Union group looks to squeeze AFL-CIO in row
A group of breakaway unions has advised its affiliates around the country to stop paying dues to state labor councils controlled by the AFL-CIO, a move local labor leaders fear could hurt organizing drives and political mobilization.
Carole Florman, a spokeswoman for the Change to Win Coalition, said the organization has told the heads of AFL-CIO state labor councils that it is recommending that payments be suspended until a farm workers' union has been allowed to sign a solidarity charter permitting it to work with state AFL-CIO labor councils on local issues of concern.
The Change to Win Coalition is made up of seven unions whose leaders have bolted from the national AFL-CIO, citing disagreements over strategy, organizing, and financing and taking an estimated 6 million union members with them.
The first union to leave was the Carpenters Union, followed last year by the Service Employees International Union, the Teamsters, United Food and Commercial Workers, and UNITE HERE, which represents laundry, textile, and maintenance workers. Later, the Laborers International Union and the United Farm Workers joined the coalition.
In recent months, the coalition and the AFL-CIO have struggled to resolve their differences. Last fall, the coalition agreed to let its affiliates sign solidarity charters allowing them to work with the AFL-CIO's state and local and labor councils. Since then, the farm workers have asked to sign a charter and join a labor council.
''When the unions left the AFL-CIO and the idea came up for the solidarity charters, there was a long negotiation and we all reached an accord in November," said Florman. ''But now, the Farm Workers Union cannot get a charter. This is a clear violation of the agreement we had."
Anna Burger, chairwoman of the coalition, sent a letter to labor council presidents last month informing them that she had advised her local affiliates to suspend dues, beginning May 1. State and local labor leaders affiliated with the partnership have yet to take action on Burger's advice.
Lane Windham, a spokeswoman for the national AFL-CIO, said the charters applied only to the five original breakaway unions, and not to any others.
Some state council presidents are concerned. Several said the loss of financing and members could hurt the labor movement's efforts to organize political action programs, workers' rights campaigns and other activities.
Jeff Crosby, the president of the North Shore Labor Council, says he has about 19,000 members who represent 47 unions. Of those, approximately 25 percent are members of the coalition's breakaway unions. Crosby, who sent a letter signed by 100 council presidents to Burger, said he has urged that she encourage her affiliates to continue paying dues. His $40,000 annual budget would lose about $10,000, he said.
''As of now, most of the Change to Win locals in my council are not suspending payment," he said. ''They are important contributors to our council. They are friends. We walk each other's picket lines. Now, we are asking them to hold their fire. This year, with national elections coming up, it is critical that we work together."
Cindy Rodrigues, the president of the Greater Southeastern Massachusetts Labor Council, said if the coalition's affiliates stop paying dues, her budget would decline by 50 percent or approximately $7,400. She has 15,000 members.
About 40 percent of the 70,000-member Greater Boston Labor Council are members of the disaffected unions, according to Rich Rogers, president. He said, however, that his $250,000 yearly budget would not be affected immediately.
''Short-term, we would be able to weather the storm," he said. ''Long term? It would have a big impact on our organization. The other concern: Some of our labor councils are in key states and we are now trying to win back Congress. If the Change to Win locals pull out, that could have a bad impact in strategic places around the country."
Diane E. Lewis can be reached at dlewis@globe.com. 
