Breakaway Unions Form New Federation

St. Louis, Leaders from unions that broke away from the AFL-CIO pledged Tuesday to organize Wal-Mart Stores Inc. workers and reach out to those who lost their jobs due to Hurricane Katrina.

The Challenge to Win Coalition met for its founding convention in St. Louis. The seven unions—including the Teamsters, Service Employees International Union and the United Food and Commercial Workers—represent about 5.4 million workers. The unions left the AFL-CIO, charging that the nation’s largest labor federation was unable to halt declining membership. They argued it should shift from backing political candidates to organizing new members.