Progressives/Liberals Are Scabbing: It's NEVER OK To Cross A Picket Line

[Omaha Steve]

http://zcommunications.org/progressives-liberals-are-scabbing-its-never-ok-to-cross-a-picket-line-by-jonathan-tasini

By Jonathan Tasini

Source: Working Life
Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Scott Walker, Sarah Palin, Glenn Beck, Paul Ryan…make your own list of the people who are viciously anti-union. We know the threat they pose: attacking the labor movement, and undermining the right to strike, is a death blow to the middle class and justice in America. The problem is that we are also undermined by another dangerous threat: liberals and progressives who cross picket lines—and do so with full knowledge that they are breaking a union strike. It's shameful.

Here is the story. There is a strike, boycott and electronic picket line targeting the Huffington Post. That strike has been called by two legitimate unions: the Newspaper Guild (an affiliate of the Communications Workers of America) and the National Writers Union, Local 1981 of the United Auto Workers. The two unions, and hundreds of bloggers throughout the country, are trying to get a share of the riches pocketed by the owners of the Huffington Post via its sale to AOL, and, as important, set a standard for fair treatment in the future. Full disclosure: I am a proud member of the NWU/UAW.

This strike can be won. But, the many bloggers who call themselves "liberals" or "progressives"--people who collect money from unions and/or ask for labor's political endorsements--have to stop crossing the Huffington Post electronic picket line. But, they continue to work for--scab-- at a workplace that is being struck and boycotted.

I have decided, for now, not to publicly “out” those people who are scabs--though it doesn't take a lot to figure that out. I want them to come to their own conclusion that their actions are undermining the fight against the right-wing--that if we are not united in support of labor, then, we cannot expect the rest of the country to show solidarity with workers.

This campaign--to publicly identify and praise people who support the strike and publicly identify the scabs--is about to commence in earnest. Many leaders have taken the right position regarding the strike, with the declared support from, among others, Richard Trumka, president of the AFL-CIO, and Leo Gerard, president of the Steelworkers and a long-time progressive labor leader.

FULL story at link.