Andy Stern and Jeff Kindler
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Andy Stern is the President of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), CLC.

Stern is intent on "forging new organizing models and public policies to reward work fairly," says Fortune. Dubbing him "a different kind of labor chief," The New York Times Magazine described Stern as a man who "intends to create a new, more dynamic" labor movement.

In the past decade under Stern’s leadership, nearly 1 million members have united their strength in SEIU, the largest and fastest-growing union in North America. He is the author of the forthcoming book, A Country That Works (Free Press), which offers a diagnosis of our ailing systems -- and a compelling prescription for the vital political and economic reform America needs to get back on track.

After launching a national debate about the fundamental change needed to reverse labor's decline, Stern led SEIU out of the AFL-CIO to focus on uniting the nine out of 10 American workers not yet in a union, and was the driving force behind Change to Win, a new labor federation of seven major unions representing six million members.

An aggressive advocate for a health care system that helps U.S. companies compete worldwide while providing quality, affordable coverage to every American, Stern has invited the Fortune 500 and other business leaders to partner with SEIU in the political arena to establish a more efficient, cost-effective model to replace our broken, employer-based system. SEIU's Americans for Health Care project, a grassroots network of caregivers, business owners and consumers, is also working to make health care a top priority in key states across the country.

Determined to build a truly 21st century union to help ensure that workers, not just CEOs, benefit from today's global economy, Stern has initiated partnerships with overseas unions as well as multinationals to form effective, win-win alliances. He chairs Wal-Mart Watch, the advocacy group responsible for challenging the retail giant to become a leader in corporate responsibility toward its employees and host communities.

Stern began his union career in 1973 as a Pennsylvania social service worker and member of SEIU Local 668 and rose through the ranks before his election as president in 1996. He serves on the board of directors for diverse organizations, including the Institute of Medicine, Rock the Vote, and the Broad Foundation. A frequent blogger, he weighs in on economic and political issues on SEIU.org and as a regular contributor to online outlets such as the Huffington Post.


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Jeff Kindler is Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Pfizer, the world's largest research-based pharmaceutical company. Prior to his appointment as CEO and election to the Board of Directors in 2006, he was Vice Chairman and General Counsel, where he led Pfizer's worldwide legal, compliance, communications, government relations, corporate citizenship, policy development and global security groups.

He joined Pfizer in 2002 as Executive Vice President and General Counsel, with responsibility for Pfizer's Legal Division. He was named Vice Chairman in 2005, joining the company's four-person Executive Committee and assuming responsibility for Pfizer's Corporate Affairs Division.

Born in Florida and raised in New Jersey, Jeff Kindler earned his BA in 1977 from Tufts University summa cum laude, and his JD in 1980 from Harvard magna cum laude, where he was an editor of the Harvard Law Review. He began his legal career as an attorney at the Federal Communications Commission. He then served as law clerk to Judge David L. Bazelon of the U.S. Court of Appeals of the D.C. Circuit and later served as law clerk to U.S. Supreme Court Justice William J. Brennan, Jr.

He joined the law firm of Williams & Connolly, became a Partner there, and then moved to General Electric as Vice President of Litigation and Legal Policy. He next joined McDonald's Corporation as Executive Vice President and General Counsel, responsible for both legal and corporate affairs. At McDonald's, he established a pro bono legal services program that has become a model for many corporations and law firms.

He moved into line management at McDonald's as President of Partner Brands. This operating unit, with more than 50,000 employees worldwide, included several restaurant brands such as Boston Market, Chipotle Mexican Grill, and Pret a Manger.

During his corporate career, Jeff Kindler has been recognized for his leadership in the areas of pro bono legal services, diversity, and corporate social responsibility by groups ranging from Outward Bound to the Minority Corporate Counsel Association.

He serves on the boards of trustees of Tufts University, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Business Roundtable, Manhattan Theatre Club, the Partnership for New York City, The Business Council, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, and Ronald McDonald House Charities, as well as serving as the Chairman of the U.S.-Japan Business Council.

He is married to Sharon Sullivan. They have two children, Joshua and Samantha.

Blog Entries by Andy Stern and Jeff Kindler

Why Healthcare Can't Wait

Posted February 23, 2009 | 13:59:58 (EST)

Through the years, there have been many issues where labor and business don't see eye to eye. Here's one where we firmly agree: the need to fix healthcare, now, not in spite of the economic crisis, but because of it. For this reason, we are proud to stand together with...

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