Change to Win Federation
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| Change to Win Federation | |
|---|---|
| Name | Change to Win Federation |
| Founded | 2005 |
| Founders | Andy Stern, Anna Burger, Bruce Raynor, Karen Nussbaum |
| Headquarters | Washington, D.C. |
| Region served | United States |
| Affiliation | AFL–CIO (former) |
Change to Win Federation was a coalition of North American labor organizations formed in 2005 by dissident leaders from several prominent unions seeking new strategies for organizing and political action. It brought together established unions such as Service Employees International Union, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, United Food and Commercial Workers, Laborers' International Union of North America, and the United Farm Workers into a distinct federation aimed at revitalizing union membership, coordinating campaigns, and influencing policy in the era following debates within the AFL–CIO. The federation engaged with a wide array of institutions including the National Labor Relations Board, U.S. Department of Labor, and state labor agencies while competing with existing coalitions such as Change to Win-aligned bodies and allied organizations like Jobs with Justice and the Working Families Party.
History
The federation originated after high-profile disagreements inside the AFL–CIO involving leaders such as John Sweeney and Lane Kirkland-era officials about organizing strategy, legislative priorities, and political alignment. Prominent founders included Andy Stern of Service Employees International Union, Anna Burger of the Change to Win movement, and Bruce Raynor who had ties to the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union lineage. Early debates echoed historical splits that involved figures like Samuel Gompers and episodes such as the Taft-Hartley Act controversy. The 2005 convention that formalized the federation reflected influences from earlier labor realignments tied to events like the COINTELPRO revelations and the broader post‑war labor transformations seen after the New Deal era. The federation's formation prompted reactions from leaders including John Sweeney of the AFL–CIO, commentators from The New York Times, scholars at Harvard University and Columbia University, and allied activists from United Farm Workers and the Transport Workers Union of America.
Organization and Structure
The federation was structured to coordinate between autonomous unions such as Service Employees International Union, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, United Food and Commercial Workers, and Laborers' International Union of North America while preserving each union's independence. Its governance model drew on precedents from the AFL–CIO constitution and earlier federations like the Congress of Industrial Organizations. Leadership roles were filled by union presidents and executive directors with operational offices in Washington, D.C. and regional hubs interacting with entities such as the National Labor Relations Board and state labor boards in California, New York, and Illinois. The federation coordinated legal strategies with law firms involved in labor law and engaged experts from academic centers at Rutgers University, University of California, Berkeley, and Georgetown University.
Membership and Affiliates
Member unions included major organizations such as Service Employees International Union, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, United Food and Commercial Workers, Laborers' International Union of North America, and affiliates with histories tied to United Farm Workers and the Amalgamated Transit Union. The federation worked with community groups and advocacy coalitions including Jobs with Justice, Faith in Public Life, and the National Council of La Raza. It sought partnerships with progressive political organizations like the Democratic National Committee-aligned groups, grassroots organizations such as ACORN (noting ACORN's later controversies), and immigrant rights networks tied to campaigns in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Miami.
Major Campaigns and Activities
The federation emphasized large-scale organizing drives, including campaigns in the healthcare sector targeting employers like regional hospital systems and long-term care facilities, and organizing campaigns in the service industries exemplified by efforts in cities such as New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago. It coordinated strikes, boycotts, and public actions alongside unions that staged high-profile labor actions reminiscent of earlier campaigns like the Memphis sanitation strike and the Delano grape strike connections through the United Farm Workers legacy. The federation also engaged in coalition building for living-wage ordinances in municipalities such as Seattle, San Francisco, and Boston, and supported legislative pushes at the state level in places like California and Maryland.
Political and Legislative Influence
Politically, the federation endorsed candidates and engaged in electoral mobilization similar to tactics used by the AFL–CIO and the Teamsters in historic election cycles involving figures like Barack Obama and John Kerry. It lobbied on labor-related legislation before the United States Congress, interacting with committees such as the House Committee on Education and Labor and the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. The federation worked to influence policy debates around immigration reform, minimum wage laws, and healthcare policy alongside advocacy groups including SEIU affiliates, National Immigration Forum, and progressive caucuses within the United States House of Representatives. Its political activity intersected with presidential campaigns, state ballot initiative efforts, and collaborations with organizations like the Working Families Party.
Criticisms and Controversies
The federation faced criticism from factions within the AFL–CIO and labor scholars at institutions such as Cornell University and Stanford University who questioned its effectiveness relative to unified federation strategies. Critics cited tensions with unions like the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers and disputes over dues allocation reminiscent of earlier labor financial controversies in unions like the Teamsters under leaders such as Russell Crowe (note: cultural reference to film portrayals) and historic investigations involving the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act. Some commentators from publications like The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post raised concerns about campaign expenditures and the federation's balance between organizing and political spending, while others highlighted coordination problems in multi-union campaigns.
Legacy and Impact on the Labor Movement
The federation's legacy includes influencing union organizing models, contributing to debates about coalition building, and shaping strategies used by unions such as SEIU and Teamsters in subsequent labor actions. Its emphasis on concentrated organizing influenced tactics in sectors covered by unions like the United Food and Commercial Workers and Laborers' International Union of North America and informed later collaborations with groups such as the Fight for $15 movement and community organizations in cities like Detroit and Philadelphia. Scholars at New York University and University of Michigan have assessed its role in the broader story of 21st-century labor renewal, while politicians and activists continue to reference its experiments in federation-level strategy in discussions tied to labor law reform and union revitalization.