Say It Ain't So Already

Unions Die Another Death

November 3, 2011 at 10:25 PM Leave a comment

Afscme Chief to Step Down After 30 Years

Gerald W. McEntee, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees for three decades, said on Thursday that he would step down next June when his two-year term expires.

Mr. McEntee, one of the nation’s most powerful union leaders, has also served as chairman of the A.F.L.-C.I.O.’s political committee for 15 years, playing a major role in revamping organized labor’s roles in presidential, Senate and House races.

Under Mr. McEntee, 76, the union grew to 1.4 million members, from 900,000, and became known for its political war chest. Mr. McEntee deployed his union’s and the A.F.L.-C.I.O.’s political funds not just to back Democratic candidates, but also to defeat efforts to privatize Social Security and change Medicare.

“It’s been a long time,” Mr. McEntee said in an interview. “I’m not out of gas; I’d like to see some other people take over.”

McEntee is stepping down after 30 years.

That means he stepped up in 1981.

Seems like a hundred years ago.

I know unions. My husband is a member of the National Association of Letter Carriers and has been since 1977.

Unfortunately, there are no “other people to take over.”  Management — via the NLRB and the powers given to it by corporate-owned D.C. Democrats and Republicans — is in control.  Unions have been emasculated.  No wonder McEntee’s retiring and no wonder he’s “out of gas.”

So are unions.

For all intents and purposes, they’re dead.

Corporations rule.

To Mr. McEntee:  Thanks for serving our country.

Entry filed under: Corporatocracy, Democrats, Including Blue Dogs & "Liberals", Dumbed Down, Fascist America, Financial Crisis, Republicans, Including Wingers & "Moderates", Unions. Tags: .