SEIU, a major union with about 2 million members, has announced its reuniting with AFL-CIO, a group comprising of 60 affiliated labor unions. This decision comes just days before President-elect Donald Trump’s second term begins, with the expectation of a different view towards labor unions compared to the Biden administration. Both SEIU and AFL-CIO leaders emphasized that the reunification was not politically motivated, despite their support for Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 race.
The unions are prepared to defend workers as Trump enters office and have vowed to mobilize their organizing power to respond to threats and go on the offensive. SEIU members work in various sectors such as hospitals, schools, and law enforcement, while AFL-CIO’s affiliates include the American Federation of Government Employees and the American Federation of Teachers.
The decision to rejoin forces had been under discussion for years, but the formal approval was given in June 2023. This move is seen as a way to increase labor unity in the face of expected hostility towards working people from the incoming Trump administration. The announcement has been seen as a key moment in strengthening the partnership between the two unions and aligning priorities for the long term.
With Trump’s allies proposing employment changes for government workers and his history of criticizing unions, the reuniting of SEIU and AFL-CIO is seen as a strategic move to protect worker’s rights and interests in the coming years. The president-elect’s efforts to win over union workers have seen mixed results, with the Teamsters declining to endorse a candidate in the 2024 race after years of supporting Democrats.
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