Scipes, Kim. 2021. “AFL-CIO, NED & US Labor Imperialism.” WorkWeek Radio.
WorkWeek interviews Professor Kim Scipes who teaches at Purdue University Northwest. He discusses the long history of collaboration between the US government in collusion with the AFL-CIO leadership in international support of coups and in setting up pro-capitalist unions throughout the world. Most of the funds come from the National Endowment For Democracy a US government agency. They receive over $30 million a year from the NED.
He also talks about why he decided to study this issue and how the National Endowment for Democracy NED funds the AFL-CIO "Solidarity Center” without any full report to the rank and file as well as affiliates of the AFL-CIO on the work that they are doing. In 2019 they received more than $39 million nearly all from the US government for the international operations of the AFL-CIO.
He also discusses the corporate top down structure of the AFL-CIO and most International unions that prevent the ranks from having direct control and information about their union.
This interview was done by WorkWeek on 3/23/21
