AFL-CIO Unions Boost Annual Organizing by $150 Million - 10/05/06

By Doug Cunningham

AFL-CIO unions plan to put $150 million more a year into organizing new members. The UAW is putting $60 million more into organizing, the CWA members $25 million. The AFT had their largest dues increase ever for organizing, and AFSCME, IBEW and the Ironworkers all voted to put more resources toward organizing. AFL-CIO Organizing Director Stewart Acuff
says this is a significant commitment of new resources aimed at bulking up union membership even as organized labor continues to plow tens of millions into voter mobilization for this year's congressional elections..

[Stewart Acuff]: "It's a result of years of work to change national unions and to change the culture of our labor movement to focus more externally than internally and to get more and more and more serious about organizing."