Andy Stern on the New Moment

Like any reformer, SEIU President Andy Stern has his admirers and his critics. I understand the critics' arguments. But I also think Stern is a visionary labor figure. When in history were heretics well liked? Yet their ideas are worth hearing.

Yesterday, Stern came to The Nation offices along with Change to Win Chair and SEIU International Secretary-Treasure, Anna Burger, to discuss this new moment in the country's history and what kind of strategic thinking will be needed moving forward. Their mood was optimistic--as well it should be, since labor spent some $450 million in the 2008 races, contributed mightily to massive voter outreach and mobilization and saw their candidates win.

"It's a different world – the free market ideology has been discredited," Stern said. This was "a clear election not on small things." And he argues, "We've redefined the center. Universal health care is now centrist."

Stern and Burger were less focused on the people just appointed to President-elect Obama's cabinet than on the policies and proposals – especially the massive stimulus program – now being discussed. Stern said, "We're not used to thinking in these ways, we need to think differently, and look at the outputs, not just the inputs," meaning who the advisors are. (I have to admit that I'm more worried than Stern about the number of Robert Rubin proteges in the cabinet. It's as if the guys who brought us this mess, via deregulation of Wall Street, are falling upwards.)

Both Stern and Burger were very pleased with the "real progressive appointments" of Melody Barnes and Patrick Gaspard. Barnes, the former chief counsel to Senator Edward Kennedy on the Senate Judiciary Committee, will serve as director of the White House Domestic Policy Council. Gaspard – who will be the White House political director – was the lead political operative for SEIU 1199, representing health care workers in New York prior to serving as the Obama campaign's national political director.

Like everyone else, Burger's and Stern's top priority is rebuilding the economy. "The American economy hasn't been working for working people for a long time. We need to make the economy work for people," Burger said.

Stern views the economic stimulus as a needed reinvestment in our country, creating necessary jobs and rebuilding our infrastructure. Both Burger and Stern talked about the importance of creating not just any jobs, but "good jobs" – meaning secure jobs, middle-class jobs – which means workers have a voice (which means Employee Free Choice Act – read on). He joked about how during the Clinton era there was talk of 20 million jobs created and that many SEIU members had three of them – working three jobs to pay the bills.

These good jobs – and launching universal health care and energy efficiency – will be key to Obama's success. Stern understands that the Obama Administration will be judged by whether it tangibly improves people's lives. He paraphrased economist Robert Kuttner: "For the first time we are looking at a transformational, not transactional, presidency."

Stern doesn't think Obama is beholden to Wall Street in the ways previous Presidents or even today's Senators are. He said Obama has "his own accountability system," and he believes that in this "transformational moment" progressives need to ask [when it comes to domestic priorities], "How do we make sure what the President wants to get done, gets done?"

Along those lines, Stern discussed the kind of strategic thinking which would mean seeing a "difference between independence and interdependence." We can't approach this moment only with our own issues – we need to see a range of issues and work together. "Progressives need to work together as a strategic, smart, focused coalition," he said. We don't need to agree on everything in order to work together in a smart, strategic way.

Stern laid out what he saw as the important "phases" of the Obama administration. We're now in a pre-inauguration phase – in which every group is working to get its issues on the agenda, including SEIU. On Inaugural Day, a huge set of initiatives will be announced – including signing a stimulus bill. Stern sees a second phase running from the day after inuaguration to August, and "if we go in different directions, we're in trouble" – coming back to this idea of a progressive coalition working together strategically while not necessarily agreeing on everything. He believes we have to make sure progressives are on the same page – "push not pull from inaugural day to August to get some big things done." Stern's dream would be to achieve a massive stimulus, universal healthcare, and begin the work to create green jobs ---and he thinks it can be done if we build strong coalitions and stick together.

