Below are resources and material available from the Workers Independent News from the AFL-CIO convention happening this week in Chicago.

Headlines:

• Breaking News - 07/29/05: UFCW becomes third union to leave the AFL-CIO




• Morning Report - 07/29/05: Sweeney : AFL-CIO can't allow disaffiliated unions to challenge unity; United flight attendants rise up to defend pensions with CHAOS actions; 91 year old labor activist Harry Kelber urges respect for labor dissidents and mass mobilization for organizing




• Morning Report - 07/28/05: CAFTA passes U.S. House 217-215 despite last-minute AFL-CIO push; Sweeney team reelected - AFL-CIO convention passes "Wake Up Wal-Mart"; Trumka says workers are in the belly of a very dangerous beast; Workers to picket United Airlines nationwide today




• Special Report - 07/27/05: AFL-CIO warns Democrats not to vote for CAFTA




• Morning report - 07/27/05: Trumka says no decision has been made on central labor councils; AFL-CIO dramatically increases organizing money




• Morning report - 07/26/05: SEIU and Teamsters will continue to support AFL-CIO labor councils and state feds; U.S. Senator Barak Obama urges united labor vision of America "on the edge of despair"; AFL-CIO President John Sweeney: disaffiliation a tragedy for working people




• Afternoon report - 07/25/05: SEIU/Teamsters disaffiliate from AFL-CIO (update from this morning's headline)




• Morning report - 07/25/05: Top boils off house of labor, four unions boycott, Sweeney puts emphasis on solidarity

Raw Audio:
07/29/05

• UFCW leaves AFL-CIO; interview with communications director Greg Denier
• Harry Kelber brings down the house urging respect for dissidents and mass mobilization at AFL-CIO convention
• Painters President Jim Williams on where labor goes from here part 1 and part 2
• Sweeney says disaffiliated unions are directly challenging AFL-CIO unity and that challenge must be rejected part 1 and part 2

07/28/05

• On the CHAOS picket line at Chicago O'Hare with CWA's Larry Cohen
• IBEW Brother Ed Hill: Solidarity forever!
• WIN interview in Chicago : New York State AFL-CIO president Denis Hughes
• AFGE President John Gage on where labor goes from here and defending collective bargaining
• John Sweeney reelected President of the AFL-CIO - speech
• Part 2
• United Mine Workers of America President Cecil Roberts delivers fiery speech nominating Rich Trumka for re-election Part 1, , Part 2

07/27/05

• Flight Attendants plan Global Day of Action against United Airlines for Thursday - interview with AFA's Sara De La Cruz
• Firefighters President Harold Schaitburger says AFL-CIO will emerge from Chicago strong and ready for 2006 elections
• Jim Cavanaugh of the South Central Federation of Labor talks about Iraq War Resolution/labor councils

07/26/05

• AFL-CIO Organizing Director Stewart Acuff says federation is committed to organizing
• AFL-CIO Secretary Treasurer Rich Trumka: AFL-CIO will be financially solvent and united
• AFGE President Gage fighting "national security" gutting of collective bargaining rights

07/25/05

• U.S. Senator Barak Obama says labor must stand and rise together (part 1 of 2)
• U.S. Senator Barak Obama says labor must stand and rise together (part 2 of 2)
• Teamsters president James P. Hoffa announces disaffiliation from AFL-CIO
• SEIU President Andy Stern announces disaffiliation from AFL-CIO

07/24/05

• Chicago AFT President Marilyn Stewart talks about fighting to organizing schools
• Labor Education President Dennis Serrette weighs-in on organized labor
• AFSCME President Gerald McEntee at pro-Sweeney rally
• Raw Audio also available at Labor Express.

Other Resources:

• Pacifica is providing comprehensive coverage of the convention
• Democracy Now! has also provided solid daily coverage of issues beyond the split.
• Labor reporter Jonathan Tasini's Working Life blog is a great resource.
• Workday Minnesota is also providing comprehensive coverage with a Minnesotan perspective.
• The House of Labor community blog in the Talking Points Memo Cafe offers various perspectives and opinions.
• The Washington DC Metro Council of the AFL-CIO is also offering updates on happenings on the convention floor.
• A new blog for the Central New York Labor Council has popped up, also offering updates and perspective from the convention floor.
• The UnCapitalist Journal is also keeping a list of resources.