Post by RedFlag32 on Apr 28, 2007 18:31:53 GMT
Class-Divided Unions by Susan Rosenthal
Susan Rosenthal, author of Power and Powerlessness argues in this article
that many of today's unions are cross-class and not, therefore, properly
dedicated to promoting the interests of working people.
Ms Rosenthal was guest speaker at the Independent Workers Union annual
conference in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal on 31 March 2007
Unionized workers are more likely to have medical coverage, pension
benefits, and protection from sexual harassment and wrongful dismissal.
Unions raise living standards. Areas with more unions offer higher wages,
higher life expectancy, lower infant mortality, better education, and less
poverty.
American unions were so strong in the 1930s that Washington helped
employers to crush them. By 2005, the percentage of private-sector workers
in unions had dropped to less than eight percent, the lowest rate in more
than a century. The remaining unions have been transformed from fighting
organizations controlled by workers to bureaucratic organizations
dominated by middle-class professionals.
Today's unions are cross-class organizations, that is, they are
working-class organizations of self-defense and part of the management
system of capitalism. While most ordinary union members are working-class
(the rank and file), most union officials are middle-class professionals
who help employers to manage the workforce.
Union bureaucrats and company bosses have the same goal - to keep the
company in business. And that means keeping it competitive.
The AFL-CIO boasts that "Unions Are Good for Productivity." However,
productivity can increase only by making people work harder for less.
Instead of opposing rising exploitation, union bureaucrats lower their
members' expectations of what can be achieved. At times, union officials
will talk tough and even lead struggles for workers' rights. However, they
inevitably sell out because they are afraid to unleash the power of the
rank and file. When workers organize wild-cat strikes, union officials
join with employers and governments to push them back to work.
Just as union bureaucrats partner with bosses to manage the workplace,
America's top union bureaucrats partner with the American State to manage
the world.
Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright told one top labor executive
meeting, "When you undertook your lives as labor leaders.becoming a part
of the U.S. Government may have not have been something that you
intended.but I do think it has been a very important partnership. I think
that is the best way to describe it."
Without the awareness or consent of their members, AFL-CIO executives have
helped Washington overthrow democratically-elected governments, prop up
anti-union dictators, and support right-wing unions against progressive
governments.
Many people say that unions are corrupt and useless and not worth
defending. This is a big mistake. Employers, politicians, and the media
continue to attack unions because even weak and corrupt unions prevent
bosses from having complete control over the workplace.
Workers ARE the union. To build strong unions we must take back collective
control of them and join together to fight for all workers' rights.
Susan Rosenthal, author of Power and Powerlessness argues in this article
that many of today's unions are cross-class and not, therefore, properly
dedicated to promoting the interests of working people.
Ms Rosenthal was guest speaker at the Independent Workers Union annual
conference in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal on 31 March 2007
Unionized workers are more likely to have medical coverage, pension
benefits, and protection from sexual harassment and wrongful dismissal.
Unions raise living standards. Areas with more unions offer higher wages,
higher life expectancy, lower infant mortality, better education, and less
poverty.
American unions were so strong in the 1930s that Washington helped
employers to crush them. By 2005, the percentage of private-sector workers
in unions had dropped to less than eight percent, the lowest rate in more
than a century. The remaining unions have been transformed from fighting
organizations controlled by workers to bureaucratic organizations
dominated by middle-class professionals.
Today's unions are cross-class organizations, that is, they are
working-class organizations of self-defense and part of the management
system of capitalism. While most ordinary union members are working-class
(the rank and file), most union officials are middle-class professionals
who help employers to manage the workforce.
Union bureaucrats and company bosses have the same goal - to keep the
company in business. And that means keeping it competitive.
The AFL-CIO boasts that "Unions Are Good for Productivity." However,
productivity can increase only by making people work harder for less.
Instead of opposing rising exploitation, union bureaucrats lower their
members' expectations of what can be achieved. At times, union officials
will talk tough and even lead struggles for workers' rights. However, they
inevitably sell out because they are afraid to unleash the power of the
rank and file. When workers organize wild-cat strikes, union officials
join with employers and governments to push them back to work.
Just as union bureaucrats partner with bosses to manage the workplace,
America's top union bureaucrats partner with the American State to manage
the world.
Former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright told one top labor executive
meeting, "When you undertook your lives as labor leaders.becoming a part
of the U.S. Government may have not have been something that you
intended.but I do think it has been a very important partnership. I think
that is the best way to describe it."
Without the awareness or consent of their members, AFL-CIO executives have
helped Washington overthrow democratically-elected governments, prop up
anti-union dictators, and support right-wing unions against progressive
governments.
Many people say that unions are corrupt and useless and not worth
defending. This is a big mistake. Employers, politicians, and the media
continue to attack unions because even weak and corrupt unions prevent
bosses from having complete control over the workplace.
Workers ARE the union. To build strong unions we must take back collective
control of them and join together to fight for all workers' rights.