A key part of SEIU's work will also be through electoral accountability. The union is putting massive numbers of people in the field – half of the international staff and 30 percent of the locals – pushing for the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA) and health care, reminding people of what this election was about. Stern argues that progressives have learned how to do elections – and some of that learning curve involves the importance of staying in the field, holding people accountable, not de-mobilizing.

The Accountability Now coalition – which SEIU is a part of – will work to hold elected officials accountable at the polls by recruiting and supporting tough primary opponents to run against incumbents who have forgotten their constituents. Stern joked that it's almost like what management does to employees – although they're not going to harass or intimidate Senators and Representatives, they will let them know that progressives won't just sit back and blindly support any incumbent Democrat.

In terms of EFCA – which would require employers to recognize a union after a majority of workers sign cards authorizing representation – SEIU is sending out videos showing all the times Obama voiced support for the legislation. They are not naïve, they are clear-eyed, they are tough about the fight ahead. They feel that they need to do a better job educating people about the history of EFCA and the need for it. For example, the card check system (which would be implemented by EFCA) existed in this country for 32 years – from 1936-67 – it built a middle-class. Nine states have some version of EFCA, and former Governor Pataki passed a form of it in New York. Burger said, "You don't need to rewrite EFCA or compromise – get it through the House, into the Senate, stay in the field and get is passed." There may be a few GOP members who will vote for it – like Susan Collins, who can be reminded of her moderate roots, and there will be pressure brought to bear in Maine.

If EFCA passes, Stern wants to build a movement around labor – and build it to inspire people, and bring hope to people, and not just engage in class conflicts, or anti-management. He knows we're not there yet. He also talked about the need for labor to think globally, at a time of global financial crisis. We need global re-regulation but we also need global labor unions and coalitions to engage at this level and at scale.

Stern is also interested in the new social networking platforms, and thinks that if MyBarackObama.com has an independent voice – and he argues it will – progressives need to figure out how to interact with this enormously powerful force.

Stern believes "we're going to pass universal healthcare – Max Baucus' plan is close to what Kennedy has proposed." Tom Daschle as point-man is "an incredibly good sign." Stern said that the difference between now and the Clinton period is people understand today that you need to solve the healthcare problem in order to solve the fiscal problem, and so the business community is not as mobilized against it.

On the auto-bailout Stern asked, "Who's telling the Citigroup and AIG workers to take cuts?" He thinks there needs to be a more visionary labor perspective on this bailout. One idea – the federal government should replace its aging fleet of vehicles, pre-purchasing from the Big Three. It's almost like buying preferred stock through these vehicles rather than giving a loan. Stern said the UAW is in a difficult position in terms of carving out an independent stance, and that the problem is a structural one that goes back a number of years: UAW has company unions, as opposed to sectoral/industrial unions whereas, in contrast, SEIU 32BJ in New York has every janitor in New York City under the same contract.

On trade Stern thinks that all the important trade pacts have been done – perhaps Korea is important ahead. But there needs to be new thinking on trade. Burger said, "Don't tinker, think bigger. In this next period we need to rethink the way do trade."

"We're living through uncharted waters," Stern said. "The sad thing is we keep being right." He referenced various reports SEIU has issued over the years about the state of over-leveraging and the private equity markets. "We're all getting to understand our free market ideology isn't going to work."

Stern concluded by saying, "America needs a plan," referencing the fact that we need some tough thinking about a long-term economic plan, a new social compact. "You can't keep lurching from moment to moment – we need a plan."

As for Stern himself, on the rumor that he's the next Labor Secretary, he joked, "This is on the record. I would be the only labor leader nominated for Labor Secretary who labor would oppose."

Comments (25)

1. "It's a different world – the free market ideology has been discredited," Stern said. This was "a clear election not on small things." And he argues, "We've redefined the center. Universal health care is now centrist."

   wow.

   is he optimistic or what?

   Posted by Benchrest at 11/25/2008 @ 7:37pm

2. Posted by Benchrest at 11/25/2008 @ 7:37pm

   Maybe a bit too much.

