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Andy Stern, the President of the nation’s most politically influential union, SEIU, announced his resignation recently, stunning many in the labor world. In an interview with the Washington Post, he said “every institution needs to renew itself, and I’ve seen way too many labor leaders stay way too long … and I have no intention of doing that.” With SEIU currently boasting more than two million registered members, Stern led the controversial move to split from the AFL-CIO some years ago. He is credited with making the SEIU a major force in the immigrant labor community, helping to elect Obama, and exerting great influence with the President. But Stern has also angered many in the labor movement with his top-down management style, and tendency to concede political concessions in the fight over issues like public healthcare. A vicious battle in California over United Healthcare Workers West has also left many bitter. Stern has tapped SEIU Secretary Treasurer Anna Burger to replace him. However, Mary Kay Henry, an Executive Vice President at SEIU has now emerged as the favored candidate among executives representing about 60% of the rank-and-file. Henry got her start as at organizer at SEIU in 1979. She also helped found the union’s gay and lesbian caucus. According to the New York Times, “[she] has often voiced concern that while the union has tripled its financial resources, it has not tripled its organizing gains.”

GUEST: Mark Brenner, Director of Labor Notes