The Edifice Complex: Rebuilding the American Labor Movement to Face the Global Economy

Publication announcement by the Labor Research Association. 19 October, 1995

Title: Rebuilding the Labor Movement. Labor Research Association Release Study on Future of American Labor Movement. Contact:Jonathan Tasini (212 254-0279), Greg Tarpinian (212) 714-1677

NEW YORK--In anticipation of the first-ever contested election at the upcoming AFL-CIO convention and the debate with in labor which it has elicited, Labor Research Association today released "The Edifice Complex: Rebuilding the American Labor Movement to Face the Global Economy."

Written by Jonathan Tasini, the long-time labor journalist and president of the National Writers Union (UAW Local 1981), the essay combines hard analysis and research with proposals for a revival of the labor movement.

Among Tasini's points:

• Unions have considerable resources to organize new members but have not used money wisely. Labor unions spent upwards of $250 million in direct campaign contributions from 1979-1992 with little to show legislatively.
• For the first time, Tasini calculates the real estate values of union-owned buildings in Washington, D.C. at well over $200 million.
• Labor must reevaluate its economic positions and, by extension, its political alliances.
• Labor's structure is no longer suitable for the global economy of today. Among the proposals Tasini makes: the creation of labor-community councils; a faster pace o f mergers among large international unions; and the end to competition among unions for newmembers.
• Labor must take a much more visible and leading role in the struggle over the shaping of the technological revolution and "information superhighway."
• Labor should sponsor a set of hearings entitled: "Working in America: The Real Story."

Commenting on the release of the report, Greg Tarpinian, executive director of LRA, said, "We are in the midst of a historic debate within labor.We have always believed the labor movement needs an open, frank and honest dialogue. In asking Tasini to produce this project, we hope we are making a valuable contribution to that debate. "

A synopsis of the essay which appeared in the Washington Post on Labor Day is posted in the conference, nwu.agenda.

The full essay may be ordered ($10 plus $2 postage in the U.S.; bulk rates also available) from LRA: 145 West 28 St, New York, NY 10001; 212-714-1677.