Category Archives: Action

Action, Union

Do We Need a General Strike?

It seems to me that just the very fact that the idea of a general strike is being discussed shows how far our political discourse has come and how deeply Scott Walker and prolonged economic anxiety have radicalized otherwise moderate masses.

Walker’s bill reaches far beyond just public sector unions and his stripping of public workers’ right to bargain affects the rights of everyone who works for a living. This attack on workers’ rights, if allowed to stand, won’t stop with the public sector or with Wisconsin. These anti-union bills are already spreading around the country from Indiana to Ohio to Nebraska to Michigan.


The IWW website is making a strong case for a general strike as the most effective tool to combat Walker’s bill and copycat legislation cropping up in numerous other states.


“A general strike against Walker would begin the process of rebuilding a strong labor movement in the United States. Since the US plays such an important role in the global economy and world political system, this could also invigorate workers’ struggles around the planet. To make it happen will require participation from many people across industries, across unions, and across the country.”


The South Central Federation of Labor, a federation of ninety-seven labor organizations representing 45,000 workers, has already endorsed the need to prepare for a general strike, and David Dayen reports at FDL that the mood of the protesters who stormed the Capitol on word of the bill’s passage, echoes that resolution. “You could see some kind of near-term labor walkout, at least in Madison and possibly throughout the state.”


Joe Conway, the charismatic president of the Madison firefighters’ union, said recently that the political situation has grown so dire in Wisconsin, he’d support a general strike. “We should start walking out tomorrow, the next day. See how long they can last,” he told reporters with The Uptake. “This is a nation-wide movement to attack all working men and women in Wisconsin and the United States.”


And Michael Moore has called on high school students and working people of all stripes to restart the American democracy movement and fight back in this latest round of “class war” against the middle class.


Find out more about what exactly a general strike is, when the tool has been victorious in numerous international struggles for change and rights, how it may apply to the current situation and how you can get involved.

Peter Rothberg, The Nation

Action

A Teabagger Joke

A  billionaire, a tea bagger and a union guy are sitting at a table. 

On the table is a plate with a dozen cookies.

The billionaire grabs 11 of the cookies and starts enjoying them.

He then turns to the teabagger and says, “That damn union guy is going to eat your cookie!

The teabagger makes a sign saying “We Hate Greedy Unions.”

Action

Comment from a Reader

I support the Union’s whole heartedly I only wish I could go to stand in support with those brothers and sisters in Wisconsin. Opponents seem to be people that I know,that are here in Oregon, they are angry at their own lack of income, and seem to be willing to blame and be angry at the unions, State employee’s, and the politition’s that are, thank-goodness,standing up for us !! yes. Wake up America and smell the coffee.
To the people that do not ‘get it’,if we lose ANY collective bargining rights we are headed in reverse to the times like the coal miners had livivg in a company town and buying from a company store, working any amount of hours/ day for all days of the week, no overtime low pay, and low or no benefits. We the people are what keeps this economy going. My Union wage provides me a living wage. And the money I spend goes into the economy, and feeds the economy.
And puts healthy food on my table if I choose, affords me a nice lifesyle if I manage my money right. My quality of life would be bad without the Union.
The Republican’s would seem to be quite content and set on owning [like]walmart and having the blue collar workers [or whats left of the middle class] supply the labor. Just think- the whole family could work there. That’s what it will take to support a family, even a very small one. And the Republican’s are going to use this a wedge, I can see it coming, lets put a stop to it. SOLIDARITY !! LETS STICK TOGERTHER AND NOT MAKE THINGS WORSE.NO MATTER WHAT THEY SAY LOOSING OUR BARGINING RIGHTS,AND ORGANIZED LABOR IS NOT THE SOLUTION.AND ONCE THEY ARE GONE DO YA REALLY SEE ANY CHANCE /OR CHOICE OF GETTING THEM. BACK ???
Kimberly

Action

Moneypolitics

Moneypolitics:  Noun. A political system created in the United States by the Supreme Court circa 2010, whereby wealth has nearly the entirety of the political power.  The system is characterized by large numbers of television ads which mislead the people into believing that the candidates who are best for wealthy interests are actually best for the people.  This political system only survives as long as the people are distracted, uninformed and inactive.
Ken Gordon

Action, Union, UPS

The B.R. Theory of Contract Negotiation

    The Senior Driver on Strike The theory of negotiation has been named for the guy I keep hearing it from. I won’t mention his real name, but his silly idea permeates the Rank and File at UPS. The theory begins with the assumption that the company hates it’s senior employees. The assumption is these employees cost the company money because they balk at hauling ass, and balk at long days, and raise hell for various reasons with management. Why would a company have any reason to keep such malcontents around?
     The fact is, while the company raises complaints about these drivers, the reality is they love them, and understand that their profitability is based on the steady, day to day, performance of these drivers. These drivers show up everyday. The company knows they have families, and financial obligations that will keep them at work, and interested in keeping their jobs.
     The B.R. theory assumes that since the company wants to get rid of the senior driver, they will give concessions to them, up to and including buy outs to get them to retire. Yeah Right!
         First of all, new drivers are very expensive to teach all of the nuances of delivery. Many simply can’t deal with the need to be able to walk and chew gum at the same time. In this day and age of the DIAD, and PAS, and Telematics, learning this job is difficult, and costly to the company.
      Newbies are responsible for at least 80% of the claims that are paid by the company. Most senior drivers know the ropes for driver release methods, and know it’s not worth the risk making bad driver release deliveries.
     Newbies are involved in most of the accidents reported, (and many unreported), to the company, and also are involved in the most serious accidents. Most senior drivers know that accidents are one of the quickest ways to lose their jobs, and have learned most of the safe driving techniques used by the safest of drivers. They have watched the Ball Haulers come and go over the years, gleaning the company’s praise for production, only to wipe out a Grand, or crush some old lady in a car, hurrying through a yellow light to keep their stops per hour up.
     So the assumption that the company will buy out it’s dependability, and it’s reputation, and turn the company over to the Spit fire, crash and burn, package tossers is not only ridiculous, but down right stupid.
     The negotiations will surround the company’s cost of doing business. One of the major considerations to that cost, will be the competition, and their costs. Remaining competitive is a key to improving the bottom line. Training new drivers is one of the most expensive costs to the company. They therefore will do everything they can to keep the “already trained” people there.
     That sounds great until you remember that the average wage at Fed-Ex is $5 to $8 per hour less than at UPS. They also pay a portion for their health care, and retirement plans.
     While the company appreciated the dependability of it’s work force, the desire to get that dependability at a cheaper cost is huge.
     So the contention that the company will “buy out”, “coerce”, or “negotiate”, the older workforce out of existence is crazy. Everyone inside knows that most drivers would love to move on to greener pastures, but 
                                   It ain’t gonna happen!
     Every driver should get closely involved with the negotiating process. Attend any meetings held by the Local to express the wants and desires of the hourly workforce. Let management know that you will support your National Negotiating Committee right down to striking if the need arises. Stay informed of the negotiating process through your stewards, and Business Agents. Be sure to attend any meeting the Local puts on when they bring back the potential New Contract. Be prepared to encourage the drivers around you to vote on that contract. 
                 A strong, united, workforce will win a strong contract. Be a part of it.
                                                    Your family is depending on you.