Disorganized labor

last updated 8 January 2015

Chicago

The Teamsters and three other major unions split from the AFL-CIO this week, marking the biggest labor rift since the 1930s. The breakaway unions accused the leaders of the AFL-CIO, a massive federation of labor groups, of spending its money to support Democratic politicians instead of reversing years of declining membership. “We’re not trying to divide the labor movement,” said Andrew Stern of the breakaway Service Employees International Union. “We’re trying to rebuild it.” AFL-CIO leaders said the dispute would dilute labor’s already dwindling political power. “Those who left the house of labor are weakening our house,” said Leo Gerard, president of the United Steelworkers of America. “Shame on them.”