Mon Apr 29, 2013, 02:38 PM
nadinbrzezinski (119,297 posts)
On Labor…and it’s[sic] Crisis
The role of the Union is to represent the interests of it’s[sic] members.†(West Coat activist with the SEIU)
“The Role of the union…is to represent the interest of the Working Class.†(South African Union leader)
Page ix of 304 of Solidarity Divided
This contrast is telling of the role of the Union and how labor sees itself in the US. In other places of the world labor sees itself as part of a movement to gain worker rights, not part of the middle class. This is not about a middle class lifestyle, but getting a safe work place, and decent pay, and respect from employers.
Outside the United States (and some of the First Word, such as Canada), this is a struggle between the owners of capital and workers. It is sounds somewhat revolutionary, for Americans it surely does, radical even. But current labor leadership in the US keeps losing not just members, but historic gains. I will say part of it lies in an uncomfortable truth, leaders have forgotten who they work for, and why.
No wonder the unions still growing, (SEIU for example) are doing such for a simple reason…the rank and file members come from countries where militant labor exists, which is not present in the US. But still leaders of these Unions are still trapped in the ideas that have led to the current failure of organized labor…and this is a reality.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022772453God, I hate when DUmmies can't form a possessive pronoun.
The bug boy starts treading on thin ice, contradicting nadin:
Response to nadinbrzezinski (Original post)
Mon Apr 29, 2013, 03:40 PM
mike_c (31,443 posts)
1. I am a union leader and I beg to differ...
...with your comment that "leaders have forgotten who they work for, and why," although I honestly don't know whether my experience is typical or not. AND my union is an SEIU affiliate. But at any rate, the membership IS the union in my union, the California Faculty Association (SEIU 1983). The officers are ALL working faculty members. I do union work AND teach a full load of classes AND conduct my research AND mentor graduate students AND work in campus governance, etc, as do ALL the other CFA officers and activists. We do employ staff members at several offices around California but they have their own union, separate from CFA and with whom we bargain a contract independent of our own contract with the California State University.
So we (the union leaders) are not in any way separate from our membership. We are members, and any member can participate in union leadership if they wish.
Response to mike_c (Reply #1)
Mon Apr 29, 2013, 03:51 PM
nadinbrzezinski (119,297 posts)
3. Yup, you work for members, not the working class
This is part of the crisis Mike...
We, in labor, have forgotten, to try to accommodate with capital, who we work for.
That is the point of the authors...one I happen to agree with from looking at Labor's failure, and the surrender of the strike as a tool.
FYI, the two authors of solidarity divided have many years in labor.
Here, useful link
http://www.ucpress.edu/book.php?isbn=9780520261563
The crazy bald dwarf is part of "labor"? The crazy bald dwarf, who has never earned a dime outside her dozens of fantasy careers?
A hardcore communist chimes in:
Response to nadinbrzezinski (Original post)
Mon Apr 29, 2013, 03:51 PM
byeya (1,632 posts)
2. Too many unions are undemocratic in their structure and too many unions want to "partner"
with the bosses instead of oppose them and try to institute workplace democracy.
Response to byeya (Reply #2)
Mon Apr 29, 2013, 03:52 PM
nadinbrzezinski (119,297 posts)
4. Exactly
And it is time rank and file take over labor.
Nutcasee nadin is upset that unions are simply communist front organizations and not openly communist.
Mon Apr 29, 2013, 04:04 PM
nadinbrzezinski (119,297 posts)
6. My hubby's union is a perfect example
He has had to go around his local leadership to take on issues that affect him. Local leadership is the best union management could have or hope for
