Report On AFL-CIO Convention: Day 2

As expected, the second day of the annual AFL-CIO convention focused on ways to create and promote "new forms" of union membership that would appeal to younger workers and nonunion members. In his keynote address, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka strongly supported aligning labor with non-labor groups. An integral part of this initiative is to promote membership with Working America, the AFL-CIO's community affiliate designed to provide services to nonunion workers. According to the AFL-CIO, "Working America . . . is the fastest-growing organization for working people who don't have a union on the job." These efforts to promote "alternative labor groups" are intended to include both workers (such as taxi drivers) who lack the legal right to unionize, and others (like restaurant workers) who have allegedly struggled to earn union recognition.