AFL-CIO Unions Uniting Behind Kerry;
Will Democrats Accept Labor's Agenda?

In recent days, there has been a steady flow of union endorsements for Senator John F. Kerry from labor leaders who feel he is best qualified to defeat George Bush for the White House. They have been impressed that he has won 12 of the 14 primaries and caucuses by substantial majorities from just about every category of voter in the nation.

Latest to join the Kerry bandwagon are the 15 craft unions of the AFL-CIO Building and Construction Trades Dept., the American Federation of Teachers, the Communications Workers of America and the Amalgamated Transit Union.

Kerry is also getting the endorsement of a coalition of 18 unions, the Alliance for Economic Justice, that had previously supported Rep. Richard Gephardt before he dropped out of the presidential race, after coming in fourth in the Iowa Caucuses. Gephardt has thrown his support to Kerry.

Of the two largest AFL-CIO unions that endorsed former Vermont Governor Howard Dean, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) has withdrawn its support, while the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), disappointed at Dr. Dean's poor showing in Iowa and New Hampshire, has decided to stick with him only through the Wisconsin primary on Feb. 17.

Many still uncommitted unions will be making their endorsements of presidential candidates in the next week or two, and there is little doubt that Kerry will have the votes of at least two-thirds of the 64 affiliated international unions that are required to obtain the AFL-CIO's endorsement.

By mid-March, a unified labor movement, committed to defeating President Bush, will be preparing to supply Kerry with legions of volunteers and bundles of cash. But what role will organized labor play in his election campaign?

Will the Democratic Party platform contain policy positions favored by unions? Will labor have a voice in choosing Kerry's running mate? Will union leaders be included among the top-level strategists of the campaign?

These are not exorbitant demands, considering that Kerry would find it virtually impossible to be elected president without the support of the labor movement. In the 2000 elections, the votes of union households represented more than 30% of the total votes cast.

If unions do not assert their rights, it is inevitable that Kerry will move to the right, in the belief that he has the labor vote in his pocket. He will tend to downplay labor issues, such as freedom to join unions, in order to avoid the Republican charge that he is the "captive of Big Labor."

Kerry has had his differences with the Teamsters and construction unions over his opposition to oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. He has yet to speak out publicly in favor of Senator Edward Kennedy's Employee Free Choice Act or discuss workplace issues like health and safety and the elimination of overtime pay for millions of workers.

It is imperative that unions and their members do everything they can to defeat President Bush, but they also are entitled to at least some benefits that come with victory.

Our weekly "LaborTalk" and "Labor and the War" columns can be viewed at our Web site www.laboreducator.org. Union members seeking more information about the AFL-CIO reform movement should visit www.rankandfileaflcio.org.