   Posted by Mask at 11/25/2008 @ 8:37pm

3. Posted by Mask at 11/25/2008 @ 8:37pm

   Reminds me of a kid in a candy store.

   Posted by Benchrest at 11/25/2008 @ 9:02pm

4. Clearly, when we see socio-economic models and paradigms fail, does the thought how long did they really expect this to work ever come to mind. When long term designs are concieved how many take in to account a thousand or more year future. How about forming a plan, and essentially eliminating all that constitutes artificiality of design. In all bankrupt attempts, features that prove them to be unsustainable are evident. Present artificial models have ignored the balance of social agreement with economic sustainability and growth. A primary status must be accorded to sustainability as balancing axis. In process it is the key to continuous transition,it's gravity is revealed directing the compatibility,flexibility and sync of all elements.

   Can I breath Now? SPH

   Posted by S.Hedlin at 11/25/2008 @ 9:06pm

5. Can I breath Now? SPHPosted by S.Hedlin at 11/25/2008 @ 9:06pm

   Only if you're not suffering irreparable pain other wise give full consent & the proper measures will be taken. At your own expense of course. We've got Hippocrates to contend with here.

   Posted by Sorelish at 11/25/2008 @ 9:22pm

6. Posted by Sorelish at 11/25/2008 @ 9:22pm

   Jesus is away from his desk.

   Posted by Sorelish at 11/25/2008 @ 9:28pm

7. Hey Katrina,

   Maybe you should do some homework on that piece of shit Andy Stern. If you've ever read the NY Times or LA Times, you would find out how corrupt Mr. Stern and Ms. Burger are. You would find out that he personally appoints his pals as Local Leaders, and takes dues money from their members and uses it on golf outings and cigar shops. You would also find out that he is trying to take over one of the biggest locals, UHW- West in California, all because of dissent from a true patriot, Sal Rosselli. I'm pro-Union (maybe b/c I'm a Union Organizer), but not all Union people are good and you should know better then to right a fluff piece on Andy Stern. Be a real progressive and do your homework! I didn't spend my money on The Nation to read this crap.

   Posted by dray26 at 11/25/2008 @ 9:36pm

8. If you want to know what I am talking about, visit this site: www.seiuvoice.org

   Posted by dray26 at 11/25/2008 @ 9:39pm

9. Yes he'd be opposed by labor because we need a labor secretary who would be an advocate for workers, not for CEOs. The latest example of many is Stern's corporate partnership with Wal-Mart, and the business trade lobby groups, in advocating for healthcare "reform" that protects the insurance companies rather than those who need health care. Calling Stern a "visionary" is about the equivalent of Reagan calling ketchup a "vegetable."

   Posted by gschwartz at 11/26/2008 @ 12:45am

10. Andy Stern a visionary? Perhaps The Nation's editors should read the news. Stern recently forged an alliance with Puerto Rico's pro-corporate governor and then spent millions of dollars in an effort to raid the island's largest and most militant union (See NACLA at http://nacla.org/node/5257 and other coverage in the New York Daily News and Democracy Now). And he's been waging a months-long campaign to destroy United Healthcare Workers-West, a democratic and militant SEIU local that has criticized Stern for cutting secret, concessionary deals with employers and for centralizing the union's power in the hands of a few D.C.-based leaders. These are not the actions of a visionary leader. The Nation must measure Stern by his deeds, not a mouthful of words he offered during a visit to your offices.

    Posted by gdowns at 11/26/2008 @ 02:06am

11. "I understand the critics' arguments."

    Given some of these responses, Ms vanden Heuvel....maybe you should flesh that statement out.

    What EXACTLY do you "understand" about their arguments against Stern????

    Posted by Mask at 11/26/2008 @ 09:12am

12. KVH writes:

    << The Obama Administration will be judged by whether it tangibly improves people's lives. . . "For the first time we are looking at a transformational, not transactional, presidency.">>

    Absolutely false.

