AFL-CIO Power Struggle
The massive Republican congressional victories in 1994 represented a moment of crisis for organized labor and served to catalyze long simmering dissatisfaction in the AFL-CIO with Kirkland's leadership. Donahue could probably have been easily elected to succeed Kirkland were it not for the latter's resistance to passing the scene gracefully. The dissenting union leaders quickly lined up behind the leadership of Donahue's former protege and then-SEIU President John Sweeney, who proved unable to reach an amiable resolution with Kirkland and Donahue. Kirkland finally stepped down in the late spring of 1995 and Donahue became President, defeating Sweeney in an Executive Council election 22 to 11. Sweeney defeated Donahue at the AFL-CIO convention in December 1995.
Read more about this topic: Thomas R. Donahue
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