Working In These Times

David Denholm 24 Feb 2010
12:27 pm

It is just too convenient to say that the sharp decline in union approval is due to losing a “public relations” battle. There is a great deal more to it than that. Organized labor in America is losing out because it is almost entirely focused on politics at the expense of representing workers in the workplace. It is a truism that those who aspire to leadership roles have the grandest view of what an organization can accomplish. Unfortunately, those who aspire to leadership in labor unions see the potential for accomplishment in far different terms than the average Joe (or Jane).

Chris Ricker 25 Feb 2010
6:38 am

I’ve been shouting this message for quite a while. the support of the public is critical for us in the labor movement, to try to advance without it is pointless.
The message we have is good but the delivery needs to be changed. We are workers for workers, that’s it. the time to “demand” from everyone is over, the time for us to stand on our own two feet is here.

The labor movement must get off the political “teat” and focus on workers, the community and our country. We are not reinventing the wheel, this is how we did it before and this is how we can do it again.

There is something terribly wrong when I try to organize workers and give them secure benefits and a substantial boost in pay but they want nothing to do with us.

Remember, workers join unions “en masse”, if we miss this opportunity to help our union and non-union brothers and sisters, we should just throw in the towel.

Justice 22 25 Feb 2010
8:00 pm

No question organized labor has lost it’s way. The chamber of commerce and right to work coalitions have been allowed to demonize unions with misinformation. Labor unions have not responded vigorously enough to dispel these myths, like the one of the $75 an hour autoworker.

Organized labor must do some soul searching and aggressively purge the incompetence within, borne by nepotism and cronyism. We must get back to the basics of caring for our working families.

There is no reason labor and corporations could not work together to build a brighter and more secure future. Yes, to pay employees for sitting home through a jobs bank was a terrible idea. But a company killer is the outlandish compensation packages enjoyed by executives who have no long term interest in their companies and hire themselves out to the highest bidder through headhunters.
These transient executives are very myopic in their approach. They put policies in place that have severe negative long term consequences while producing short term gains to pad their bonuses.

I agree, organized labor has lost it’s footing but the overpaid butt kissers that aspire to move up the corporate ladder are true company killers.