Hey, Hey, Ho, Ho, Boycott AFL CIO

Some clarification seems in order: The SEIU and the Teamsters are quitting the AFL-CIO entirely. Two other unions, UNITE HERE and the food and commercial workers' union, are still in the AFL-CIO but are boycotting the convention. The dispute, more or less, is about organizing particularly and the future of labor generally: SEIU especially and the other three to a lesser degree have been taking the position over the last few years that the only way to really revitalize organized labor is through massive organizing pushes (that's why they want the AFL-CIO to give back a big portion of membership dues to local unions for them to spend on getting new members). The national leadership of the AFL-CIO want to organize, but they also want to spend a lot on lobbying and political activity that will, in theory at least, benefit existing members. Critics of the schism say it will weaken the national political efforts that give unions some policymaking clout. Advocates of the schism say that the political discourse under the current administration is so corporate and to the right, the only thing that will make a difference is the inarguable strength of greater numbers in the ranks. There's also a feeling among them (the dissidents and their supporters) that the old leadership is a little too comfortable, and perhaps to insulated from the rank and file, to do things right.

Local 26 is part of UNITE-HERE which certainly is, or at least was until last week, part of the AFL-CIO.