John Sweeney

John Sweeney spent the past 14 years building the AFL-CIO into a political powerhouse for worker's rights and other progressive Democratic causes. Yet over the same time, the ranks of union members continued to shrink, diminishing organized labor's clout in the workplace. Frustration with Sweeney's tenure and the dip in membership led seven unions to split from the AFL-CIO four years ago to form the rival Change to Win federation. As Sweeney, 75, prepares to step down next week as AFL-CIO president, his successor and longtime deputy — Richard Trumka — wants to aggressively recruit younger workers and boost membership as a means of ... Read Full Story

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Signaling an attempt to move forward on stalled U.S. union legislation, AFL-CIO president John Sweeney would back speedy votes by workers on whether to join a union rather than the much-attacked "card check" provision, The New York Times reported on Saturday. Sweeney, head of the largest U.S. labor federation, told the newspaper he would accept a fast election campaign because it would help stem management interference during union organizing drives. The card check legislation, backed by U.S. President Barack Obama, would let workers decide whether to unionize by signing a petition or holding a secret-ballot election. Employers can now require ... Read Full Story

Richard Trumka fashions himself after some of the 20th centurys labor firebrands. Set to become AFL-CIO president next month, the mustachioed third-generation mine worker from southwestern Pennsylvania cuts an imposing figure. His fists are the size of softballs and he pounds the lectern to make his point. But hell need more than might to reinvigorate a flagging movement beset by globalization, corporate power and union infighting. On Monday, Trumka said hes up to the challenge, pledging to capitalize on Democratic majorities in Congress and to heal bitter union divisions. He told convention delegates of the international painters union here that he would recast the ... Read Full Story

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Labor Secretary Hilda Solis on Monday assured America's biggest labor federation that the Obama administration would fight for legislation in Congress to make it easier for unions to organize workers. Solis also called on unions to help President Barack Obama secure healthcare reform in Congress but made no reference to labor's main priority -- a government-run insurance program -- which has divided Democrats and outraged Republicans. "I will work with the White House so that together we make the strongest case possible for the Employee Free Choice Act," she told the AFL-CIO's quadrennial convention in Pittsburgh. "My friends, we will ... Read Full Story

The man who guided the nation's largest union federation for 14 years is bidding farewell. John Sweeney is expected to reflect on his legacy Sunday when he delivers the keynote address to hundreds of delegates at the AFL-CIO's convention in Pittsburgh. Sweeney built the AFL-CIO into a political powerhouse for workers' rights and social change. But unions also continued to lose members under his watch as millions of U.S. manufacturing jobs disappeared. Sweeney will be succeeded by longtime deputy Richard Trumka later this week. Trumka has vowed to make the AFL-CIO even more aggressive politically and to spend more time wooing younger workers. Read Full Story