Associated PressHICAGO - Still smarting from a public spat during the Democratic National Convention, labor leaders on Monday tried to shift attention to ousting President Bush but an undercurrent of tension about the future of the labor movement remained.
Andy Stern, president of the 1.6 million-member Service Employees International Union, said at the convention that an effort to restructure organized labor could lose momentum under a Democratic administration.
Stern, who quickly drew fire for his comments, has said his focus is on strengthening organized labor and noted his union is spending $65 million to help elect Kerry. ..
Meanwhile, the AFL-CIO has allocated $44 million in this election cycle to turn out union members and their families in November. A temporary increase in the dues that the 60 affiliate unions pay to the AFL-CIO is helping to fund that effort. ..
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