July 23 — The AFL-CIO Executive Council recommended five constitutional amendments, approved two resolutions and issued four statements.

Meeting in Chicago July 22 in advance of the federation's AFL-CIO's 25th Constitutional Convention July 25–28, the council voted to send to the Convention five constitutional amendments, including several that would significantly change the way the federation operates. The amendments would:

• Create Industry Coordinating Committees to bring together unions representing workers within the same industry, occupation, region or employer to harness their collective strength to benefit workers.
  
• Encourage national unions to build worker power by eliminating conflicts and duplications in organization and jurisdictions through voluntary mergers.
  
• Permanently establish the Executive Committee as the governing body of the AFL-CIO between Executive Council meetings.
  
• Change some of the procedures under Article XX, which cover dispute resolution.
  
• Allow for legal action under certain circumstances to enforce decisions reached under Article XX and XXI.

The council approved two resolutions for the war in Iraq and supporting the work of the Solidarity Center that will now go to the Convention.

The union leaders made changes to the rules governing state federations and central labor councils, issued two statements that revised the decisional criteria for Article XXI and expanded and improved the strategic Campaign Registration Program and passed a resolution to continue and strengthen the labor movement's investment in the National Labor College.

More:

• Find out more about the 2005 AFL-CIO Convention.
  
• Give us your ideas for strengthening the union movement.
  
• Read the proposed Constitutional Amendments.
  
• Read the proposed resolutions.