that active union members are the best and only hope for reversing this, and that unions must invest much more in mobilizing our members.

The AFL-CIO can and must reinforce workplace mobilization of our 12 million union members as the only likely method to reverse the decline in collective bargaining and organizing rights. We must keep in mind that nothing the AFL-CIO does to restructure itself will change the anti-union character of corporate America’s conduct. But the mobilization of 12 million union members can raise the cost of that behavior and point the way to a better and more democratic America. The renewal of the labor movement must be lead by union stewards and local officers deepening their participation with, and governance of, CLC’s and the political endorsements and decisions which affect the communities in which they live.

Collective Bargaining and Organizing Rights. Collective bargaining density is much lower in the US than in any other industrial democracy. This is the reality that unites us, now more than ever. The AFL-CIO has done its best work in this area including 245 congressional co-sponsors for the Employee Free Choice Act, and significant support for Jobs with Justice and American Rights at Work. We must continue to rally the legislative supporters and, more importantly, mobilize our own members like never before to fight for effective collective bargaining in both the private and public sectors. Jobs with Justice, the national network of community-labor coalitions, has a 17 year track record of waging successful local campaigns to defend workers rights, through direct action on the job and in the community. Labor should make a renewed financial and organizational commitment to building JwJ local groups, plus support American Rights At Work in its parallel efforts to improve the understanding and climate for organizing and bargaining.
United Collective Bargaining. Bargaining outcomes are influenced by at least 4 factors—the employer, occupation, industry, and community involved. The weight of each factor can shift in both organizing and bargaining, depending on the circumstances. Building labor unity in bargaining has always been a challenge. It was an issue when collective bargaining density was at 8% in 1930, when it reached 35% in 1950 and stands today at 12 %. The work of creating unity between locals, national unions, or different occupational groups is essential and never-ending--no matter how we are structured. But the ability of workers to self organize and build their own unions--either through our organizations or by creating new ones--must be the cornerstone of any labor reform effort. Established AFL-CIO union organizing programs should be designed to enhance or build effective collective bargaining.
Unions As Effective Workplace Organizations. Union democracy is not a slogan, it must be a reality in everything we do. Unions work best when they are organized from the workplace up not the top down. Leadership must reflect the diversity of our membership including younger members at all levels of leadership. Strengthening the role of stewards and workplace mobilizers continues to be critical for effective collective bargaining, organizing, and political action. In fact, without effective stewards, there is little likelihood that we will be successful in any area. We need to continue to develop and promote leadership from our own members.
Strike Benefits. In every democracy with vital unions, effective strikes are critical to support collective bargaining. With proper funding we could guarantee that all strikers receive at least $200 per week. Strike insurance could be funded from AFL-CIO per capita with rebates for unions that can fund their own benefits at this level.
Central Labor Councils. If we are serious about motivating more active participation by members, we must increase their participation at all levels of our unions. Labor councils remain the best way to mobilize for political and legislative action.
Political Unity. Political unity is at least as important as industrial unity. Our stewards and local officers agree on most political questions, but all too often--at some other level of one or more unions--there is interference with a democratic endorsement process. We need to set much clearer standards for endorsements by a super-majority of union members and then prevent national unions from opportunistically supporting a different candidate--which wastes resources and undermines a united effort.
Global Unions at International Corporations. There have been great examples of global unity going back for decades. Today, there are global union networks active in telecom including virtual committees using the internet, websites and multi-lingual conference calls. Similar cross-border union networking goes on within multi-national food, auto and service sector firms. The AFL-CIO should actively encourage such cross border union networking at multinational employers. We should especially look for opportunities to work across the Canadian border with our Canadian colleagues.
Social Action. What we stand for is important--if we are to energize our members and allies. The US spends twice as much on health care as any other industrial democracy with the lowest level of health care access. Retirement security and now Social Security are threatened by schemes to turn pensions into investment accounts rather than income protection plans. These are two critical issues where a united labor movement can make a difference. The AFL-CIO should mobilize a summit of our allies from the 2004 elections to develop a joint strategy. The AFL-CIO should also support media diversity as a vehicle for social change on these issues and all others.
Merging National Unions. In the past 10 years, about 50 national unions have merged voluntarily. This trend will undoubtedly continue. The issue is how mergers can change union workplaces, lead to more active stewards and greater member involvement, and create more effective organizing, collective bargaining and political action. Mergers must be voluntary and with demonstrated member support.
Focus AFL-CIO Resources. We should continue to narrow and sharpen the focus of the Federation in two primary areas: politics and legislation and support of collective bargaining. Per capita payments to the Federation should be based on those functions and programs we want the AFL-CIO to perform, not an arbitrary reduction.

Summarizing action points from the above, the AFL-CIO should:

Recognize that organizing is the responsibility of the national unions. However, the Federation should continue to support the Organizing Institute as a tool for the use of the affiliates.
Link support for any specific union organizing or political campaign to the affiliates’ significant participation and mobilization in the Voice @ Work national campaign to restore collective bargaining and organizing rights.
Encourage multi-union bargaining and organizing councils at the same employers with decisions based on membership size. Establish voluntary organizing and bargaining councils based on occupation, industry and region.
Political unity has never been more vital. Once a candidate is endorsed in accordance with the rules of the Federation/State Fed/CLC, sanctions should be levied against any union that gives aid and support to the opposing candidate. We cannot afford to have one affiliate cancel out or dilute the decision of the other affiliates.
The cost of financing our political work should be part of the regular per capita. All special or voluntary assessments should be eliminated.
Establish national strike insurance for all federation unions as outlined above.
Encourage affiliates to study more flexible union structures in order to attract into unions professional, technical and administrative workers who may never enjoy collective bargaining.
The National Labor College prepares union leaders and union activists from all affiliates to meet the challenges of a changing world. Federation support, as needed, should continue.
Mandate participation in CLCs and state federations. Also, mandate that as a condition of mandatory affiliations, bylaws for electing officers and making political endorsements must be based on decisions made through the widest possible participation of workplace delegates.

(adopted CWA executive board, January, 2005)