The defection of 2 major labor unions from the AFL-CIO could present an interesting challenge for unionized, hourly workers in the immediate future.
The Teamsters (truck drivers, longshoremen) and the Service Employees International Union (office workers and other service workers) who together have almost 5 million card carrying members, represents a little less than half of all members represented by the AFL-CIO. Two other unions, the Food Workers and a small union called UNITE HERE (hotel and textile workers) are thought to soon also be bolting from the federation.
Why is this important? Primarily because the reasons for the defection mean that some unionized workers are willing to start a new federation to try to stop job losses and benefit cutbacks that have been eroding their paychecks in recent years. It's also important to Hawai'i because of Hawai'i's geographic isolation.
Will this mean more labor strikes as contracts come up for renewal? That remains to be seen. But this is the first time since the 1930's that the labor unions are disagreeing with their leadership about direction and demands. What's ironic is that the head of the Teamsters, Jimmy Hoffa Jr. (the son of the man who is reputed to be wearing concrete shoes somewhere in the middle of the Great Lakes), will more than likely become the head of the new federation, which is being called the "Change to Win Coalition" (how much more "Democratic" can you get?)
Miulang
The Teamsters (truck drivers, longshoremen) and the Service Employees International Union (office workers and other service workers) who together have almost 5 million card carrying members, represents a little less than half of all members represented by the AFL-CIO. Two other unions, the Food Workers and a small union called UNITE HERE (hotel and textile workers) are thought to soon also be bolting from the federation.
Why is this important? Primarily because the reasons for the defection mean that some unionized workers are willing to start a new federation to try to stop job losses and benefit cutbacks that have been eroding their paychecks in recent years. It's also important to Hawai'i because of Hawai'i's geographic isolation.
Will this mean more labor strikes as contracts come up for renewal? That remains to be seen. But this is the first time since the 1930's that the labor unions are disagreeing with their leadership about direction and demands. What's ironic is that the head of the Teamsters, Jimmy Hoffa Jr. (the son of the man who is reputed to be wearing concrete shoes somewhere in the middle of the Great Lakes), will more than likely become the head of the new federation, which is being called the "Change to Win Coalition" (how much more "Democratic" can you get?)
Miulang
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