Andy Stern's sudden announcement that he was resigning this week as President of the SEIU caught nearly everyone by surprise, perhaps even Sten himself, as news of his resignation was leaked by union sources prior to the official announcement. The media-savvy Stern issued a video of himself later in the week announcing his resignation.
Like George Costanza saying "thank you and good night" and going out on top, Stern is in many ways at the apex of his career. He has Obama's ear, has increased membership in the SEIU, and is probably the most recognized name in labor next to Hoffa. Yet Stern also has been a controversial, polarizing figure -- taking his union out of the AFL-CIO, raiding UNITE HERE and engaging in rough and tumble union infighting. His sudden departure also demonstrates what many critics have said, that Stern's number one priority is Stern -- his mid-term departure leaves a power vaccum and will inevitably weaken the union while the executive board fights over his successor.
Stern has also been accused of being a "top-down" labor leader, negotiating deals with employers and then letting members in on it. A perfect example of the top-down view can be seen in this anecdote. A friend told me yesterday that after hearing Stern on the radio she wanted to get information about forming a union at the nursing home where she works. She went on the SEIU website to find out who to contact and how to organize a union. While the website was full of laudatory press on Stern, political announcements, and self-congratulation, she could not find any information on how to actually contact a local union in her area that could help her out, or any helpful information about organizing. That, in a nutshell, is the problem with the SEIU as well as most other large international unions -- they are focused more on Washington DC politics, themselves, and not enough on workers in the field.
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