Andy Stern Union Quotations

The AFL-CIO is a structure that divides workers' strength by allowing each union to organize in any industry, then bargain on its own, even when workers share a common employer.

In 1972, I signed a union card for SEIU. And for the last 38 years, 14 as president, it's been my life. I've seen the most miraculous, spectacular things. But there's a time to learn, a time to lead and a time to leave.

It has no enforceable standards to stop a union from conspiring with employers to keep another stronger union out or from negotiating contracts with lower pay and standards that members of another union have spent a lifetime establishing.

Unions should not be lapdogs to a political party, they should be watchdogs for their members interests.

How do we take the different assets that different unions bring to the table and use them strategically? American Unions, for example, have a disproportionate amount of resources, while other unions have political power, and if we think together we may be able to use the global economy to our advantage.

Our unions do a large amount of organizing in parts of the economy that historically and recently are places where people of color and immigrant workers have found jobs. Some of them are entry-level jobs. Throughout history immigrants have found work as janitors, and our unions have helped them raise families, send their kids to college, and that's been the American dream.

We have reached a decision, and we are hopeful that there are other unions who share our members' excitement for Dr. Dean's candidacy.