Top White House Visitor and Obama Ally Andy Stern Leaving SEIU Amid Turmoil and Financial Woes
The departure of Mr. Stern, a close ally to President Barack Obama and a major force ( $70 MILLION ) in Democratic politics, also has far-reaching political implications.
By KRIS MAHER, MELANIE TROTTMAN and BRODY MULLINS AT WSJ
Andy Stern‘s anticipated resignation as the powerful and controversial head of the Service Employees International Union, often praised as the fastest growing union in the U.S., comes amid increasing financial strains and costly legal battles with other unions.
Bloomberg News SEIU President Andy Stern speaks during a protest outside Bank of America Tower in New York in 2009.
Mr. Stern, one of the most influential figures in Washington, is expected to announce his resignation Thursday, following a meeting with SEIU’s 75-member board, according to people familiar with the matter.
Michelle Ringuette, an SEIU spokeswoman, said Mr. Stern, who turns 60 in November, wasn’t available to comment ahead of his announcement. She declined to comment on why Mr. Stern is leaving.
Under Mr. Stern, the SEIU has become the nation’s most successful union in terms of new members and first contracts. Mixing strong armed tactics, lawsuits and careful analysis, SEIU teams, for example, were dispatched to uncover embarrassing company practices, such as production in third-world countries with poor human-rights records. Mr. Stern usually stayed in the background, while underlings made companies miserable enough to negotiate. Then he would call CEOs, suggesting they talk. Even adversaries remarked on his abilities.
The departure of Mr. Stern, a close ally to President Barack Obama and a major force in Democratic politics, also has far-reaching political implications.
Mr. Stern helped transform the SEIU into one of the most potent forces in Washington. During the 2008 presidential campaign, the union spent more than $70 million to help elect Mr. Obama and Democratic candidates to Congress, according to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics. That was far more than any single entity.
By contrast, the pro-business U.S. Chamber of Commerce spent about $35 million on the 2008 elections.
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