From "Business Unionism" to "Social Movement Unionism": The Case of the AFL-CIO Milwaukee County Labor Council

Abstract

AFL-CIO Central Labor Councils are regional labor federations that provide horizontal links between locals from different national unions. As such, labor councils afford an opportunity for local unions to become active in matters besides their own collective bargaining agreements. The Milwaukee County Labor Council has exploited its "supra-local" institu tional position to create a labor/community coalition that has crafted and pursued an alternative economic development plan to address the inter ests of both union and non-union workers. It has also used its position to forge electoral coalitions designed to increase the political capacity of organized labor. Taken together, this activity marks a departure from traditional forms of "business unionism", and constitutes a style of union ism that might be termed "social movement unionism."