Labor should lead a Solidarity Movement in the US

[boston bean]

If it does, I'm there in a heartbeat!

The teachers unions need solidarity from every single one of their brothers and sisters. They are the first target.

If the unions don't stand together to stop it, no union is safe.

The unions are our last line of defense from the corporatists.

[Taverner]

1. Workers of the World, Unite - - China is doing it

And surprise, surprise - the government is semi-supporting it (at least not against it)

[SidDithers]

2. A movement like that could be a force in the Democratic party...nt

Sid

[Brickbat]

3. Solidarity!

I hope the actions over the past few months show that labor is starting to work for its own interests first and only -- instead of working for other people's interests and hoping to get crumbs at the table. K&R.

[KonaKane]

4. There is not enough brutal oppression from the top yet.

Remember that Solidarity worked in Poland mostly because of the tremendous pressure and intimidation from Jarulzelsky's regime. Independent unions at that time were a serious crime and people were getting killed over it. In the USA today there is just some friction against them at the top..."death by a thousand paper cuts" as it were.

That being said, I'm all for a movement that reinforces and builds unions again. That takes awareness and awareness starts with public dialogue which turns into action. When you have schools that won't even teach a watered-down Labor History of the USA anymore, that's an extremely unlikely scenario.

I'm always open to suggestions for new tactics, though.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

5. Likewise!

I have never been a member of a Union but I benefit every day I have worked from their activism.

I wonder if the Dems look at the 3% Union membership number and are stupid enough to not remember that there are those of us who are not Union but support them 100%?

Fatal mistake on their part.

[boston bean]

6. Fatal mistake, I agree!

[dana_b]

7. Very big mistake

I was a part of the California Nurses Association but because of an injury I had to take a non union job. I completely support them and wish I could still join them.

[dana_b]

10. oops

[Little Star]

8. I wish they would!!!!

I'd stand with them.

[Ozymanithrax]

9. Labor should lead a worldwide solidarity movement...

As long as a corporation can move off shore to a place where labor is unorganized they will do it. The time for national labor movements is over. We need to move to international labor movements.

[dana_b]

11. If the teamsters joined with the

teachers who joined with the machinists who joined with the nurses who joined with the pilots and flight attendants who joined with the police and fire fighters who joined with the long shoremen who joined with the.... well you get the idea. It would be amazing!!!

[Sebastian Doyle]

12. Why don't we start one right here?

As much as I hate to retire Mr. Zimmerman, I'm switching to the "union" avatar for a while. I recommend that everyone who stands with Labor to do the same.

[proudohioan]

13. OK, I'm game.

As much as I hate to retire Louis.....

In Solidarity!

[Lars39]

18. Looks like there's an office in Ohio:

http://www.workingamerica.org/about/ :hi:

[thereismore]

14. Agreed. Solidarity restored dignity to workers in communist Poland, why not here.

We have the right to peaceably assemble.

[Eyerish]

15. Mother Jones would be proud....

K&R

[Echo In Light]

16. K/R

[Lars39]

17. Here ya go:

http://www.workingamerica.org/about/

[elehhhhna]

19. Labor needs its own party. Period.

[boston bean]

23. .

that would be good too!

:headbang:

[JNelson6563]

20. We can support them by buying what they make!

Like American cars for instance.

But we all know many would go to rallies and such "in solidarity" w/labor in their non-union built cars and remain oblivious to the irony.

Far too many don't grasp the concept of activism beyond lots of posting on the tubes, the occasional protest and/or some campaign donations at election time.

Julie

[county worker]

21. If labor built a large noisy crowd like the tea party did we'd be the ones the candidate were trying...

to get on their side.

I am afraid that we are all mostly individuals who do not join or lead movements.

I am not posting this to start a fight but think about it a minute.

The way we do things is to elect people to do our bidding for us. We elected Obama and we expect him to do the things we want. In many ways that isn't happening nor do I think it is going to happen.

So do we get pissed off and march in the streets and make a bunch of noise? No we intellectuals use the new "net roots" to yell and scream. We are not visible and we are not noisy. My guess is this. This economy will improve but leave millions of people behind. The unemployed with few skill sets will not find jobs. The new economy will be made up of much fewer people than before the crash.
It will be made up of those who survived and those who were left behind will be forgotten. I see it already happening.

The new stimulus if it happens will not be for job creation. It will be for keeping the heads of the survivors of the last crash out of the water.

The recovering economy is kind of like a train leaving the station. We were all on board before it stopped but a bunch of us got off and can't get back on before it leaves again.


I hope I'm wrong because I don't know what people are going to do. I am sure I won't see them in the street organizing and I am sure they won't work together. We just forgot how to do that.

[boston bean]

22. Anger is a great motivator. We need a movement. Every movement needs a leader

I think there are enough pissed off people to make a difference.

If there aren't, what's the use of it? I guess that's what your saying, but I can't let myself believe that this is the best that it's going to be for my child and his children and their children.