New Industry Coordinating Committees Would Be Established

For the first time in the history of the AFL-CIO, top union leaders have voted to support a proposal to give the federation the power to develop and enforce contract standards and to give unions who are part of an industry-wide organizing strategy protection against interference by other unions in those organizing campaigns. 

“Through the new AFL-CIO Industry Coordinating Committees, America’s working families will have a new, powerful tool in their fight against corporate America’s downward push on workplace standards,” said AFL-CIO President John Sweeney. 

“The proposals accepted today significantly strengthen the ability of the AFL-CIO to promote and enforce strong contract standards and strategic organizing, while also honoring individual unions’ democratic rights,” said AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Richard Trumka.

In a joint meeting of the Strategic Approaches Committee and the Committee on Article XX and Article XXI Review of the Executive Council today, top union leaders voted to support the AFL-CIO officers’ proposals to establish and empower new Industry Coordinating Committees.  The proposals will now go to the AFL-CIO Executive Council and convention at the end of July. 

According to the new proposals, Industry Coordinating Committees would be formed at the request of affiliated unions and would bring together unions who represent workers in an industry, employer, occupation, or region.  The committees would be responsible for establishing contract standards and a strategic organizing plan for that industry.  They would also set up joint political and legislative programs designed to increase bargaining power and membership growth.  All affiliated unions with membership in the industry would participate and be bound by the standards and organizing plans.

If a union violated the contract standards, that union, under certain conditions, could lose the right to be protected against organizing attempts at facilities covered by the contract standards.  Currently, if a union represents workers at an installation, other unions may not “raid” that workplace, according to Article XX of the AFL-CIO constitution.  In addition, unions who are involved in organizing campaigns, sanctioned by the Industry Coordinating Committee, would be protected against interference by other unions. 

Contact: Lane Windham (202) 637-5018