Why Unions? Labor 101
I grew up in Detroit, Michigan and I guess you could say that I grew up breathing union much as I inhaled air. I took the Unions for granted and assumed they'd always be there. I did not always appreciate the true contributions of unions to the lives of unionized and non-unionized middle and working class Americans.
I assumed that pensions would always be honored, good health benefits, vacations, weekends and the 40 hour work week were just the American way if you went to school and learned a skilled trade or earned your higher degrees in college.
I didn't pay attention much when Ronald Reagan busted the Air Traffic Controller union in 1981 but was still able to get white working class Americans to vote for him. I didn't pay much attention to how the owners of the Detroit Free Press and News busted their own union during the mid-1990s and nothing's been the same since in the newspaper industry. By the way, that was a NASTY strike and some Detroit union members still refuse to subscribe to that newspaper again.
But today the 35 year attack on the Labor Movement is naked for all to see. Unions across the country are on their knees and whether you are unionized or not, I suspect that you as a blue or white collar American worker can feel the demise of pay and benefits.
There's an old saying: A rising tide lifts all boats.
The rising tide was provided by the unions and it pains me to hear people who have everything to gain from a strong union attack it by parroting right wing talking points on Fox News and the cable news pundits. As well, I think that unions have not been good at public relations and getting out there and letting the American worker know about the history of the labor movement and how unions have helped them as workers.
Another blogger Nathan Newman wrote a powerful entry on unions on DailyKos.com and I felt moved to share it here.
Please read it and pass it on. The truth needs to get out now because America is perishing for the lack of it.
I assumed that pensions would always be honored, good health benefits, vacations, weekends and the 40 hour work week were just the American way if you went to school and learned a skilled trade or earned your higher degrees in college.
I didn't pay attention much when Ronald Reagan busted the Air Traffic Controller union in 1981 but was still able to get white working class Americans to vote for him. I didn't pay much attention to how the owners of the Detroit Free Press and News busted their own union during the mid-1990s and nothing's been the same since in the newspaper industry. By the way, that was a NASTY strike and some Detroit union members still refuse to subscribe to that newspaper again.
But today the 35 year attack on the Labor Movement is naked for all to see. Unions across the country are on their knees and whether you are unionized or not, I suspect that you as a blue or white collar American worker can feel the demise of pay and benefits.
There's an old saying: A rising tide lifts all boats.
The rising tide was provided by the unions and it pains me to hear people who have everything to gain from a strong union attack it by parroting right wing talking points on Fox News and the cable news pundits. As well, I think that unions have not been good at public relations and getting out there and letting the American worker know about the history of the labor movement and how unions have helped them as workers.
Another blogger Nathan Newman wrote a powerful entry on unions on DailyKos.com and I felt moved to share it here.
Please read it and pass it on. The truth needs to get out now because America is perishing for the lack of it.
posted by Sheri (Akeera) @ 2:52 PM
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