Several major labor unions started off the year with plans to unite behind a massive political fund, but the effort has still stalled over who should control it, according to reports Wednesday.
Labor unions hoped to create a $50 million super PAC to help get union-friendly lawmakers elected. AFL-CIO, Service Employees International Union (SEIU) and National Education Association (NEA) were slated to be involved. The plans have since paused over a disagreement on who should control the fund, sources told The Wall Street Journal.
A political strategist first unveiled the proposed fund February during a meeting with the AFL-CIO Executive Council. The proposed political fund was aimed at targeting congressional and presidential elections.
The AFL-CIO is among the last few remaining national unions to have not yet endorsed a presidential candidate. SEIU and NEA are among the majority of national unions backing Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. Her rival Sen. Bernie Sanders has done well among local unions.
Sanders is more aligned with the labor movement politically but some union leaders have expressed concern he is not electable. Sanders supports a national $15 minimum wage while Clinton said it should not exceed $12 an hour. Clinton does support states deciding for themselves whether to go above the national wage.
Clinton was much more hesitant to oppose the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) which unions have claimed would allow corporations to outsource more jobs. The trade deal covers 12 countries including some known for notorious labor violations. It was finalized Oct. 5 after a fierce debate which divided President Barack Obama and many Democrats.
Clinton won her biggest union endorsement Nov. 17 from SEIU. She has also been able to secure support from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and American Federation of Teachers.
Close to two dozen national unions released a statement Feb. 22 claiming the vast majority of their members support Clinton. The union coalition Labor for Bernie states the support is due more to undemocratic decision-making than what members actually think. Sanders won his biggest union endorsement Dec. 17 from Communications Workers of America (CWA). United Electrical Workers and the National Nurses United have also decided to support him.
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