War on Labor
Breaking News: NYC transit strikers returning to work.
Future of organized labor is in trouble.
I am not from NYC or the area, NOVA and others who are right now living in NYC may have better take on this, but it amazes me that people will not support a strike by blue collar workers.
I'm sorry but I have had it. I can't stand and watch Organized labor to go down like that, all my life both of my parents have been strong labor supporters. My mom before she got sick has been long time labor organizer and member both in here and in outside the US. I will definitely be a labor member.
We need to know the reasons why labor groups strike? It is the only power they have. Work or not to work. How many does the employer has? Out-source your job, fail to protect the your pensions, to get raise or not, cut your benifits, cut your hours, cut your feet under U by cutting health care to your kids, 401k, bonus cuts, vocation time, what hours U must be in or out, and work load. We should be giving them every measure of support, if labor falls, most of your worker's rights go down with them.
Go see LAUREN"S blog about job cuts. No protection what so ever.
The day we don't support labor organizations, it will be the end of middle class in this nation and poor nations. It is truly sad to see so hostile and so anti-labor administrations in both NY and in Washington. NYers now U see what it means by electing repucks like Michael Bloomberg to be your mayor. F>ck Bloomberg and his nimwits. Another reason why voting matters....
Now, is labor always right? No. However no one should take benifit cuts lightly , when CEOs and company sh*t heads are making millions per piece, the men and women doing the dirt work should have their piece. Some may say, they are already paid well! Are we in a race to the top or to the bottom? When companies are reporting their highest gains, but are paying less and less to their employees, I think we are racing to the bottom.
Labor 4ever.
posted by Dem Soldier @ 2:18 PM
13 Comments:
I don't know the details about this strike, but I love the way you take a firm stand!
Hi Curious Servant, thanks for Ur comment. Yeah man, I always take the side of labor. As I said, my family is very rooted in labor organs, and I will do so.
Very thoughtful post, Dem.
1) Yay! Thanks for the blog shout-out!
2) My biggest client is a manufacturer whose business is driven by "the guys on the line". So they are basically providing my breadNbutter. I think it is easy for us to forget that labor unions built America. Those are the guys who make it possible for us to live the American dream.
As you pointed out, are they always right? Of course not. But does that mean that we should fail to support them in their attempts to create a good and decent life?
I agree that labor organizations have a crucial place in American life. I can't imagine being a teacher without a union, or where we would be if workers of all walks of life couldn't stand up for their rights.
As inconvenient as it is for most of us when transit workers go on strike, I know it's even harder on the striking workers themselves. That said, it's a shame that sometimes the people most affected are the poor. Remember the transit strike in Minneapolis in 2004? People working in blue-collar jobs in the airport, for example, were spending their whole paychecks on taxi fares. (I know the situation in New York is on a completely different scale.)
Just wanted to make the point that it's not an ideal situation for anyone. All the more reason to elect people who understand that.
An interesting and timely article appeared in Dayton's local paper today regarding a deal that was recently struck between Dayton's largest hospital network (Premier Health Partners) and Anthem. After a year of being unable to reach a deal, Premier finally backed down and gave Anthem the reimbursement offer that they wanted, allowing Anthm to rejoin the Premier health care network.
The reason that the article made me think of your post, Dem, is because Anthem's spokesman was quoted as saying the deal could not have been made possible without the support of local labor unions. "I had thought labor only cared about their own benefits and didn't care about costs...but those gentlemen came up and they stuck behind us." The unified support of labor and business helped Anthem broker the deal, a victory against health care costs.
It goes to show that labor often has the greater good of society as a primary goal, rather than just a desire to enhance their personal situations. And that they shouldn't be ignored or insulted.
Happy Holidays, Dem. Enjoy!
Lauren thanks, and Happy Holidays to U and yours. Labor orgs have to succeed, they fail, we fail. After 1 1/2 yrs I will have two majore computer science and Med T, so I know I will be a active labor member on my Med T. CS are paid well and labor isn't that big on their agenda.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Jessica welcome.
First let me say thanks, being a teacher in these days aint easy.
Here in MN, there's very large strike between Northwest airlines and their Mechs for job cuts, and lower wages. Northwest is winning, because other Unions aren't supporting them, NW airline pilots unions, and flight attendants union(After destroying the mechanics, now NW told flight attendants union that they will hire foreign flight attendants for international flights) That's what not supporting mechs union got them into:)))
MN, the so called one of the most liberal states in the union, I don't see any large support, Northwest in based in MN. In fact, the union's biggest supporters are students, University of Mn students and the mayor of minneapolis who have stayed with them all the way.........Many others don't get it....
I lived in the Twin Cities for the last ten years and know its strange, disappearing liberalism well.
Northwest has been on a downward spiral for years, sad to say. It's terrible when the unions themselves are turning on each other when everyone just wants to stay afloat on a sinking ship. (Forgive the bad metaphor.)
No that's perfect. Thanks again....Yahhhh teachers! You guys always get it....were the rest is toast.
Unions put a roof over my head and food on the table so I am for unions and they are for all blue-collard hard working men and women. Just a girl growing up were the word non-union hasn't been allowed.
I am a Office Manager of UNITEHERE! Local 181 in Louisville, Kentucky......it's nice to see that there are still people out there that care about working men and women.
Merci SOG & Redneckgirl....labor 4ever....
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