Do as I say, not as I do,
is a leadership mantra that is ineffective, disingenuous and laden with
hypocrisy. Yet, this is exactly what we
are getting from the Conservative leadership in Wisconsin around issues involving organized
labor and the turmoil around the potential introduction of "Right to
Work" legislation. This potential
attack on private sector labor unions comes on the heels of Act 10, an anti-union
bill that was designed to cripple Wisconsin's
public sector unions. Clearly those who
control the Republican Party both locally, and on a national scale, have a
significant problem with workers organizing in their workplaces.
While the real reasons
behind their attacks on organized labor are relatively clear and center around
gaining and maintaining political power, they mask their anti-union rhetoric in
the language of freedom, choice and economic equity. Essentially, the message is that America's
workforce should be made up of individuals who are in a constant state of
competition that leads to supposedly improved outcomes. We constantly hear that unions are outdated,
unnecessary, and even anti-American in nature.
In short, workers should be more like businessmen/job-creators who
operate independently and are able to compete as individuals in whatever
marketplace they are operating in.
Workers shouldn't need to organize if they were more competent,
assertive and skilled.
However, if this is the
case then why do we see so many efforts by business to organize. Whether it is through a local Chamber of
Commerce, or an organization like Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce, we see
businesses joining together to advance their interests. There is strength in numbers for businesses
and ownership, just as there is strength in numbers for employees. While the parallels between unions and
business organizations are not perfect, the concept behind them is the same.
Another anti-union
argument takes the perspective that management is able to look out for workers
better than the "big union bosses."
The message is that unions are somehow exploiting their members in ways
that management never would. If only workers would "wake up" and
see that they are being manipulated in order to pad the pockets of the bosses,
then we could avoid the entire problem of unions.
Of course, there are many
examples of just how false this argument is.
One of the most glaring is the manipulation of voters who are part of
the Tea Party movement. If unions are
the product of a mislead and misguided workforce, then what exactly does that
mean for the voters who cast ballots for Tea Party candidates? The idea that union bosses are corrupt, but
big business isn't is one that rings hollow upon any reflection.
A new academic study confirms that front groups with
longstanding ties to the tobacco industry and the billionaire Koch brothers
planned the formation of the...
huffingtonpost.com
http://portside.org/2014-12-19/how-alec-helped-undermine-public-unions
We can leave the world of
politics and see just how the American worker has fared economically and socially as unions have lost
their influence and employees have been left without significant
protections. Workers are more
productive, and although they earn 23% more than they did in 1973, they work
26% more hours. In other words, for more
production, with more time on the job, workers are barely keeping up with the
costs of living.
As workers are devalued, many need multiple jobs to make a
middle-class wage
washingtonpost.com
More than 60 million people in U.S. households depend on the
earnings of a low-wage worker, according to a new report released on Tuesday.
thehill.com|By Vicki Needham
The attacks on the middle
class, working class and the working poor isn't just about destroying
unions. It's also about attacking
benefits and safety nets in an effort to profit from the shrinking of our
public services. Welfare recipients make
an easy target for politicians, but Social Security, tax breaks and other
things that benefit middle class families are also facing cuts or even
elimination.
Once it became clear that Wisconsin Republican Glenn
Grothman would win a U.S. House seat in the November 2014 elections, his
penchant for making...
politifact.com
The climate may not be
favorable for organized labor, but the need for unions is just as great now as
it ever was. We are seeing the disparity
in incomes increase and more and more people falling out of the middle
class. Poverty is rising, and we are
seeing the futures' of our children negatively impacted by the policies of the
anti-labor, anti-government, pro-big business movement that the Tea Party and other
Conservative movements represent. The
time is now for the labor movement to regain its status in American politics
and in our society as a whole. We can't
shrink from the conflicts and assume that our elected officials will adequately
represent our interests. Our nation is built
on rules that allow for us to organize, associate with organizations and use
the system to protect our interests.
In writing the majority court decision in the Integrity
Staffing Solutions Inc. vs. Busk decision, Justice Thomas may have just killed
Right-To-Work and anti-Union laws.
addictinginfo.org
It is important to look
for connections beyond those traditionally accessed by labor. There are many places where the interests of
workers, management and ownership can intersect.
More than 300 construction-related businesses are part of
the coalition.
greenbaypressgazette.com
At the same time organized
labor can't simply continue with the tried and true tactics of the past. Here in Wisconsin we've seen the impact that money
can have on all aspects of our political, economic and legal systems. There needs to be a concerted effort made by
unions to expand their influence beyond the limited scope of the workplace or
industry they represent. Organizing in
21st Century America
means building a broad base around issues that can unite large numbers of
people. Social justice issues like the
minimum wage can provide these opportunities, and unions need to step up and
regain their status as representatives of all workers, not just a select
few.
The new labor movement is beginning to advance workers’
interests through legislation, writes guest columnist
seattletimes.com
In doing so, unions can
work to shed the baggage of the past and embrace a future that includes
diversity in membership, and diversity in issues that are addressed by
unions. We know that unions have a
history that is both positive and negative when it comes to issues of equity. However, no matter what the past may have
been the potential of collective action outweighs the historical shortcomings. We have huge problems around equity and race
in America. Unions can work to create workplace rules and
climates that can serve to level the playing field.
Analysis: The racial wealth divide is a persistent fact of
American life and getting worse
america.aljazeera.com
We also need to recognize
that a united group of people, working together to achieve common goals can
have a powerful impact on small and large scale issues. In fact, collective action is the cornerstone
of our nation and is vital to the continued success of our society. We know that the wealthiest and most powerful
are organizing and acting, it seems obvious that the rest of us should be doing
what they do, not what they say.
The
Good, The Bad and
The
Ugly. . .
The Good . . . Sticking with Cold War policies that have proven harmful to the entire
region makes very little sense. It is
time that we rethink how we interact with our neighbors.
It would take real leadership to change course and adopt a
more sensible policy towards Cuba.
President Obama offered that leadership today.
msnbc.com
The Bad . . . The fact that Walker is considered a
viable candidate to be President of the United States points to the
polarization of our nation.
Iowa
political insiders say participation in the state's straw poll and caucuses
could push Gov. Scott Walker into the top tier of presidential candidates.
host.madison.com|By Jessie Opoien | The
Capital Times
The Ugly . . . Considering
that 4 of the members of the Wisconsin Supreme Court have benefited from
political spending by Wisconsin Club for Growth (one of the defendants), this
decision appears to be fairly predictable.
Our justice system in Wisconsin
is severely lacking in credibility at its highest level.
The cases stem from a long-running secret investigation into
fundraising and spending by the Republican governor’s campaign and conservative
groups backing him.
jsonline.com|By Patrick Marley
