Comments on: 103 Students Set to Graduate from National Labor College http://firedoglake.com/2009/06/25/103-students-set-to-graduate-from-national-labor-college/ Firedoglake weblog Fri, 27 Nov 2009 07:45:38 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Rayne http://firedoglake.com/2009/06/25/103-students-set-to-graduate-from-national-labor-college/#comment-1923805 Rayne Thu, 25 Jun 2009 22:42:07 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/06/25/103-students-set-to-graduate-from-national-labor-college/#comment-1923805 <p>This isn’t going to make me popular, and I’m going to ask/say this in spite of being a supporter of unions and the right to unionize. </p> <p>How does the curriculum of the National Labor College make workers more competitive in domestic or global markets? How does the educational program make these workers more desirable to businesses which are already struggling in today’s economy?</p> <p>I would much rather see unions in this country provide their membership with flexible curriculum which make them the best and most preferred workers in the world, not just improved labor organizers. There are companies which do invest in education for their workers, some with “branded” education plans. EDS (for example, and for which I have no real affection) had a college curriculum at one point, still offers thousands of classes including those for certifications even after being bought out by Hewlett-Packard. These kinds of classes make a worker more valuable not only to their current employer but to other employers, giving them more leverage when negotiating employment.</p> <p>Why can’t unions help their membership with both improved organizing skills and with the kind of education employers need?</p> This isn’t going to make me popular, and I’m going to ask/say this in spite of being a supporter of unions and the right to unionize.

How does the curriculum of the National Labor College make workers more competitive in domestic or global markets? How does the educational program make these workers more desirable to businesses which are already struggling in today’s economy?

I would much rather see unions in this country provide their membership with flexible curriculum which make them the best and most preferred workers in the world, not just improved labor organizers. There are companies which do invest in education for their workers, some with “branded” education plans. EDS (for example, and for which I have no real affection) had a college curriculum at one point, still offers thousands of classes including those for certifications even after being bought out by Hewlett-Packard. These kinds of classes make a worker more valuable not only to their current employer but to other employers, giving them more leverage when negotiating employment.

Why can’t unions help their membership with both improved organizing skills and with the kind of education employers need?

]]> By: dakine01 http://firedoglake.com/2009/06/25/103-students-set-to-graduate-from-national-labor-college/#comment-1923785 dakine01 Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:51:47 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/06/25/103-students-set-to-graduate-from-national-labor-college/#comment-1923785 <p>Somehow, I doubt if former Labor Secretary Chao would even acknowledge the students from the National Labor College existed, much less give the commencement address at their graduation.</p> <p>It’s nice to have a labor secretary who recognizes Labor.</p> Somehow, I doubt if former Labor Secretary Chao would even acknowledge the students from the National Labor College existed, much less give the commencement address at their graduation.

It’s nice to have a labor secretary who recognizes Labor.

]]> By: newspaperbrat http://firedoglake.com/2009/06/25/103-students-set-to-graduate-from-national-labor-college/#comment-1923783 newspaperbrat Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:50:02 +0000 http://firedoglake.com/2009/06/25/103-students-set-to-graduate-from-national-labor-college/#comment-1923783 <p>Thanks Tula for this uplifting post!</p> Thanks Tula for this uplifting post!

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