A Deal Is Made

    It seems like ages since the Solidarity Charter issue was being debated (I divide time now between BSI--Before Scooter's Indictment--and ASI--After Scooter's Indictment). But, it seems as if we're done and the major issues have been resolved, with negotiations continuing on the exact "specific amount and mechanism for a solidarity fee to be paid by the Change to Win unions to help the national AFL-CIO cover administrative overhead and costs of supporting its state federations and central labor councils," according to a statement from the AFL-CIO yesterday. 

    In the statement, the AFL-CIO says:

Under Solidarity Charters, Change to Win local unions will:

·   Participate fully in the Federation's member mobilization and political programs, including granting access to membership lists via a mechanism mutually agreed upon by the AFL-CIO and Change to Win, and be bound by whatever actions or decisions of the Federation that are binding on all affiliated local unions;

·   Agree not to raid or support raiding of any other local union participating in the state or local central body;

·   Support the regular struggles of unions in their jurisdiction, including organizing campaigns, strikes, boycotts and other activities;

·   Recognize that local unions of national unions not affiliated with the National AFL-CIO may not participate in any governing body or convention of the National AFL-CIO.

    Change To Win's view?

     The agreement reached between Change to Win and the AFL-CIO represents a step forward for workers.  Change to Win has always encouraged our local affiliates to participate in state and local bodies, and the fact is that they have continued to do so in the absence of an agreement at the national level.  This protocol for participation that we’ve now agreed to nationally explicitly approves of what had been happening all along. 

The end result is that the Change to Win local unions who want to partner with the state and local level with state federations and central bodies will be equal partners with the AFL-CIO affiliated locals.  And at the national level, Change to Win and the AFL-CIO will each pursue our own strategies for giving workers a voice in their jobs and communities.

    Well, so, this appears to be a positive step in learning to work in a world of two labor federations.

 

Comments

[G.]

Don't pop the cork on that champagne quite yet. I understand that there are still ongoing negotiations and the press piece by the AFL is a little bit early.