General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsVoters Who Will Not Stand For Labor Or Unions Deserve Their Crap Wages
pipoman
(16,038 posts)It isn't exactly as if we still have a 'labor party'. Democrats abandoned labor years ago and sealed the abandonment by their purchased support for unfair trade agreements which don't benefit anyone but mega business and corrupt lawmakers. So who will stand with us?
Recursion
(56,582 posts)Guess which tier I was?
I support unions, but they burn a lot of goodwill by protecting incumbent workers at the expense of the rest of us. Certainly better than a no-union situation, but if you're looking for a clue as to why people feel the way the do...
HereSince1628
(36,063 posts)Came from a strong union family, and still believe in the concept of unions,
But my experience with 2 unions for state employees in the 90s was that they were into negotiating 2 track contracts that disadvantaged newer hires.
Sort of made a joke of the notion of solidarity, and probably spread a fair amount of ill will toward unions
MadHound
(34,179 posts)Hell, I've unionized to workplaces in my time.
The trouble is, unions are no longer standing with their members. Instead of holding out for a deal that pays better, unions now negotiate deals that only slow the bleeding.
I'm a member of a teacher's union, yet it doesn't seem to have my best interests at heart. It endorses politicians and policy that are quickly destroying public education. Yet I'm supposed to stand by what is not in my best interests?
What needs to be done with unions is that they all need to be dismantled. They have become to cozy with management, to beholden to politicians, fallen too deeply in love with power, too corrupted by money. Get rid of them and their corrupt stench.
Then rebuild real unions, unions that aren't beholden to power, that are corrupted, that stand with the workers rather than going to the fancy dinner parties thrown by management. Those are unions that I can get behind.
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)If your Union has issues, you should address those issues. That's what we do at my Unions, without which I'd be screwed. I love my Unions. The members are not asleep at the wheel, expecting 'leadership' to do all the work.
MadHound
(34,179 posts)I do speak out, at both the local and national level, but guess what, they go ahead and do what they want anyway.
Cal Carpenter
(4,959 posts)I fear you are missing the point.
That is so backwards.