AFL-CIO Sends Mixed Signals to Members
On ‘One Nation’ Oct. 2 Washington March

The AFL-CIO Executive Council issued a statement on Aug. 4-5, that supported the October 2 March on Washington for Jobs, initiated by the One Nation Working Together, but immediately offered a reason why it would not officially participate.

The Council statement said: “On the same day [Oct. 2], the union movement will walk door-to-door in targeted states around the country mobilizing union members exactly one month before the election.” There was no explanation why the Oct. 2 date was so important to the AFL-CIO that it could not be changed to a day or two before or after.

In fact, the AFL-CIO had begun its election campaign on July 12. Here is how it was reported on the AFL-CIO Web site on that date in July:

“In [California] and 21 other states, today, union members at worksites across tnation are kicking off a nationwide grassroots campaign with a call for creating American jobs now, and backing the candidates that support them.”

At several campaign rallies in July, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka told labor audiences his oft-repeated challenge that, if politicians want the votes of working families, they must create good jobs here in America now. “People aren’t interested in campaign slogans or promises. They want results,” he said.

One Nation Working Together is an alliance of many movements to “build a more united America—with jobs, justice and education for all.” It was first proposed by the NAACP and has grown to 170 labor, civil rights, environmental, youth, faith and immigrant groups. The theme of the march is: “Putting America Back to Work” and “Bringing America Back Together.”

AFL-CIO Statement Creates Confusion in 22 States

The AFL-CIO statement, that on Oct. 2, it will be mobilizing union members in 22 targeted states for election campaigning has caused confusion among many thousands of unionists who are planning to attend the Oct. 2 march.. They want to know how many union members will be needed for door-to-door canvassing, and why couldn’t the campaign date be changed?

Three AFL-CIO international unions have warmly embraced the idea of the march and have called on their members to participate. They are: American Federation of Teachers (AFT), Communications Workers of America (CWA), and Transport Workers Union (TWU). Other international and local unions are expected to announce heir decision to participate.

There are three reasons why Trumka and the Executive Council are reluctant to participate officially in the Oct. 2 march: (1) They historically avoid participating in events they don’t initiate and cannot directly control; (2) They worry that rank-and-file militants can use the march to expand their influence and within the labor movement, and (3) if the turnout on Oct. 2 is smaller than expected, it would have a bad effect on their popularity.

But the reputation of the AFL-CIO leadership will suffer more if they are seen as curtailing attendance at an event that could be seen as an unprecedented demonstration of a united people’s movement for jobs and justice.

There is still time for Trumka to change his stance about Oct. 2. There are no real disagreements between One Nation and the AFL-CIO. If he called on all union members, including those in the targeted 22 states, to join the Oct. 2 march, he would be welcomed as a hero. So why doesn’t he do it?.—Harry Kelber

LaborTalk (97) will be posted here on September 10, 2010 and on our two web sites: (www.laboreducator.org) and (www.laborsvoiceforchange.org).