I agree that CTW and AFL-CIO, at least at the top, don’t like each other. I think the split was more a function of this than of real programmatic differences. Anyway, I hope for more member involvement in all unions – it’s the only way to keep them strong. (Again, the forced merger of some SEIU locals was as top-down as anything I’ve seen in labor.) And I think we agree on much more than we know about the rest.

In solidarity,
Marek
(former member, 1199 NYC)

Coinky-dink?

What I’m hoping happens at Change to Win is more involvement from the bottom-up. My experience has been no input sought from the rank and file, all decisions made at the top, and marching orders sent out to the troops from HQ. Not very democratic. Hope that changes at SEIU – be interested to hear from their rank and filers.

Stern tried to work with AFL-CIO, and when it didn’t go his way, he bolted. I agree he is not a radical difference – just different priorities. But believe me – they don’t like each other. And I’ve seen unions on the same property duke it out – IAMAW talks crap about CWA, CWA disses ALPA, etc. Again, to me, if Change to Win involves their membership, that will ultimately become more important than organizing/politicking priorities. If both union wings don’t let personalities get in the way of their mission, they’ll be ok. If they get into a pissing contest (been there, seen that), we’re in for a world of hurt.

Yes, labor turned out, and the elections were stolen. The facts on the ground are, Republicans rule. Do we have any confidence ‘06 and ‘08 will be any different? Only the current Rep. tailsin, and it’s not enough for Dems to say “we ain’t Republican!” I hope a coalition of progressives – bloggers, labor, churches, folks of good will – will unite and take the country back from the military-industrial-media complex.

Regarding globalization – the fact it happens can not be stopped – you don’t know how much I hate to say that! Even if a coalition of industrialized nations had agreed not to do it, someone would have leaked thru, putting the others at a disadvantage.

What could and should have happened was to regulate (Just like Article 1: Section 8 says!) globalization. Since corporations were going to reap major windfalls, as they globalized, they should have been mandated to partner with government to fund income, healthcare and re-education to displaced workers.

And mandated minimum conditions for the target countries. If GM had to treat Mexican workers right, we’d have less illegal immigration – that’s the ultimate solution to that problem.

Plus environmental protections. Don’t get me started!

None of which happened under NAFTA – negotiated by Bush, signed by Clinton.

Which is why I have no particular affection for the man or the DLC. For practical purposes, he was about as Republican as Gerry Ford.

Which I’ll freely admit, is light years ahead of Reagan and Bush.

You and I are like the blind men and the elephant – we both have our hands on the truth, we just get there different ways.

Thanks for the response.

The web is the perfect way for folks to meet and communicate without giving away who they are until they’re ready to.

Each Trade Union has a program that helps organise non union workers. This is only dealing with construction. Organising a plant is totally different. Everything I read above is technically right for unionizing a plant.
But in construction, we call it salting a job.
If you want to salt a job you have to go thru training. Training is usually how to explain what a union is, how it works and how it benfits
the worker. You also learn your rights, the union member trying to organise workers, as long as you talk during breaks and lunch. Thats the short version, I could get more in depth, but its not really needed.

So, after you learn all this stuff, the hall will send you out to the job site that your gonna salt. The job site you go to, has not a clue that your union. I havent heard anyone not getting a job at the non union site, but I am sure there have been times. Of Course labor market was tight, so I figure they would give anyone a job. You go and you work like you normally would, and your gonna talk, just getting to know you kind of thing, you dont start yet. So after a few days, you start at breaks and lunch, not everyone takes kindly to what your saying. They cant do anything to ya cus your on your time. I have been thrown off quite a few job sites, but usually took a few guys with me.

Another aspect of salting is going thru legal channels, suing for unfair labor practises and things like that. I really dont know much about that, wasnt my thing.

I hope I explained this so you guys can understand it. I aplogise for the lenght and any errors I made in spelling and such.
If any of you are in any of the trade unions,
Go Salt A Job, its really fun.

i’ve been wondering, for a while, about something that could surely change the “structure” or nature of unions. what if a union could come together, of human beings. the human beings whose very life depends on the survival of particular conditions on earth. a union who recognized, that without it’s worthy efforts, the nasty corporate organisms glopping themselves all over the delicate and irreplaceble resources of our planet, would be nothing?