Unions Selling Out?

NEWS ANALYSIS
Ambitions Are Fueling a Division of Labor
By STEVEN GREENHOUSE
The conflicting ambitions of two titans of labor are at the
center of the split in the A.F.L.-C.I.O.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/26/national/26labor.html?th&emc=th

..................

Needless to say two of our local union leaders sold their souls to the devil prior to the last NY gubernatorial election -- Randi Weingarten of the teachers union (UFT) and Dennis Rivera (District 37). Both supported Pataki against a fine (but African American) Democratic candidate, Carl McCall -- and got stiffed for their efforts.

I am looking to figure out the latest break from the AFT-CIO. Who is doing what to whom? If this in another self-serving move, these union leaders will deserve what they get -- but their members will not! Unhappily our unions seem unable to educate their members and families as to how to vote to preserve their own interests. Perhaps the same smarts are not there with most able children of blue collar families now getting college educations? Nick Kisberg of the Teamsters back when was a marvel of a self-educated guy who got the message out. But there are union leaders today who are simply feathering their personal nests and who are a menace to captive workers.

Frankly Dennis Rivera, presumably again breaking away as one of the SEIU (Service Employees International Union) unions, as well as Hoffa raise doubts in my mind. Let us not forget that Hoffa's daddy as Teamster head supported Nixon in 1972 before he got planted by the mob:

http://www.historychannel.com/speeches/archive/speech_127.html

Are we seeing another right wing sellout effort here? Maybe a 'race card' game? I hope not. But we shall see. Anyone have any hard data?

I should add that as a union member myself, who worked to open up CUNY back when so that we could bring in our blue collar family kids, I am very much an interested party.
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