Author(s):
Labor Notes Staff

Excerpt:
For many union officials, political work means little more than the art of delivering members’ votes to politicians. In that view, “more” is always best: more votes delivered; more money raised; more influence garnered. . . .

Story Body:
May - August 2004

For many union officials, political work means little more than the art of delivering members’ votes to politicians. In that view, “more” is always best: more votes delivered; more money raised; more influence garnered.

But political realities have poked holes in this strategy. Unions proved to be ineffective in their drive to nominate their two candidates of choice in this year’s Democratic primary elections, and influence continues to wane.

As a contribution to the discussion and debate Labor Notes has a series of articles and discussion pieces on labor and politics, collected below.

• Dan La Botz: Yikes! A Politician On The Shop Floor
• Chris Townsend: What’s Wrong with our Political Action?
• Renuka Uthappa: From Democrat to Green in San Francisco: Union Switches Mayoral Endorsement
• Kip Sullivan: AFL-CIO’s Timid Approach Makes It Irrelevant in Health Care Debate

Available Online:
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