Top 10 Problems within the Labor Movement by Ralph Nader
From Commondreams.org
Rose Ann
DeMoro is the Executive Director of the California Nurses Association
(CNA) - the country's fastest growing union. Since 1992, union
membership has grown from 13,000 to the present 63,000. And it was
since 1992 that the nurses became more prominent in participating in
and running their own unions. No coincidence.
Whether
it is CNA getting patient protection bills through the state
legislature or exposing the gouging pricing of health care while the
HMO bosses each take away millions in executive pay every year, this is
the standard-bearer for larger stagnant unions to look up to and
emulate.
With
Arnold Schwarzenegger riding high last year in the polls as Governor,
the nurses took umbrage at his selective cuts for people programs while
performing as a corporate cyborg for corporate greed and tax escapism.
When he called them a "special interest", the nurses swung into action
and Arnold's polls have not stopped dropping.
Now Rose
Ann DeMoro has weighed in on the clash of large labor unions coming at
the AFL-CIO's convention in Chicago that starts July 25, 2005. The
"Change to Win" group of dissident unions led by SEIU and UNITE are
making breakaway noises from the large labor federation if their
demands about succession to AFL-CIO leader John Sweeney and budgets for
organizing are not met. Ms. DeMoro thinks this is a power struggle with
much ado about nothing very substantive.
Here is her succinct critique labeled "Top 10 Problems with the Current Debate in the Labor Movement".
There
are no real ideological disputes, in part because the current AFL-CIO
leadership and programs were, mostly, put in place by those now
challenging them. It appears to be more about egos and an effort by
specific unions to anoint themselves as the group who should control
the AFL-CIO.
No
workers or rank and file union members are involved, and it is their
labor movement. Much of the discussion is based on recommendations of
consultants and Madison Avenue approaches such as branding, polling and
focus groups, and scripted blogs, rather than engaging the membership
and the public on helping shape the future of the labor movement.
No
issues affecting the majority of working Americans are being debated -
declining real wages, the health care crisis, the continued erosion of
democracy in the workplace, outsourcing of jobs across the skill and
pay spectrum, a deteriorating social safety net, declining support for
public education, environmental degradation, social justice and ongoing
racial and gender inequality, alienation and disaffection from the
political process.
No real
solutions to these problems are being proposed - curbing corporate
control of the political and economic system, single payer-universal
health care, a progressive tax system that restores fair share taxes on
corporations and wealthy individuals, taking corporate money out of
politics, a new industrial trade policy, a peace, not war economy as
well as a strategy for reforming repressive/crippling labor laws and
enforcement bodies.
The
specific proposals by the Change to Win group are structural and
bureaucratic, not programmatic - rebating union dues, forcing unions to
merge, limiting the executive council to the largest unions, and
claiming sovereignty for unions by industry or sector based on a
union's density in that area. There is no evidence any of these changes
would solve labor's problems.
DFQC: Targeting the Offline Community
by Caroline Vernon
I
initially wrote this article for Blog for America a few months ago, but
since I didn't get to share it with ya'll, I felt it was worth
repeating, particularly since it embodies the invaluable contributions
of some of our senior activists.
Given all the emphasis we have placed on the Internet community, it is
also very important to continue outreach efforts within the offline
community.
As much as 20% of our local Meetup (Democracy For The Quad Cities)
attendance is comprised of individuals who are notified by telephone
and word of mouth. Many of these are senior citizens that already have
a long-standing history of grassroots activism and community
involvement. In fact, they are the very bedrock of our democracy; eager
to share their experiences and ready and willing to pass the torch to
the next generation of movers and shakers. And what a story they have
to tell... there is so much to learn from them.
DFQC is extremely fortunate to have benefited from the steadfast
participation of such seasoned political veterans as Lou and Joe
Waechter, and Betty and Cal Drumm. Our local group has been enriched by
the collective contributions and lifelong experiences of these two
couples.
Joe and Lou Waechter have been involved with the grassroots as far back
as 1963, when Bill Gluba and Art Small (recently local candidates for
the US House and Senate) recruited Lou as Precinct Committee Person
while canvassing from house to house in an effort to organize the
Democratic party. Over the years, the Waechters have continued to open
their home and their hearts in pursuit of promoting life, liberty and
happiness for the common good.
2005 Scott County Democrats Red, White and Blue Fundraiser - Lou and Joe Waechter with Flat Howard
Betty and Cal Drumm are also longtime activists. Betty indicated there
were many times when she had set aside the money they would have used
to dine out, in order to be able to send money to the Democratic party.
She said, "It would be a win-win situation, such as, no calories, lose
pounds, no heartburn, and the Democratic party would gain a few more
dollars." Cal expressed the importance of taking care of business in
our own back yards first. During the Democratic primary Cal contacted
every registered person in their ward, urging them to vote in the
caucus, as well assisting Betty in her role as Caucus Captain.
Halloween 2004 -DFQC Members as Billionaires For Bush Betty and Cal Drumm on either side of Flat Howard
The contributions of these couples reflect the value and the need of
developing a variety of tools for outreach to all aspects of our
communities. In addition to establishing contact by phone and word of
mouth, we are currently in the process of creating and distributing
flyers to promote upcoming Meetups and other events within the
progressive community. Senior centers and union halls are ideal
locations to post flyers. Contacting local newspapers and radio
stations are also very effective methods for promoting Meetup.
Both the Waechters and the Drumms were inspired and re-invigorated by
the call to action from our very own Chairman, Governor Howard Dean.
Cal speaks for all of us at DFQC, "We would like to thank Governor Dean
for what he brought to our table... we learned so much from him, and we
wish you the best Howard, as Chairman of the DNC. We know the best is
yet to come."
*IBLTV is a group of citizens from the Iowa City/Cedar Rapids area who are concerned about the decline in the quality of local television. Fight local media consolidation, as it leads to an unaccountable medium that enriches itself while disregarding the need to serve the public good.
*The rational counter to 'The Point,' 'The Counterpoint' critiques and corrects the daily editorial by Sinclair Broadcasting's corporate vice president, Mark Hyman, that is broadcast on all Sinclair-owned television stations across the country
Top 10 Problems within the Labor Movement