    Katrina first of all forgets how Obama was elected. McCain was in the lead when the Financial Crisis hit. It was in the face of a looming economic disaster that the candidate from the incumbent party was abandoned.

    The nation turned to Obama to stave off a repeat of the 1929 Hoover depression. His presidency will succeed or fail depending on whether he can keep the country from BEING transformed.

    And that will amass huge deficits, not for sacrifices to social engineering but nail breaking efforts to cling to the cliff above the abyss. They will be applied by centrist technocrats seeking the best and shortest way to make money circulate in the economy. Favored constituencies and ideological penchants won't be in play. Indeed, those deficits will ensure a lack of money for political dodges for a decade.

    Posted by Hugo_Pirovano at 11/26/2008 @ 2:30pm

13. Posted by Hugo_Pirovano at 11/26/2008 @ 2:30pm

    "McCain was in the lead when the Financial Crisis hit. It was in the face of a looming economic disaster that the candidate from the incumbent party was abandoned."

    False. Go back to realclearpolitics.com polling. Many if not most polls showed Obama beating McCain BEFORE the financial crises hit (as far back as February-March).

    McCain WAS leading immediately after the GOP Convention, which pre-dated a large chunk of the crises, but that was post-Convention bump and an effect of Palin (whom people had yet to discover was...well...Palin).

    "Indeed, those deficits will ensure a lack of money for political dodges for a decade."

    True...essentially. Though credit must also be given to Dubya and the Republicans for the first war in our history that saw a tax CUT and the moral failings of their "cut the size of government" rhetoric.

    But Hugo is right, after the stimulus and maybe healthcare, not the massive "New New Deal" that Ms vanden Heuvel hopes for.

    Posted by Mask at 11/26/2008 @ 4:03pm

14. Mask at 11 4:03pm said:

    << "McCain was in the lead when the Financial Crisis hit." False. Go back to realclearpolitics.com polling. Many if not most polls showed Obama beating McCain BEFORE the financial crises hit (as far back as February-March). >>

    Obama was substantially in the lead until after the Republican convention. In early September, well after the convention bump, McCain was still climbing and Obama falling. And then, the Financial crisis hit.

    Look at the graph of your own realclearpolicy URL, and stop wasting my time:

    http://tinyurl.com/2yke8u

    << credit must also be given to Dubya and the Republicans for the first war in our history that saw a tax CUT >>

    The war has cost around 1% of GDP. It is the least burdensome in our history. Korea cost 14% of GDP, Vietnam 9%, WWII, in some years 32%.

    << after the stimulus and maybe healthcare, not the massive "New New Deal">>

    You think there will be money for national health insurance? That should be the cue for you giggle.

    Posted by Hugo_Pirovano at 11/26/2008 @ 7:15pm

15. Andy Stern is interesting-That's for sure.

    But he's on the wrong side on the future of American health care. His SEIU "disease care workers" have to face the inevitable reality that a high-tech-high-cost treatment driven "disease care" system is simply NOT economically sustainable.

    So these workers have to morph into true health care or prevention workers in the new US model of Medicine that must emerge.

    If you are one of SEIU's disease care workers in our very bloated,very dysfunctional,disease care system,start preparing now for some re-education.

    Nothing short of the boldness and radical change we are applying to the green revolution as it relates to saving the global environment will carry the day in health care reform.

    Mr Stern has not accepted that reality as yet

    Dr. Rick Lippin Southampton,Pa

    Posted by drricklippin at 11/26/2008 @ 11:03pm

16. Posted by Hugo_Pirovano at 11/26/2008 @ 7:15pm

    But Hugo, your contention was that "McCain was in the lead until the financial crises" was demonstrably false.

    McCain was LOSING to Obama in most polls well before the main thrust of the crises....in late winter/early spring.

    What's your excuse for that?

