Four unions representing about 30 percent of the AFL-CIO’s U.S. membership will boycott the labor federation’s annual convention, a first step toward what may become one of the biggest splits in organized labor in 70 years.

The unions are at odds with AFL-CIO President John Sweeney over how to revive the power of organized labor at a time when private-sector union membership has dipped below 8 percent, the lowest level since the 1920s.

Hear a discussion about organized labor’s future and what it portends for American workers.

Guests:

Steve Franklin, labor writer for The Chicago Tribune

James Williams, General President of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades

Anna Burger, Chair of Change to Win Coalition, Secretary Treasure of the Service Employees International Union

Gary Chaison, professor of labor relations at Clark University

Daniel Mitchell, professor at the Anderson Graduate School of Management at UCLA