Four unions to boycott AFL-CIO convention

CHICAGO, July 24 (UPI) -- Four major labor unions plan to boycott the AFL-CIO convention in Chicago on Monday, the Financial Times reports.

The Teamsters, Service Employees International Union, United Food and Commercial Workers and Unite Here are unhappy with what they see as a loss of direction and too much money spent in Washington by an American labor power they regard as mired in the past.

The rebellious unions seek more power for individual unions within the coalition and an increased effort to rebuild membership ranks.

"This is about the future of the American labor movement," said James Hoffa, president of the Teamsters. "We demand real change ... the AFL-CIO must be restructured in order to survive in the future."

The boycotting unions have an aggregate membership of more than 6 million.