In an effort to bolster coffers due to lagging union membership/dues, the AFL-CIO and Change to Win (a splinter group of the union) have adopted measures in support of illegal immigration.
http://www.aflcio.org/issues/civilrights/immigration/upload/immigrationreform041409.pdf
While the numbers of Americans by a vast majority (a true mandate) do not favor amnesty for illegals here in the states, the union joins with the White House in supporting the measure. This coincides with statements made recently by Rham Emmanuel, the Obama White House Chief of Staff. The far left welcomes illegals in hopes of bolstering their voting numbers and will, as they have stated, redraw the district lines to fully take advantage of their new voting base.
The move could possibly further splinter union membership. While thousands of union workers are struggling to find jobs, the union proposes an increased membership making it harder for legal and native Americans to find jobs in a shrinking job environment.
This could be just as polarizing as it was about a year ago when John McCain crossed over and joined with some dems on immigration reform. It was a lesson well learned for members of congress, right and left. You take the wrong side, and you lose the next election. Stabbenow, Levins and the rest should heed this lesson, or side with it, and lose the next time out.