Teamsters Rejoin AFL-CIO

It seems that no matter what the labor movement does these days, it has no short supply of naysayers--even among those who claim to support labor’s goals. Harold Meyerson’s article criticizing the reaffiliation of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters with the AFL-CIO is a prime example (Op-Ed Page, Nov. 13).

Meyerson seems to attribute the bulk of labor’s problems to its poor ranking in one public opinion poll and claims that the Teamsters’ reaffiliation will do little to improve the image of the movement.

While I do not underestimate the importance of labor’s maintaining a strong image with the public, the movement’s first and foremost responsibility is to its own members, and, in that light, the reaffiliation represents a positive step.

While the Teamsters’ disputes with other AFL-CIO unions over jurisdiction have received wide publicity, what is less noted is the close daily cooperation and support that exists among the Teamsters and the other unions in all sectors of the economy. The reaffiliation will allow the disputes to be resolved systematically and smoothly. The readmission of the largest labor union in the country increases the AFL-CIO’s stature as the voice of all working men and women of America.

But most importantly, Meyerson ignored the threat to free trade unionism posed by the proposed trusteeship of the Teamsters, and possibly other unions, by the Justice Department. Even before the affiliation, numerous AFL-CIO union leaders stood by the Teamsters in opposing the Justice Department’s scheme as an outrageous violation of basic constitutional freedoms and an unwarranted government intrusion into the affairs of a private, democratic institution. Major political figures from both parties--including at least four presidential candidates--have also publicly expressed their opposition to the Justice Department’s plan.

No, the Teamsters’ reaffiliation with the AFL-CIO will not solve all of labor’s problems. But real trade unionists should be glad that the democratic institutions that represent America’s working people, their unions, will now be working in greater unity toward solving those problems.

VICTOR KAMBER

Washington, D.C.