>From the AFL-CIO website
http://www.aflcio.org/mediacenter/prsptm/pr08112005.cfm?RenderForPrint=1
Under the new Solidarity Charters, if a local union of a disaffiliated union wants to be part of a united local movement in their city and state, they can apply to be part of the central labor council (clc) or state federation. They will sign up with the same level of membership they had before their union left the AFL-CIO, or sign up at the average membership level for that city or state, whichever is higher. They will also pay a 10 percent solidarity fee to the labor council or state federation to help offset the cost of services and mobilization systems provided by the national AFL-CIO and supported by its affiliated unions. The solidarity fee will go into the Solidarity Fund established at the convention that help support local bodies affected by the unions' decision to leave the Federation.
Locals who receive Solidarity Charters will need to honor basic principles of solidarity. They will agree not to raid their brother and sister unions, participate fully in the local political mobilization efforts, and support other working people in their area who are on strike, organizing, or in other struggles. Unions will have the same voting rights as other locals-except that members of unions with a Solidarity Charter can't hold top offices, except that individuals already in office can finish out their terms.
The Executive Council is expected to finish deciding whether to approve the Solidarity Charters within the next several days, and they could become effective in September.
[The Carpenters would be included.]
Harold Meyerson covers it for American Prospect
http://www.prospect.org/web/page.ww?section=root&name=ViewWeb&articleId=10100
Stuart Elliott http://newappeal.blogspot.com/ www.ksworkbeat.org