The labor movement has been shaken by the re-election of President Bush and some leaders are calling for major changes. Organized labor has found itself in crisis as the percentage of workers in unions has plunged to 13 percent and corporations are cutting back health benefits and pensions. Andrew L. Stern, president of the Service Employees International Union, has threatened to pull out of the A.F.L.-C.I.O. if greater effort and resources are not put toward revitalizing the movement and organizing new members.
See "Largest Union Issues Call for Major Changes", Steven Greenhouse, The New York Times, November 9, 2004