All of us can JOIN a UNION - right NOW!

[VaLabor]

All non-union DUer's - our time has finally COME!

The AFL-CIO has started a community-based proto-union of sorts for all those working people out there without a unionized workplace.

You can join right now.

The dues are a very tiny $5 per year.

It's called Working America - and it's designed to fill the gaps for working people - on workplace and economic/political issues - who are not members of a union.

By joining, you get to help democratically guide the organization, just like a real union.

Working America will serve to bring working people together for political and community mobilizations. For many workers, it will probably end up serving as a stepping stone to organizing unions in their workplaces.

JOIN TODAY! Let's make this work!

http://www.workingamerica.org

[Triana]

1. WooHoo!

I've been waiting for them to start signing people up! Thanks for the heads-up. I'm THERE...

[Lindacooks]

2. Done

How cool - thanks!!

[E_Zapata]

3. Joining Now!

I had heard rumblings about this a few months back.

This is THE most fantastic thing in the world.

And get others to sign up for it too. Carry the apps with you (with your voter registration apps too).

Finally -- workers unite.

[E_Zapata]

4. I can't believe it!

I am now a UNION member! For non-blue collar and non-technical workers, this is progress!!!

[Triana]

6. non-technical?

I'm a techie worker without union representation and I joined! Techies unite! There are pissy few technical unions out there and with the job market in the crapper, we need this. Join now!

[stopthegop]

5. if they don't represent you at work..

this is fund-raising...right?

[VaLabor]

7. i don't think

I don't think 5 bucks a year is fundraising.

And you're right...it won't be collectively bargaining for you at work.

The way I see it is that Working America will serve as a kind of waylay for people on their way to being fully organized as a union.

Generally, working people have to go through all kinds of hurdles to form a bona fide, recognized union - with NLRB elections, etc. This organization does not demand recognition from employers. It organizes working people as if they were in a union - so that nonunion workers can be just as educated and organized around working-class issues as union workers are.

We hear a lot about "the union vote" - the reason we hear about it is precisely because the union vote generally votes as a block. They are highly motivated, highly informed working people who go to the polls. This organization should help expand the union vote beyond traditional union members.

I can't think of any organization like this. It's an organization designed by and for people insofar as they are workers or employees, regardless of where they work or what they do.

Anyway, no, I don't think this is simple fundraising. It's ORGANIZING on a broad scale. And it could be a powerful new player to help save democracy from corporate interests.

[Lefty48197]

8. Is this the program that John Sweeney spoke of a few months ago?

If he's leading, then I'm following.