Why is the AFL-CIO attacking China?
The motivation of the AFL-CIO leaders to attack China is two-fold. Many union leaders have pandered to protectionist sentiments of their members instead of educating them on the need for international solidarity against corporate rule. With a few notable exceptions, most union and federation leaders do not base their policies and actions on furthering class solidarity but instead follow the path of least resistance with short-term goals that qualify them for dubious distinction as “special interests.” This failure of leadership not only makes blaming China palatable but is opening the door to demagogues like Patrick Buchanan and his “fortress American” siren song with its anti-immigrant hysteria. Their second motivation for moving the fight against China to the top of the agenda is ideological. In 1995, John Sweeney and his “New Voices” slate replaced Lane Kirkland, Tom Donahue and a dynasty that could trace its roots back 100 years to Sam Gompers. Sweeney vowed to shake up the federat
