Friday, September 18, 2009

TRUMKA HEADS AFL-CIO


Interesting news in the world of union leadership. Richard Trumka, second in command to retiring President John Sweeney, has taken over the AFL-CIO Presidency. [almost in a coronation manner]
I'm reading in several accounts that it was pretty much pre-ordained.
In the recent past, the AFL-CIO has spent most of their war chest on candidates that have been friendly to labor. That is not expected to change.

What's interesting is, I got this email about UNITE coming back to the big family at AFL-CIO and walking away from SEIU. Any of us who get such emails and twitters, know there has been a move to leave SEIU for quite some time. Maybe UNITE shouldn't have left in the first place, But I don't know all the details. With a few friends in the hotel business, I would get to hear some of the in-fighting that their representation was going through, but not to this extent.

What I did see in the New York Times, was that Arlen Specter has made a complete turnaround on the Employee Free Choice Act. Shocking isn't it? What got into him? Well the opportunity to insert some stipulations of his own of course. That's the Specter we remember.

To close: I say congrats to Richard Trumka in leading the troops back to the home team. Its only a matter of time before those you left behind rejoin as well.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm very pleased with Rich Trumpka taking over AFL-CIO !! My favorite quote of Trumpka's " WE need to be a labor movement that stands by our friends,punishes its enemies,and challenges those who cant seem to decide which side they're on." Sound familiar? There is a certain labor leader in Kingston that is no longer an officer of CSEA but runs Political Action for kingston CSEA that practices and embraces this philosophy of Trumpka's. The Mayor and the front office (Gorsline and co.) regularly were pummeled by this labor leader and his philosophy. Once again, Im very happy for Rich Trumpka...

Anonymous said...

I thought it was Alex Karras . Football season and all and just having watched a rerun of Blazing Saddles.

Congrats on your win!!!...smitty

Anonymous said...

Now if everyone would look for the "Made in USA" on the label, we'd all be better off. Seriously folks, your continued shopping at WalMart and the big box stores where Chinese manufactured goods undermine the efforts here in the states, only perpetuates the decline in our own economy.
Purchase goods that are made here and you'll save jobs here.

TRB

Anonymous said...

The UAW has just released its annual list of union-made vehicles. The 2010 list includes cars, trucks, pickups, vans, SUVs and crossovers from U.S., European and Asian-based carmakers. The guide lists all vehicles made by UAW members, members of the Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) and IUE-CWA

Anonymous said...

I see 8:17 (Troy) got in the first comment. Amazing that he and Bart spend so much time on Cahill's Blog. It's a wonder they get any sleep.

Anonymous said...

Mike, you should be able to recognise the author of some of the comments. They should really just start their own BLog.

Anonymous said...

Wait, didn't the voters reject all of the candidates that CSEA endorsed locally two years ago? How is it that they are so splintered from the regional labor federation and yet expect a victory this year?
Explain this?

Mike Madsen said...

hey 9:13...If Troy, Bart or Imre want to comment anonymously on the Blogs, that's up to them.
I tend to let the readers have a say, so long as it isn't incendiary and libel.

Sometimes I correct their poor grammar.

Have you seen all the comments on Fishbowl praising Noonan? Who do you think writes that?

Anonymous said...

All of the candidates that were endorsed by Csea two years ago won except Bob Gillon and Rich Cahill.

Anonymous said...

Its a shame we don't have Troy and co. fighting for our jobs this year. Lets see what the Mayor's ticket can do. Look for hefty layoffs and no opposition.

PS Its not just Bart and Troy.

Anonymous said...

I thought the mayor and Charlie Thomas got rid of those two. I guess I was wrong.

Anonymous said...

Saw Trumka on Rachel Maddow show last night. He is spot-on with where the unions should be on healthcare.

Well spoken and clear on the the issues. They have a damn good leader who seems to use the press better.

Anonymous said...

6:03, Bart is the President for the next 4 years, and Troy controls political action. Your not gonna always see Troy, but he is always there. Charlie Thomas isn't strong enough to get rid of those boys, they are too well insulated in the union. As a matter of fact, Charlie has serious resentment against Troy because Troy gave Charlie a physical beating in Charlie's bar a few years ago. Furthermore, Bart has exposed Charlie for under handed activity on the job.