This may sound crazy, but a question, can we start

[lonestarnot]

a union that is not specific to any one employment? Just a American Workers Union? One that would include any kind of worker who works for any kind of business to join, nurses, teachers, steal workers, postal workers, sanitary workers, city workers, any worker? If not why not?

[Ian David]

1. I think there is one, but I forget what it's called. n/t

[havocmom]

4. There are unions that represent many fields of employment and smaller unions

AFLCIO for instance

http://www.aflcio.org/

[lonestarnot]

5. Yes, I know, but not one that I've heard about that represents any and every kind of worker.

[lonestarnot]

7. One for all types of workers?

[havocmom]

2. It's been done (and pretty well undone of late)

Go talk to Omaha Steve in the Labor forum. He will likely have a lot of info for you

[lonestarnot]

6. Going to. Thanks.

[Naturalist111]

3. Excellent Idea!

+10

[jody]

8. Check out SEIU.

http://www.seiu.org/splash/

[lonestarnot]

9. Thanks Jody, but they don't cover all workers.

I mean even Walfart workers.

[jody]

13. SEIU and Wal-Mart joined forces to support health care reform. n/t

[lonestarnot]

18. And SEIU represents Walfarters?

[jody]

23. OP asked for "a union that is not specific to any one employment". SEIU is one such union . Have a

great evening. :hi:

[Omaha Steve]

33. SEIU started Walmart Watch

SEIU has tried several times to unionize US Walmart stores.

[TransitJohn]

10. You want the wobblies.

IWW...I've periodically thought of signing up and starting Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Workers Industrial Union 230.




Edit to add link: Industrial Workers of the World

[lonestarnot]

12. No just members in the United States. No other countries.

[TransitJohn]

14. Oh, I thought you were into solidarity...sorry.

Why the 'America First' attitude? :shrug:

[lonestarnot]

17. Because I'm tired of corporate outsourcing of jobs and receiving a benefit for doing so.

[TransitJohn]

20. That makes no sense.

So establish your Americans only allowed union, and watch outsourcing accelerate. :banghead:

[lonestarnot]

21. Not if law is changed to stop making beneficial payments to corporations for outsourcing and with

power created in one giantic fucking union to fight for the change... Why are you stuck in one place? Are you a manager? :*

[TransitJohn]

24. I'm stuck in one place? What?

No, I work all over the world. No, not management of any sort.

[lonestarnot]

25. Well do you believe there is power in numbers or don't you?

[TransitJohn]

26. Yes, but you evidently don't. n/t

n/t

[lonestarnot]

27. We already have a problem with Chinese ability to influence American elections due to last fucking

we got from SCOTUS. And I don't think you understand where I'm coming from so yeah :hi:

[TransitJohn]

28. I think I understand where you are coming from.

You want a continuation of the American Empire (or 'way of life' if you prefer) that demands we stay richer and consuming more resources than labor in other parts of the world, right?

[lonestarnot]

29. I did not say any such thing you did.

While I agree that America over consumes, our way of life is not that fucking grand. In fact we suck. Billionaires who pay no tax, biggest outsourcers should start paying for what they get.

[TransitJohn]

30. But American labor deserves higher wages than those in other countries?

Is that not a predicate of your argument? I'm not trying to be a dick, here, I just think your position is not in the interest of labor. :hi:

[lonestarnot]

40. No, but our fucking workers need jobs! WTF!

:wtf:

[Odin2005]

31. FAIL! The only way to stop outsourcing is INTERNATIONAL unionism.

Fuck nationalism!

[lonestarnot]

41. Explain please.

[Odin2005]

44. There are two choices, either capitulation to Corporatist depressing of wages, or...

an international unionism that supports ALL workers getting a living wage, no mater what country they are in.

[lonestarnot]

45. How are unions fairing in China and Japan?

[BrklynLiberal]

11. Freelancers Union?

http://www.freelancersunion.org/

Freelancers Union is a nonprofit organization that represents the needs of America’s independent workforce though advocacy, information, and service.

Independent workers make up 30% of the nation’s workforce. We are freelancers, consultants, independent contractors, temps, part-timers, contingent employees, and the self-employed. Despite our contribution to America’s economy, we’re often left out of the social safety net. Most freelancers can’t access affordable insurance, are taxed more than traditional employees, and have limited access to protections such as unemployment insurance, retirement plans, and unpaid wage claims.

That’s why Freelancers Union is writing new rules for the new workforce.

