The Partnership for America's Families, a labor-financed group involved in a dispute with some union officials, yesterday announced a new board of directors that includes five union presidents and four activists with ties to labor.
The announcement was designed to end a dispute between Partnership President Steve Rosenthal and Gerald W. McEntee, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, who resigned as chairman of the Partnership board. Andrew L. Stern, president of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), one of five union heads on the new board, said the group wants to "emulate the success" of the AFL-CIO in building a "grass-roots labor political machine."
The other members are Edward Fire, president of the Industrial Division of the Communications Workers of America; Arturo Rodriguez, president of the United Farm Workers; John Wilhelm, president of the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union (HERE); James Williams, general president of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades; Miguel Contreras, executive secretary and treasurer of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor; George Gresham, secretary-treasurer, SEIU 1199 New York; and Nevada state Sen. Margaret Carlton, a HERE member.
-- Thomas B. Edsall