U.S. union fundraising doing well

WASHINGTON, July 21 (UPI) -- U.S. labor unions say they are flush with contributions, a striking testament to money-raising prowess in a politically hostile environment.

Federal records show that in the first six months of 2006 major unions raised more money than they did for the last non-presidential campaign in 2002, USA Today said Friday. The main Service Employees International Union political action committee and five local SEIU PACs raised about $15 million to give to candidates, a 62-percent increase over the year-earlier figure. Also, the main PAC for the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees raised $9.1 million, a 39-percent increase.

All this comes despite a contentious split within the AFL-CIO and a Republican-controlled Congress and White House.

The SEIU, the Teamsters, the Carpenters and four other unions seceded from the AFL-CIO to form a 6-million-member federation, Change to Win.