Benefits

By representing independent workers as a group, Freelancers Union can negotiate insurance rates and provide a social safety net. We already offer health insurance to freelancers in 31 states, and provide dental, life, and disability insurance nationwide. In 2009, we reached a major milestone in the creation of a model safety net for independent workers: we launched Freelancers Insurance Company and the Freelancers Retirement Plan.

Community & Service

We believe freelancers can help each other, so we provide platforms for networking, collaboration, and sharing knowledge. We also encourage ongoing education for our members, and sponsor nationwide seminars, workshops, and events. Freelancers Union has more than 120,000 members nationwide.

Advocacy

Freelancers Union is working to promote fairness for independent workers. We carry out unprecedented research on the independent workforce, then we educate policy makers on our group’s needs and lobby for change. Our social system is outdated, but we’ve proven that positive change is achievable. The problem is simply that there hasn’t been a movement to represent the needs of independent workers. Freelancers Union is that movement.

[lonestarnot]

16. Cool.

What about Walfarters? And how are these people represented? Is there a contract of some kind? Employer have to agree? How does it work? Effective? How does it operate w/o a CBA?

[Omaha Steve]

36. Sounds like a good choice

I don't know much about them. SEIU and IWW are both international as pointed out by others.

[GrantDem]

15. The answer is yes any union can organize any workers that want to be organized.

For example my union IBEW (Electrical Workers) has organized print shops, travel agencies, city parks departments, manufacturing facilities. However, most employees when choosing to organize choose a union that closly matches what they do.

[Omaha Steve]

34. It didn't used to be that way

It was called raiding when unions took a group in another unions field. Mergers of unions as the membership numbers declined meant new members were needed to survive. That lead to unions being less of a specialty.

When shopping for a union don't just compare dues. Does the union or local pay your legal expenses for example makes a big different.

OS

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

19. IWW?

[lonestarnot]

22. above. Thanks.

[Odin2005]

32. The WOBBLIES!!!

[applegrove]

35. I like that idea. Sorta a AARP for working people?

[lonestarnot]

43. Yes, but I clearly missed global opportunism for workers. I'm being educated here though.

:D

[Naturalist111]

37. Since most large corporations don't pay any taxes that

kind of leaves all of us footing most of the bill to pay for running this whole country. We could start one helluva kick major ass union. But you see that is what this country is supposed to be about. A union. I don't think people grasp the idea.

[Omaha Steve]

38. In favor off international unions

Members in another country will strike, sit down, or walk off when members in other countries are in a labor dispute.

This came to mind right away. It happens other countries with better laws help the US workers more than most people realize.

http://www.icem.org/en/77-All-ICEM-News-Releases/233-Conti-Tyre-Global-Campaign:-South-Africans-Strike-In-Support-Of-Americans

Conti Tyre Global Campaign: South Africans Strike In Support Of Americans

24 June 1999

Eight hundred South African employees of global tyremaker Continental went on strike today in support of American colleagues currently embroiled in a long-running dispute with Conti's US subsidiary.

The South African warning strike at Conti's General Tyre plant in Port Elizabeth today lasted for almost two hours. It was held in solidarity with rubber workers currently on strike at Continental's General Tire plant in Charlotte, North Carolina, in the United States.

The South African workers downed tools this morning and, joined by an additional 150 union shop stewards, marched to the office of Continental's South African chief executive officer. There, they delivered a letter demanding that the company settle the strike in North Carolina. The CEO immediately agreed to forward the South African union's demands to Continental's parent company headquarters in Hanover, Germany.

The South African rubber workers are members of the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA), and the American rubber workers are members of the United Steelworkers of America (USWA). Both unions are affiliated globally with the 20-million-strong International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions (ICEM).

"The National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa in General Tyre, South Africa, Port Elizabeth, is disgusted by the attitude shown by Continental General Tyre in Charlotte, United States of America, in failing to resolve and negotiate in good faith a protected industrial action led by members of the United Steelworkers of America," stated the union's memorandum of demands. "We are utterly disgusted that the local management in General Tyre South Africa has refused to intervene to bring sense and reason to their counterparts in Continental Tyre, Charlotte, in the United States of America ... We demand that you use your influence and impress upon management in Charlotte to negotiate in good faith with our fellow comrades represented by the United Steelworkers of America."

FULL story at link.

[EFerrari]

39. They've globalized capital, we have to globalize labor,

That could translate into support for struggling American unions and it takes away the ability to play us off against each other. I don't see a down side.

[lonestarnot]

42. ah... finally some sense to international unions appears. Thanks OS!

Why is this not affecting job creation at home then?