AFL-CIO restructures: New central body is Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation

From the Minneapolis Labor Review, May 15, 2008

By Steve Share, Minneapolis Labor Review editor

MINNEAPOLIS — Delegates from Minneapolis area unions approved plans April 9 to complete the restructuring of the local labor movement. The new AFL-CIO central labor body, effective May 1, is the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation.

The move is part of efforts nationwide to make the AFL-CIO more effective at the local level by merging smaller local labor councils into larger regional labor councils.

The restructuring process — known as the New Alliance — has been in the works in 12 states including Minnesota.

“The purpose is to build the local labor movement,” said Jim Lowe, national AFL-CIO field representative, who worked with Minneapolis area unions over the course of a two-year planning process.

In the Minneapolis area, the change was relatively simple because the Minneapolis Central Labor Union Council was the only local labor council.

In other parts of the state, the restructuring became more complicated when multiple local labor councils became chapters of new regional labor councils.

The Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation will have jurisdiction in seven counties: Anoka, Carver, Hennepin, Scott, Meeker, McLeod and Wright.

The constitution of the Minneapolis Central Labor Union Council, which was significantly revised one year ago, was amended only slightly to become the constitution of the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation.

“I think it’s a good structure,” said Bill McCarthy, who continued as president of the central body after the restructuring.

The executive board and other officers of the CLUC became the leadership of the MRLF and delegates to the CLUC will now be delegates to the MRLF.

May 14 was the first meeting for delegates to the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation under the new structure.

When the creation of Minnesota’s six regional labor councils is complete, Lowe said, “it’s going to strengthen the ability of these regional organizations to pool resources and move their program.”

In the east metro area, for example, the new St. Paul Regional Labor Federation now includes the St. Paul Area Trades and Labor Assembly, the St. Croix Valley Central Labor Union and Southern Dakota County Labor Council.

Similar mergers took place or are nearly complete elsewhere throughout Minnesota. For most regions of the state, the restructuring brings “a big change in terms of program and efficiency,” Lowe said.

In the Minneapolis area, Lowe noted, the impact would be less noticeable because the Minneapolis Central Labor Union Council was in effect already operating as a regional labor council.

Technically, he noted, the Minneapolis Central Labor Union Council will become a chapter of the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation.

Anticipating growth in the number of affiliated unions, the constitution of the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation allows the executive board to add additional seats for significant new affiliates.

“We’re going to embark on an integrated, unified affiliation program,” Lowe emphasized.

Goal: Increase affiliation

“There’s significant potential for growth for the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation,” McCarthy said.  “Currently, our 125 member unions affiliate with approximately 75,000 members.” If all local unions affiliated with 100 percent of their membership, he continued, the number of union members represented by the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation could grow to 125,000.

The greatest potential for new affiliates for the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation can be found in rural and suburban areas on the fringes of the federation’s jurisdiction, McCarthy said. In these areas, union locals representing teachers and public employees remain isolated and have not been active participants in the broader local labor movement.

After experiencing the help they can get with local issues and contract campaigns, however, some of these locals have begun affiliating with the central labor body.

McCarthy said the new structure will facilitate the continued growth of the central body’s three suburban advisory councils. These councils — now operating in Anoka, Wright, and Scott-Carver counties — engage local union members in local issues, politics, and community service.

While the new central labor body has begun operating under its new name, union members likely will notice little change in their contact with the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation. Central labor body staff remain the same, as do their phone numbers and e-mail addresses.

McCarthy said the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation’s monthly per-capita dues from affiliated unions will remain at its current level.

Download a copy of the constitution of the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation (PDF, 416KB download) (requires Adobe Acrobat Reader).

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