AFL-CIO Convention Comes to Los Angeles

Union leaders and activists from around the country, in Los Angeles September 8 for the AFL-CIO Convention, will get a close look at a regional labor movement with membership numbers holding steady or even slightly increasing.

Compare this with much of the U.S., where the percentage of workers represented by unions is dropping rapidly and persistently.

L.A., more than most cities (and California, more than most states) has stayed a step ahead of an employer class determined to cleanse the global economy of collective worker power.

Credit Los Angeles and statewide unions for building tightly run coalitions with immigrant-rights and economic-justice groups; their brassy leadership and an electoral strategy which has – so far, at least – beaten back anti-union measures like Proposition 32.

AFL-CIO delegates from the de-industrialized Midwest, by contrast, have been facing relentless attacks from Republican governors and legislatures fronting right-to-work drives and laws restricting public employee bargaining rights.

Can unions in Michigan, Wisconsin and Ohio – without the advantages of California’s dynamic and diverse economy, and political culture – regroup to fight another day?

No one at the convention will deny the existential crises plaguing the American labor movement. But, as always, there are hopeful signs and the AFL-CIO will have some positive notes to hit:

• One of the largest national unions will be rejoining the fold. The 1.3 million-member United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) bolted from the federation in ’05 with several others in the Change to Win secession.
• For the first time in 10 years, there’s a fully functioning National Labor Relations Board (five Senate-confirmed members), although some of the board’s pro-union decisions and rule-making could be voided next year if the Supreme Court finds President Obama’s previous recess appointments unconstitutional.
• Union-funded Alt-Labor campaigns on behalf of minimum wage workers are gaining national attention.

Of course, there will be a lot of talk among delegates about widening income inequality, obstructionist Republicans and a White House and administration whose actions on behalf of workers don’t measure up.

Another theme for “true believers” is how to keep the flame hot until American wage-earners recognize that economic justice won’t come without a fight. In other words, laying the groundwork for that future labor movement, whatever it may look like.

(This post first appeared on Labor Lou and is republished with permission.)