    Posted by Mask at 11/27/2008 @ 07:19am

17. I like Stern's view about supporting a "progressive agenda" versus solely a "union" agenda. We need to push for a huge stimulus package to employ folks and rebuild schools and infrastructure. We need green jobs and affordable universal healthcare as Stern/Burger say. We surely need EFCA to rebuild the middle class in the US.

    BUT, should the "progressive coalition" ignore the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan? No mention of this and the bloated military budget makes me very suspect of the "visionary" labor leader Stern.

    Couple these with his reactionary policies concerning UHW-West and the independent Puerto Rican Teachers Union and I'm truly skeptical of his leadership.

    Finally, I agree with Stern's view on need for labor to think/act globally but I believe the foundation of that is class solidarity by supporting important workers' struggles all over the world. It's still them versus us, only now with corporate globalism we need to see "us" as workers and poor people world-wide. Building global class solidarity will help increase workers' power in all individual nations as well.

    Posted by unionpete at 11/27/2008 @ 12:13pm

18. Wow - been reading Katrina f0r a long time, enjoying all her posts, but she has sure drunk the wrong kool-aid in her praise for Andy Stern. Start with his pro private insurance industry stance on health care reform, which he cleverly disguises with compelling single payer lingo, and then drill down from there. Stern is fundamentally top down and surprisingly pro-corporate - not sure what that makes him but the term visionary does not come to mind!

    Posted by balwink at 11/27/2008 @ 8:14pm

19. Mask at 07:19am said:

    <<McCain was LOSING to Obama in most polls well before the main thrust of the crises....in late winter/early spring. What's your excuse for that?>>

    There is no need for an excuse.

    When, in a seven-furlong race, a horse lags behind the front runner for the first two thirds of the course, and then catches up and gains a one length lead, it is ridiculous to demand an "excuse" for the slow start.

    In this race the Republican horse pulled ahead after the sixth furlong, but at the seventh a tree, the financial crisis, crashed down in front of it, allowing the Democrat to gallop on to an impressive win.

    Posted by Hugo_Pirovano at 11/27/2008 @ 10:48pm

20. HUGGY, the "tree" was a deciduous Alaskan VP that lost her leaves in the fall, exposing her as a nothing.

    If you can find "only 1%" of the GDP for a War Without Reason, why cannot we not find "only 1%" of GDP to do any of the following:

    supply 94,937,964 Children with Health Care for One Year

    or

    33,302,412 Scholarships for University Students for One Year

    3,112,155 Port Container Inspectors for One year

    Posted by crabwalk at 11/28/2008 @ 08:41am

21. crabwalk

    I am not interested in playing ping pong with your moralizing imbecilities. Play with yourself.

    Incidentally, in California a brain surgeon, operating on a woman babbling nonsense, found that she had a living, wiggling tape worm in her brain. I am not kidding.

    Maybe you and your friends here are the victims of a similar parasite? Get a Cat scan.

    Posted by Hugo_Pirovano at 11/28/2008 @ 1:00pm

22. Crab,

    Apparently, your numbers are mere "moralizing imbecilities" and unfathomable, much less answerable.

    --------------------------

    Posted by Hugo_Pirovano at 11/27/2008 @ 10:48pm

    "There is no need for an excuse."

    Then why are you making one. Was he behind or not?

    Posted by Malcontent at 11/28/2008 @ 7:42pm

23. Malcontent at 7:42pm asks:

    << Was he behind of not? >>

    You have lost the thread completely, and no wonder.

    Grab each ear and pull your head out of your ass.

    Posted by Hugo_Pirovano at 11/28/2008 @ 11:47pm

24. Posted by Hugo_Pirovano at 11/28/2008 @ 11:47pm

    From excuses to non-sequiturs.

    Heckofajob Hugo.

    Posted by Malcontent at 11/29/2008 @ 12:16pm

25. since labor spent some $450 million in the 2008 races ********************************************************

    That should be a crime.

    Posted by Darin_the_Big_Fat_Troll at 12/01/2008 @ 09:04am