In 1995, promising a more active political presence for unions, John Sweeney was elected president of the AFL-CIO. Labor would establish a “brand-new voice,” one that could not be overlooked or taken for approved by Democratic and Republican politicians. By the summer of 2005 opposition to Sweeney’s leadership threatened to divide the labor motion. In The Future of Organized Labor in American Politics, Peter L. Francia talks about the impacts of Sweeney’s controversial tenure as president and evaluates labor’s influence on American political elections and legislation. Making use of interviews with union and magnate, as well as campaign-finance and public-opinion data, Francia argues that Sweeney has utilized a more reliable and extensive grassroots political operation than his predecessors. He challenges critics who dismiss Sweeney’s efforts as a failure but cautions that the decline in union membership presents a serious crisis for the labor movement. When unions emphasize “grassroots” methods they can successfully contend versus the monetary power of big business and can make a substantial difference in congressional politics. Francia evaluates organized labor’s political activities, its coalitions with other interest groups, and its influence on citizen turnout, election results, and votes in Congress. He also analyzes the impacts of Sweeney’s accept of progressive causes and labor’s increasing desire to challenge Democrats who vote against labor’s interests. For all his successes, Sweeney’s tenure has not been without its problems. Labor’s presence in American politics is threatened by diminishing subscription in unions. Francia recommends that if unions wish to remain a viable political force in congressional politics, they should devote more resources to arranging workers.
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