Thanks to
Mom and Pop NYC, I saw today's
Daily News article arguing that the breakup of the AFL-CIO hurts Wal-Mart. I essentially made
the same case yesterday, but they do a better job:
As an independent, the SEIU is expected to save $10 million a year on national AFL-CIO dues, according to Mike Fishman, president of SEIU Local 32BJ in Newark.
"The national office would get that back to funnel into organizing," he said.
One expected outgrowth would be a national campaign aimed at the nonunion retail behemoth Wal-Mart.
As you know if you read this diary regularly, the SEIU is currently involved in two national campaigns trying to organize Wal-Mart, Wal-Mart Watch (which is actually bigger than an organizing effort as it includes other non-labor groups) and Purple Ocean. Less money going to the AFL-CIO would just mean these already existing efforts would get more cash.
I realize that some people are rightfully worried that less money will go to helping the Democratic Party now, but you have to spend money to make money. More organized workers will mean more Democratic-oriented voters to reach out to, and it's much easier to do that when you can reach them through their workplace.
Organizing Wal-Mart is an investment that will pay dividends for years to come.
JR