Organized Labor Reassessing Its Future

WASHINGTON -- The election is over. Let another begin -- for the helm of the AFL-CIO. The failed presidential bid of union-backed John Kerry was a reminder that organized labor's clout is shrinking.

Drastic changes are needed to rebuild, Andy Stern, president of the Service Employees International Union, told other union leaders Tuesday in a letter obtained by The Associated Press.

As the Democratic Party, stunned by big GOP gains across the country last week, reassesses its future, so too will labor, whose members were 14 percent of the electorate after a multimillion-dollar voter mobilization operation.

"When only 13 percent of the American work force is in unions, our ability to win national elections is limited," said Stern's letter, coming the day before union leaders meet to assess labor's political program.

http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/nation/wire/sns-ap-labor-future,0,6378226.story?coll=sns-ap-nation-headlines

Time to adapt and overcome.

In all aspects of the (ownership society)service working people,will be the REASSESSED.

40% of the union vote went to Bush.

because that's what they'd be making without the union!

To things that actually win support of their members, such as pay, benefits and working conditions. To spend dues money on political causes that not all members support is irresponsible and undermines their support from workers.

Barely win the Union votes anymore. It's something like 60 to 40. The Democrats dontdo much for Labor anymore. Also, labor has lost most of it's power and many union members dont even take them seriously anymore. I am a member of the CWA and I cant tell you how many of my co-workers vote GOP.

many union votes are in red states