IAFF Pushes AFL-CIO to Be More Bipartisan

June 7, 2005 – As the debate over how best to reform the AFL-CIO to increase its strength and effectiveness continues, IAFF General President Harold Schaitberger has put this union at the forefront of the dialogue.

Pushing for major reforms, including a call for a truly bi-partisan approach to politics and legislative activity by the Federation, General President Schaitberger recently told Fox News (click here FOX story) “[The labor movement] cannot be the appendage of the Democratic party, nor be their ATM machine.”

In June, the IAFF Executive Board unanimously voted to support the re-election of AFL-CIO President John Sweeney after Sweeney embraced changes to his reform plan to include a bi-partisan approach to politics and legislation.

The IAFF’s call for major structural and strategic changes to the AFL-CIO were first laid out in a paper submitted by General President Schaitberger to AFL-CIO President John Sweeney on January 3, 2005.

Since then, President Schaitberger has continued to push for the major components of the IAFF’s reform plan. As this debate plays out to its conclusion at the AFL-CIO Convention July 25-29 where the AFL-CIO President will be elected, continue to check back here for updates and recent media coverage.