The Future of Organized Labor in American Politics

Peter Francia

Published by Columbia University Press 2006

The Future of Organized Labor in American Politics

Peter Francia

https://doi.org/10.7312/fran13070

Overview
Contents

About this book

In 1995, promising a more active political presence for unions, John Sweeney was elected president of the AFL-CIO. Labor would develop a "new voice," one that could not be ignored or taken for granted by Democratic and Republican politicians. However, by the summer of 2005 opposition to Sweeney's leadership threatened to divide the labor movement.

In The Future of Organized Labor in American Politics, Peter L. Francia discusses the effects of Sweeney's controversial tenure as president and assesses labor's influence on American political elections and legislation. Drawing on interviews with union and business leaders, as well as campaign-finance and public-opinion data, Francia argues that Sweeney has employed a more effective and expansive grassroots political operation than his predecessors. He challenges critics who dismiss Sweeney's efforts as a failure but cautions that the decline in union membership presents a serious crisis for the labor movement.

When unions emphasize "grassroots" strategies they can effectively compete against the financial power of big business and can make a significant difference in congressional politics. Francia analyzes organized labor's political activities, its coalitions with other interest groups, and its influence on voter turnout, election results, and votes in Congress. He also examines the effects of Sweeney's embrace of progressive causes and labor's increasing willingness to challenge Democrats who vote against labor's interests.

For all his successes, Sweeney's tenure has not been without its problems. Labor's presence in American politics is threatened by shrinking membership in unions. Francia suggests that if unions want to remain a viable political force in congressional politics, they must devote more resources to organizing workers.

Author / Editor information

Peter L. Francia is associate professor of political science at East Carolina University and the coauthor of The Financiers of Congressional Elections: Investors, Ideologues, and Intimates (Columbia). He lives in Wendell, North Carolina. He has written articles for Public Opinion Quarterly, Political Research Quarterly, American Politics Research, and Social Science Quarterly, as well as co-authored chapters in several books on organized labor, interest groups, and congressional elections.

Reviews

Gerald Friedman:
Francia's book should be read by all.

Marick F. Masters:
A must read.

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	v
Preface Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	vii
1. Introduction Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
2. A Different Direction for Organized Labor? Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	21
3. Strength in Numbers: Organizing and Mobilizing Union Members Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	53
4. Countering Business: Union Campaigning in Congressional Elections Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	79
5. The Air War: The AFL-CIO Advertising Campaign Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	105
6. Laboring for a “Working Family” Agenda Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	119
7. Conclusion: The Significance of Union Renewal Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	145
8. Postscript: The 2004 Election Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	157
Appendix Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	163
Notes Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	177
References Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	181
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	201

Language: English
Publisher: Columbia University Press
Audience: Professional and scholarly;
Pages
- Main content: 224
Illustrations
- Other: 13 line drawings; 24 tables

eBook

Published: February 1, 2006
ISBN: 9780231503938