Can a ‘Third Way” Save the AFL-CIO From Break-Up and Open Warfare? - LaborTalk by Harry Kelber
Since the presidents of the 15 largest AFL-CIO unions are all white, middle-aged or elderly males, except for one African -American (from the Postal Workers), it means that women and Latinos can have no voice at all in national policy decisions that impact on the lives of their respective constituencies. It also means that qualified leaders of state federations and central labor councils are permanently barred from seeking seats on the Executive Committee.
And since the international union presidents have decided that only they can hold national office, there is no need for elections. The AFL-CIO will be run by a self-serving, self-perpetuating club of union presidents who will retain power indefinitely, without accountability and regardless of how poorly they serve the union movement.
Is that the kind of leadership that's going to rebuild the AFL-CIO and improve the lives of working people?