Andrew Stern, who served as president of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) from 1996 to 2010, reflects on his career in the American labor movement. Stern recounts notable events from the period of his service, describes the changing organizing landscape in the context of technological and economic shifts, and outlines SEIU's relationship with the Democratic party and successive pres idential administrations. Stern describes his involvement in the 2008 Democratic primary and general elections, providing details about the SEIU endorsement process and SEIU's efforts to center health care reform in the campaign. Stern discusses his engagement with the Obama White House, with particular attention to his role in the assembly of a multi-stakeholder health care policy working group that met at the White House in May 2009, and which might have provided the basis for the administration's health care legislation. Stern also provides insight to the negotiations and political background of the Employee Free Choice Act. Also discussed are Stern's service on the 2010 National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform (the Simpson-Bowles Commission), the Obama administration's ability to control Democratic members of Congress, the incorporation of Organizing for America into the Democratic National Committee, the formation of the Change to Win organizing center in 2005, and the importance of unions to the relationship between the Democratic party and the White working class
Presidents--United States; Labor leaders; Labor movement--United States; Labor unions and health insurance--United States; Working class white people--Political activity--United States; Health care reform--United States; Stern, Andy, 1950-; Obama, Barack; Service Employees International Union; United States. National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform
Format
oral histories
Genre
Interviews
Date
2020
Physical Description
147 pages
Note (Biographical)
Andrew Stern served as president of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) from 1996 to 2010, and was a presidential appointee on President Obama's National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. At the time of the interview, Stern is president emeritus of the SEIU and is a senior fellow at the Economic Security Project. Stern is the author of two books, "A Country That Works" (2006), and "Raising the Floor: How a Universal Basic Income Can Renew Our Economy and Rebuild the American Dream" (2016)
Note
Interviewed by Adam Reich on September 22 and October 16, 2020. This interview is part of the Columbia University: Obama Presidency Oral History
Note (Provenance)
Andrew L. Stern, Gift, transferred from Columbia Center for Oral History Research 2022