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http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-07-20-unions-campaigns_x.htmUnions rake in record cash for campaigns
Updated 7/21/2006 3:32 AM
By Jill Lawrence, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON — A year after six unions bolted from the AFL-CIO and formed their own federation, the two camps are raising record amounts of political money and seeking ways to do joint campaign work this fall.
Conflicts over how to expand the union movement led the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), the Teamsters and four other unions to secede from the AFL-CIO. Along with the Carpenters union, which had already left, they formed a new, 6-million-member federation, Change to Win.
Union members rally in Los Angeles in April. Between Jan. 1, 2005, and June 30, 2006, federal reports show, major unions raised more money than they did for the last non-presidential campaign in 2002.
LABOR COMES TOGETHER: Revamped unions rev up activity
Between Jan. 1, 2005, and June 30, 2006, federal reports show, major unions in both groups raised more money than they did for the last non-presidential campaign in 2002:
• The main SEIU political action committee and five local SEIU PACs raised about $15 million to give to candidates, a 62% increase.
• The main PAC for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), part of the AFL-CIO, has raised $9.1 million, a 39% increase.
Nationally, the AFL-CIO and Change to Win are on track to spend considerably more than the $35 million the AFL-CIO spent in 2002 to register, educate and turn out union voters.