Next leader of large U.S. union may be more militant

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSTRE5667D920090707

Tue Jul 7, 2009 6:35pm EDT

By Andrew Stern

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Labor unions are poised for a return to prominence, according to the likely next leader of the largest U.S. labor federation who promises to employ an aggressive and innovative strategy to promote workers' agenda.

Richard Trumka, the secretary-treasurer of the 11 million-member AFL-CIO, would not divulge in an interview with Reuters what specific tactics he may use, saying he did not want to lose the element of surprise.

"Here's the deal," the 59-year-old Trumka said. "For employers who want to work with us and want to work with workers, we'll be the best friend they ever had. For those that want to abuse people, take benefits away, jettison retirees, then we are going to do everything in our power to stop that from happening.

"And we will use innovative techniques."

Hints may be visible in how the third-generation Pennsylvania coal miner harnessed civil disobedience and other tactics of the 1960s-era civil rights movement in leading successful strikes against the mining companies in the 1980s -- sit-ins, blockades of roads, mine occupations, picketing of corporate headquarters, and ensuring media coverage of police dragging away protesting miners.

"I think he understands social movement unionism and that's been missing," Robert Bruno, a labor expert at the University of Illinois at Chicago, said of Trumka.

FULL story at link.