Service Employees International Union (SEIU), one of our country's largest and most politically active unions, announced today that it will not endorse a presidential candidate on an international level.

Instead of making a national endorsement, the union will let its locals make decisions state by state. And to ensure that there are no conflicts, once an SEIU local has chosen a candidate, the union's activists from that state will be barred from campaigning in states that have chosen someone else.

Rarely, have I agreed with SEIU and some of its decisions and leadership of late, but this is a good move.

For most of us active in the union movement, especially those not represented by SEIU, UFCW and the Teamsters, SEIU has been like the unwanted stepchild. When SEIU President Andy Stern did not get his way with the AFL-CIO, he pulled his marbles and withdrew from the unions of unions. I roll my eyes everytime I see or hear Stern quoted "on behalf of labor." These are trying times for organized labor, and when Stern pulled his 1.3 million SEIU members out of the AFL-CIO, it sure did not make labor any stronger.
So I am one of the last people to give SEIU any props. But I will here.
Unions should be democratic. Mine is, at least in theory. They are a human creation, like churches, and bound to human faults like corruption. The best unions, in my opinion, are bottom up that allow individual members to have influence, say and participation. But not all act that way. Some are controlled by a select few, not far removed from CEO's, who make six and even seven figure salaries and have little connection to those rank-and-file workers they represent. '
SEIU's move allowed for a little more participation by the rank-and-file. Hopefully.
My guess is that SEIU did not want to get burned again like they did when they backed Howard Dean in 2004.
This move could hurt Edwards, as many thought he would get their endorsement. Edwards had hoped a national SEIU endorsement would energize his campaign in the crucial early primary states. The former North Carolina senator and 2004 vice presidential nominee has spent considerable time the past couple of years walking picket lines, speaking out for workers' rights and seeking labor support.
Then again, a majority or even all of the states could individually back Edwards. Or maybe they would have the guts to endorse an even more labor friendly candidate like Rep. Dennis Kucinich.