Groups Affiliated With AFL-CIO Lose Federal Funds

The Department of Labor has cut off job training grants to two organizations affiliated with the AFL-CIO: the Appalachian Council and the Working for America Institute.  Responding to Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) during a Capitol Hill hearing last month, a Labor Department representative said the Appalachian Council had demonstrated “unsatisfactory performance,” failing to place youths in jobs related to their training at suitable wages.  The Department declined a $3.9 million request after funding the Council for more than 35 years.  The Department also rejected a $1.5 million request from the Working for America Institute for job training programs.  Specter has pledged to try to force the Department to reverse its decisions.

Democrats Avert Labor Demonstrations at Convention

Only a few hours before labor union activists planned to picket partygoers on the eve of the Democratic National Convention, Boston officials forged an agreement with city firefighters and averted embarrassment for the Democrats.  Firefighters and policemen working without contracts had planned to demonstrate throughout the convention last month.  Boston Mayor Thomas Menino urged convention delegates to attend all events and regard the demonstrations as “informational picket lines only,” not a “strike.”  Boston Police Patrolmen’s Association spokesman Jim Barry retorted, “Good Democrats will know a picket line when they see one.”  In the end, Boston officials conceded a 10.5 percent raise (over three years) to firefighters and a 14.5 percent raise (over four years) to police patrolmen. 

SEIU’s Stern Targets Democrats for Criticism

Andrew Stern, the reform-minded president of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the nation’s largest labor union, told The Washington Post that the Democrats and organized labor might be better off if Sen. John Kerry loses the presidential election.  Stern’s comments, which came as the Democrats held their national convention in Boston, seemed to conflict with the SEIU’s endorsement and funding of Kerry’s campaign.  But Stern argued that just as the AFL-CIO must be restructured, so is the Democratic Party in need of fresh ideas and restructuring, which are unlikely to occur if Kerry wins the election.  Stern complained that Kerry and his party have failed to adequately address “the Wal-Mart economy” and trade issues.

NEA Behind Grassroots Campaign to Increase Public School Funding

Billed as “the largest grassroots mobilization in our country’s history,” a campaign to increase taxpayer funding of public schools is being sponsored by the National Education Association and allied nonprofits.  The coalition–including the Campaign for America’s Future, MoveOn.org, ACORN, the NAACP Voters Fund and the U.S. Hispanic Leadership Institute–plans public events in the fall.

AFT’s Feldman Retires

Sandra Feldman, president of the American Federation of Teachers since 1997 and successor to legendary AFT founder Albert Shanker, retired in July.  Although Feldman was praised for supporting educational standards, testing and charter schools, she vigorously opposed school vouchers.

Union Protesters Shove GOP Demonstrators