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:: Friday, August 08, 2003 ::

Construction Labor Report - AFL-CIO Sweeney Orders BCTD to Drop Carpenters; Building Trade Leaders Unified in Opposition

Reporting no progress in reaffiliation negotiations with the Carpenters and Joiners of America, AFL-CIO President John J. Sweeney has told the federation's Building and Construction Trades Department to disaffiliate the union at the national and district council levels by no later than Sept. 15, according to an Aug. 1 letter from Sweeney to BCTD President Edward C. Sullivan.

Sullivan, in an Aug. 3 written response to Sweeney, asked for more time to resolve the matter. Commending Sweeney for his continued efforts to persuade the Carpenters to return to the labor fold, Sullivan said he was 'disappointed and concerned' that the discussions to date have not been successful.

'This crisis does not belong exclusively to John Sweeney, [Carpenters President] Doug McCarron and Ed Sullivan, but must be shared by all leaders of conscience who embrace our movement, treasure its heritage, and seek better standards of living for workers,' Sullivan said in the letter. 'In the end, we all must answer to our members and to future workers why, in this critical moment, we risked such grave consequences because labor's collective leadership failed to find a better solution.'

posted 8:08 AM :: reference link :: 0 comments ::

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