The American Spectator

Washington Prowler

(Page 3 of 3)

John Sweeney and his big labor confederation will host a Democratic presidential primary forum early next month in Chicago to hear candidates' positions on protecting rights to organize, health care and other issues important to workers. /p>

Several member unions of the AFL-CIO -- there are 65 unions from across the country that make up the organized labor behemoth -- have requested that a separate invitation be extended to President Bush. Thus far, the AFL-CIO executive council has declined even to consider such an invitation.

Instead, all nine Democratic contenders will meet in Chicago on August 5 to do their song and dance for the most important financial and manpower franchise the party has its disposal.

Sweeney had hoped that by August there might be some consensus on which candidates deserved further consideration and possible endorsement from organized labor. But members of the executive council aligned with government employee union boss Gerald McEntee are refusing to play ball. McEntee wants to endorse his own candidate, believed to be Sen. John Kerry.

p>Sweeney may still look for some kind of nonbinding vote out of his executive committee later this summer, but it's doubtful that will happen given the sour mood of so many of his leaders. br> /p>

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Health Care, Abortion, Military, NATO, Unions