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The Project to Kill the UAW | 30 comments (30 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: There is another problem here, folks. (4.00 / 2)

This is a long rant, so I wouldn't even try to respond to it point by point.

I was in my letter carriers union (NALC) since the day I hit the workfloor. I was active as a shop steward and twice was an officer. Are unions imperfect? You bet. Are there people in positions of power who shouldn't be there? Of course.

Here's a problem many unions have. The membership is composed of people who do a job. Most don't have an educational background to go toe to toe with management stooges. Most people don't even have the courage or emotional makeup to stand up to bosses on the workfloor, especially if it's someone else's butt you're defending. What you need is a union presence where people are not afraid to stand up for their rights, where rules are enforced equally, and where union leadership is fluid enough to provide new faces and new ideas. Unfortunately, most people, if they get a good job like a union officer's job, don't voluntarily give it up. And the longer they stay in office the more distant they get from the "workfloor experience".

We have plenty of problems in our branch (I remain a member in retirement) and I've kept on making suggestions (often not listened to) to improve the effectiveness of the union. Sadly, since I left office things have gone downhill, and not just because I stepped down. Human beings are, unfortunately, human beings.

Nevertheless, what's the alternative? Does anyone really think that management will act for the benefit of the workers? Every worker protection by government came into existence by the pressure of unions. Does anyone really think that they'd stay in place without unions?

Ultimately what America needs is a true Labor Party, a party whose purpose is to represent the interests of all working people. We already have an anti-worker party.

by Bob In Pacifica on Sun Dec 14th, 2008 at 11:32:57 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: There is another problem here, folks. (none / 0)

Wow that is where my wife works. She has worked for NALC for 22 years. They just cut their retirement. Here in Va. they are not exactly a strong union but its solidarity never the less.

"We have always known that heedless self-interest was bad morals; now we know that it is bad economics;" - Franklin Delano Roosevelt

by Salunga on Sun Dec 14th, 2008 at 11:40:09 AM EST
[ Parent ]

You bring up another "union" issue, Bob. (none / 0)

One that is actually more of a political issue.

As in "politicians."

Most people who gravitate towards political office...and union officials are politicians, bet on it...are people who do not like to work at whatever normal jobs are open to them. They like the political experience better.

In a union situation...and I admit that this idea holds more true in a high craft situation like the Musicians' Union than it does in a regular, work-at-a-job-that-feeds-the-family union...it is very rare that you find a union official who really enjoys the work that is done by that union's members. Working for the union is a step up for most of them. As a result, they eventually lose what you call "the workfloor experience" and actually share more in common with their so-called adversaries than they do with their own constituency.

This holds right on up the line to the big, big union.

The United States and its state and federal governments.

Again, other than pointing this out I have no real solutions except trying to get people to realize what is up.

Which may be the only "solution" to the problem. A temporary one at best, because historically people only wake the fuck up when their very existence is seriously threatened, and even then it is a rare occurrence.

As Bob and Ray (a great radio comedy team with roots in the Depression) used to say in their sign-off:

Hang by your thumbs, and call if you get work.

Best of luck in the future.

Later...

AG

Goodness had nothing to do with it, dearie.-Mae West

by Arthur Gilroy (arthurgilroy<at>earthlink.net) on Sun Dec 14th, 2008 at 11:57:47 AM EST
[ Parent ]

The Project to Kill the UAW | 30 comments (30 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

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