American Notes LABOR

Little love has been lost between the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and the AFL-CIO. The labor federation expelled the Teamsters on charges of corruption in 1957, precipitating raiding wars in which each side sought to increase membership at the other's expense. That rift ended last week, when the AFL-CIO board, representing 13.1 million workers, voted to readmit the 1.8 million-strong Teamsters union. Said AFL-CIO President Lane Kirkland: "This is a process of pursuing solidarity and bringing into one house all of labor's children."

But the Teamsters may be less interested in solidarity than in shelter from the Justice Department. The AFL-CIO leaders stood by Teamsters President Jackie Presser, who faces federal racketeering charges, and vowed to fight a Government bid to take control of the Teamsters to cleanse it of Mob influence.