AFL-CIO may reduce support to Democrats

Published May 20, 2011

WASHINGTON – The nation's largest labor federation is weighing whether to pull political support from congressional Democrats who aren't doing enough to back labor unions.

AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka is expected to issue the warning in a speech Friday at the National Press Club.

In prepared remarks, Trumka says the role of unions is not to build the power of one political party but to improve the lives of working families.

The AFL-CIO's executive council is considering a plan that could spend less on congressional races and more on fighting state battles, like those in Wisconsin and Ohio, where lawmakers want to weaken collective bargaining rights.

Last month, the largest firefighters union said it was halting political donations to members of Congress because they aren't fighting hard enough for union rights.

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