Unions to quit AFL-CIO

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CHICAGO -- Four unions yesterday stormed out of the AFL-CIO's convention in Chicago, boycotting the annual event hours before it began, and likely will announce today that they plan to leave the federation entirely.

The Teamsters, Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) and Unite Here said a lack of will to put sweeping reforms in place at the labor federation persuaded them to boycott the convention.

"We're not trying to divide the labor movement; we're trying to rebuild it," SEIU President Andrew Stern said.

Even though the unions did not cut ties yesterday with the AFL-CIO, UFCW President Joseph Hansen said differences between the dissidents and the federation leadership are so vast that they can't be bridged.

"We believe in building power for workers. They believe in building power for institutions," Mr. Hansen said.

Their decision to leave the convention was expected by many in the labor movement because the unions had indicated for days that they might walk out.

Their departure was met with a mixture of sadness and disdain.

"I think there are some unions that are very bitter. Others hold out hope that they will come back," said Gerald McEntee, president of the 1.4-million-member American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

Others were openly hostile.

Robert Haynes, president of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, was among the most agitated by the walkout, calling their action "treasonous."