Marc Ambinder The Atlantic 14 Jan 2009 11:12 am
Here's an internal memo written by Change to Win executive director Chris Chafe and addressed to executives and local leaders of the seven change to win unions: Chafe is speaking to recent reports about backroom merger talks between the CtW, the AFL-CIO and the NEA, and he seeks to reassure his unions that the CtW won't abandon the principles that caused it to separate from the AFL-CIO in the first place.
"In the course of the past week there has been considerable speculation in the press and within the labor world about last week's meeting of several union presidents from Change to Win and AFL-CIO affiliates. These meetings represented a more formal and focused dialogue regarding potential steps to unify the American labor movement. As many of you know, since the split in 2005 Change to Win leaders and staff have consistently taken steps to maintain a constructive and collaborative working relationship with the NEA and AFL-CIO affiliates and the federation leadership itself. We worked collaboratively on the 2006 and2008 federal elections and in some areas during the 2007 elections as well. In addition, we have supported organizing campaigns of AFL CIO affiliates at the local and national level, and our national legislative staffs have continued to work closely together on Capitol Hill, in particular on common agenda such as the Employee Free Choice Act.
"Despite the split in 2005, we have and will always seek partnerships within the labor movement and with key players in the public arena who share our values and commitment to strengthening the conditions of working families across this country and the world. Last week's discussions and those anticipated to follow in the coming months are a more formal attempt to explore areas of common ground in this era of new opportunity for labor and working families. Our leaders will do all we can, both within the structure of Change to Win and the Strategic Organizing Center, with our affiliates, and with allies in labor and beyond to capture this moment of possibility, and create the tangible results and changes that Americans want and need. We are making a strong effort to build new capacity and collaboration to pass Free Choice and drive a growth agenda through the new government,among many priorities. Our campaigns to organize port drivers, retail workers, logistical workers, to ensure that new green jobs are good green jobs, and to support our affiliates campaigns will continue, as will our drive to create new models for growing the labor movement through every avenue possible. It would be premature and inappropriate to speculate about the potential outcomes of these ongoing discussions between affiliate and federation leaders. We will continue to inform our staff and allies as developments warrant. In the meantime, we have critical work to get done, and a great staff and structure in place to achieve our growth goals and provide the tools and opportunities for more workers to join the labor movement and create a strong pathway to the American Dream. Thank you for all that you are doing and will do to further that core mission. "
http://marcambinder.theatlantic.com/archives/2009/01/an_update_on_merging_la bor_org.php
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