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'''Andy Stern''' (b. 1950) is an American lobbyist serving as the president (1996-) of the powerful [[Service Employees International Union]] (SEIU), one of the largest, most aggressive and most liberal of American labor unions. As a result of substantial gains in power over the course of his tenure, he is considered the most powerful labor boss in the country.
'''Andy Stern''' (b. 1950) is an American labor union leader as the president (1996-) of the powerful [[Service Employees International Union]] (SEIU), the second largest and most aggressive and most liberal of American labor unions. As a result of substantial gains in power over the course of his tenure, he is considered the most powerful labor boss in the country.
==Career==
==Career==
The son of a wealthy lawyer, Stern became radicalized as a student at the Ivy league University of Pennsylvania (BA 1971). he became a social worker and joined the SEIU, then a much smaller union. A brilliant, tireless organizer, he moved up rapidly to president of his local and then to chief organizer nationally for the union.
The son of a wealthy lawyer, Stern became radicalized as a student at the Ivy League University of Pennsylvania (BA 1971). he became a social worker and joined the SEIU, then a much smaller union. A brilliant, tireless organizer, he moved up rapidly to president of his local and then to chief organizer nationally for the union.
==SEIU boss==
==SEIU boss==
Taking over as president in 1996, Stern emphasized growth in numbers, often offering employers a "sweet deal" with low wages and no strikes if they allow the SEIU to sign up all employees. He doubled the size of the SEIU from one million to two million members, adding hundreds of thousands of janitors, nurses and office workers. In 2005, he took the SEIU out of the [[AFL-CIO]], complaining it was too old-fashioned and factory-oriented, and was unable to adjust to the new economic realities of a service based economy.
Taking over as president in 1996, Stern emphasized growth in numbers, often offering employers a "sweet deal" with low wages and no strikes if they allow the SEIU to sign up all employees. He doubled the size of the SEIU from one million to two million members, adding hundreds of thousands of janitors, nurses and office workers. In 2005, he took the SEIU out of the [[AFL-CIO]], complaining it was too old-fashioned and factory-oriented, and was unable to adjust to the new economic realities of a service based economy.