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AFL-CIO Developing Local Unity Plan
AFL-CIO President John Sweeney has proposed a CWA-supported plan to allow locals of the recently disaffiliated unions to continue to participate in state AFL-CIO federations and central labor councils.
The plan that he submitted to the federation's executive council for approval this week calls for issuing Solidarity Charters to such locals, allowing them to participate in local political mobilization and other programs, and giving them the same voting rights as other locals, except that their members can't hold top offices in the state and local bodies.
CWA Executive Vice President Larry Cohen was one of three council members who were primary authors of the solidarity plan.
"It's not these locals' fault that their national unions left the AFL-CIO, and it's not working people's fault," said Sweeney. "They shouldn't have to bear the brunt of a decision by their leadership."
Sweeney was referring to the recent pullout of the Service Employees, Food and Commercial Workers, and Teamsters. Locals of the Carpenters, which left the AFL-CIO years ago, also are eligible for Solidarity Charters.
To sign up for the special charters, locals would pay per capita dues at their former level plus an extra 10 percent "solidarity fee" that would go into the Solidarity Fund established at the recent AFL-CIO convention to help support local bodies affected by the disaffiliations. The fee would also offset the cost of services provided to the councils and state feds by the national AFL-CIO, which no longer is supported by the disaffiliated parent unions.
Solidarity Charter locals would agree not to raid their fellow unions and to support other workers in their area in strikes and organizing struggles.
The plan that he submitted to the federation's executive council for approval this week calls for issuing Solidarity Charters to such locals, allowing them to participate in local political mobilization and other programs, and giving them the same voting rights as other locals, except that their members can't hold top offices in the state and local bodies.
CWA Executive Vice President Larry Cohen was one of three council members who were primary authors of the solidarity plan.
"It's not these locals' fault that their national unions left the AFL-CIO, and it's not working people's fault," said Sweeney. "They shouldn't have to bear the brunt of a decision by their leadership."
Sweeney was referring to the recent pullout of the Service Employees, Food and Commercial Workers, and Teamsters. Locals of the Carpenters, which left the AFL-CIO years ago, also are eligible for Solidarity Charters.
To sign up for the special charters, locals would pay per capita dues at their former level plus an extra 10 percent "solidarity fee" that would go into the Solidarity Fund established at the recent AFL-CIO convention to help support local bodies affected by the disaffiliations. The fee would also offset the cost of services provided to the councils and state feds by the national AFL-CIO, which no longer is supported by the disaffiliated parent unions.
Solidarity Charter locals would agree not to raid their fellow unions and to support other workers in their area in strikes and organizing struggles.