S.E.I.U. President to Step Down?
According to the New York Times and other media outlets, Andrew Stern, the president of the powerful Service Employees International Union, is stepping down soon. During his 14 year tenure, Stern has been a controversial figure inside and outside of organized labor. Despite his detractors, he has made the 1.9 million member S.E.I.U. a political force to be reckoned with.
To those who wonder about his resignation now, given organized labor’s failure to achieve one of its major goals, the enactment of the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), Stern apparently believes the passage of health care reform, another of his longtime goals, makes this a good time to depart. Moreover, the EFCA fight is likely to continue for the remainder of President Obama’s first term and beyond, no doubt making the 59-year-old Stern believe it’s a good time to turn his S.E.I.U. responsibilities over to someone else.
It’s likely, however, that Andy Stern will still be around, lobbying the President, Congress, and organized labor. One suspects he’ll still be called upon regularly for assistance and advice.
For more on this development, see Manpower Employment Blawg, Workplace Prof Blog, Work in Progress, ShopFloor, and The Mediavore.
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Chris Parker's practice focuses on the representation and counseling of companies in matters pertaining to the workplace and the protection of their intellectual property and trade secrets. In addition to serving as an advocate for clients, Mr. Parker is also trained as a mediator and frequently serves as a third-party neutral.
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Jimmy Daniel provides counseling to businesses of all sizes related to the employment relationship. He assists in the drafting of employment agreements, policies, and handbooks, as well as provides guidance related to compliance with federal, state, and local legislation such as the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Family and Medical Leave Act.
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While serving in an Of Counsel relationship with the firm, Mr. Bridgesmith also serves as the Executive Director at the Institute for Conflict Resolution at Lipscomb University and as an officer and principal in Strategic Resolutions Group, LLC. In these roles, Mr. Bridgesmith brings over 30 years of legal experience in dispute resolution and innovative workplace strategies to clients, students and business entities alike.
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You know, I do not understand the hate that is directed towards this guy from employers. Look, being able to form a union is the law. It is the policy of the USA to give employees a choice on the matter. But we act as if the NLRA has been imported from overseas. It is not. Let the better story win but do not demonize those who simply seek to do what our labor laws allow. The over reaction of so many makes me think that the hate is driven by fear.
Mike, thanks for your comment.
I have to agree with you, although the divide between management and union (particularly union leaders) sometimes reminds me of the divide between Israelis and Palestinians, Hutus and Tutsis, and Serbs and Bosnians. That’s obviously a bit hyperbolic, but some people insist on carrying a lot of bagge.
John