It is old news by now that Stern has announced his upcoming resignation as head of the SEIU. Until Stern announces how he will cash in his political capital, it is useless to speculate. However, it is interesting to listen to pundits on both sides of the Big Labor issue dissect his legacy, as there are lessons to learn on both sides of the aisle. Here is a quick synopsis by some of the more astute and credible sources: • Stern started out asking the right questions, but came up with the wrong answers (from labor writers at Labor Notes). • Stern’s mission to transform the labor movement is faltering, while his own union is in poor fiscal health and rocked by federal investigations (from Washingpost.com) • Stern used the resources of one of America’s largest union to secure his own political power and will leave the organization in disarray and with a crisis of leadership from top to bottom (Sal Rosselli, President of NUHW) • Stern’s borrowing of funds to buy labor-friendly politicians have almost bankrupt the union, creating $4 million in interest payments in 2009 alone, most likely inspiring the corporate campaign against Bank of America, one of its largest creditors. 
• Stern moved the SEIU from $8 million in liabilities in 2002 to having liabilities of $156 million by 2008. (The Heritage Foundation) • Stern moved the SEIU from an organizing machine to a political machine. (The Heritage Foundation) • Stern’s void will allow Richard Trumka of the AFL-CIO to “emerge as the pre-eminent leader of American labor … no longer having to contend with Andy Stern and his special relationship with Obama.” (Cletus Daniel, a professor of labor history at Cornell University’s Institute for Labor Relations) • Stern instigated a split in the labor movement by taking several unions out of the AFL-CIO to join a new federation, Change To Win. His absence will allow the remaining Change To Win labor federation members to re-unite under the AFL-CIO banner. (Investors Business Daily) If you are interested in hearing from Stern himself, here is his five-and-a-half minute good bye speech via YouTube. [[flashvideo provider=youtube file=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSA5PEG9H5w /]
