Audio Clip
By Rick Pluta
A change of leadership appears to be underway at the Michigan A-F-of-L C-I-O. A-F-of-L C-I-O President Mark Gaffney is on his way out and is expected to be replaced by Karla Swift. Gaffney said it is time for a new set of labor leaders to take on the conservative tide that's swept over the state Capitol.
Mark Gaffney's led the state A-F-of-L C-I-O labor umbrella for a dozen years. He said the sweeping G-O-P victories over Democrats in the last election emboldened Republicans in Lansing.
"And, frankly, my skill set is better at pulling people together and building than standing toe to toe, eye to eye, and slugging things out."
Sources within labor and the state Democratic Party said the changes reflect fears that Republicans are intent on passing some onerously anti-union laws including right to work. His likely replacement is Karla Swift. She comes out of the United Auto Workers, but most of her recent activities involve political organizing, and working to expand the base of the labor movement by advocating for more family-friendly workplace rules.
© Copyright 2010, MPRN
A change of leadership appears to be underway at the Michigan A-F-of-L C-I-O. A-F-of-L C-I-O President Mark Gaffney is on his way out and is expected to be replaced by Karla Swift. Gaffney said it is time for a new set of labor leaders to take on the conservative tide that's swept over the state Capitol.
Mark Gaffney's led the state A-F-of-L C-I-O labor umbrella for a dozen years. He said the sweeping G-O-P victories over Democrats in the last election emboldened Republicans in Lansing.
"And, frankly, my skill set is better at pulling people together and building than standing toe to toe, eye to eye, and slugging things out."
Sources within labor and the state Democratic Party said the changes reflect fears that Republicans are intent on passing some onerously anti-union laws including right to work. His likely replacement is Karla Swift. She comes out of the United Auto Workers, but most of her recent activities involve political organizing, and working to expand the base of the labor movement by advocating for more family-friendly workplace rules.
© Copyright 2010, MPRN
