New Labor

Five of the largest labor unions in the AFL-CIO, representing 40% of its members today formed a new federation aimed at pressuring the entire AFL-CIO to adpot reforms geared towards increasing membership. Should the AFL-CIO reject these reforms, this new federation may bolt, splitting the labor movement.

The five unions, Service Employees International Union(SEIU), the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, the United Food and Commercial Workers and the Laborers' International Union of North America, are opposed to AFL-CIO president John Sweeny's strategy of focusing money on political organization, rather then steming the long decline of union membership in America. Of all the unions in the AFL-CIO, only the SEIU, under its firey president Andy Stern, is adding members.

Because unions are such a vital pillar of Democratic support, forming about a quarter ofthe electorate and voting Democratic by two-thirds, any shakeup in the union world is of vital importance to the Democratic party. The unity of the labor movement is not the most important issue here, however. If labor cannot reverse its massive declines soon, it will be a spent force. Andy Stern has shown he knows how to orgainze, and putting him at the head of a new federation should add some competition and vitality to the labor movement that should be encouraged.

The largest reason why unions haven't been adding members, however, is the anti-union laws that have been in place since the Regan administration. Should the Democrats ever get into power again, they may feel obliged to the unions to pass legislation to encourage membership gains. Until then, its time to see what Andy Stern can do shake things up.