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California’s largest SEIU local may lose 65,000 members as a result of a vote by the union’s executive board last week. The United Healthcare Workers-West, headed by Sal Roselli, a leading critic of SEIU head Andy Stern, has long demanded that its long-term care workers remain where they are: united with hospital workers. Now, as a result of the SEIU board’s decision, long-term care workers may have to join two other California locals to form one giant local comprising nearly a quarter million workers. UHW’s own board has asked for a vote on disaffiliating with SEIU in response. This major internal labor battle raises questions about the future of organized labor in America, particularly as Barack Obama takes office, winning his presidency with significant help from unions, and as the nation sees an on-going hemorrhaging of jobs. Obama’s appointment of California representative Hilda Solis as Labor Secretary is seen as one of his few solidly progressive decisions before he takes office.

GUEST: David Bacon, host of the labor segment on KPFA, prominent labor photojournalist and writer, author of several books including “Illegal People: How Globalization Creates Migration and Criminalizes Immigrants”.