The Big Squeeze

I have been reading The Big Squeeze by Steven Greenhouse. Steven is a labor writer for the New York Times, and this book is about how the American worker is being squeezed dry by corporations looking to maximize profits at the expense of labor. That is why we need strong unions. Greenhouse notes that FDR wrote that labor unions are an important tool for lifting workers out of poverty and building a prosperous economy. Union workers make, on average, 20 percent higher wages than non-union workers. Union members are 28 percent more likely to have employer-provided health insurance and 54 percent more likely to have employer-provided pensions. The plus for employers is that unionized plants have greater productivity per worker than non-union plants. The positives that unions provide for workers are many. But the section of the book that was really illuminating for me was a section about the problems that have hurt unions over the years. Besides the corruption that has affected some unions, I found this paragraph really hit home:

“At many unions, the notion of union democracy became an oxymoron. Many union presidents saw themselves as presidents-for-life. Too often they surrounded themselves with yes-men who were scared to challenge them or raise fresh ideas. And too often union leaders deliberately kept the rank and file uninvolved and in the dark, usually because they knew that an informed, invigorated rank and file could someday rise up against them on anything from bloated leader salaries to terrible contracts. A movement that was once inspiring became a champion of the status quo. It had lost its vigor, its vision and its way.”

I have read this paragraph to several members of my union and the response is inevitably the same, “I thought we were the only union to have this problem!”

Race is one factor in Obama's nonsupport

John Gage, president of the American Federation of Government Employees, has written a provocative article about the Presidential race and whether the deciding factor will be the color of Barack Obama’s skin. From a union standpoint, Barack is on the right side of every issue while John McCann is fundamentally opposed to the issue of union rights. As John Gage says, “There are 100 good reasons to vote for Barack Obama and one really bad reason to vote against him”. But there is ample evidence to suggest that if Barack isn’t ahead by at least 6 points on Election Day, he will lose the election. I am more optimistic and believe that union members will do the right thing and send Barack Obama to the White House. Read John Gage’s article here: Race is one factor in Obama's nonsupport

Behind the Bailout

With all that is happening this week, the economic meltdown of the financial markets, the obscene bailout package recommended by the Bush administration (seemingly and thankfully going down in flames), and the presidential debates beginning last night, I had a hard time sleeping and found myself awake at 5:00 am this morning. While waiting for the coffee the brew, I was lucky enough to stumble on to this excellent documentary on the current financial crisis on the weekly PBS series “NOW”. Titled “Behind the Bailout” it should be required viewing for every union member who wishes to be more informed about the current crisis and the efforts by labor, and in particular the AFL-CIO and Damon Silvers, an associate general counsel at the AFL-CIO, to see that working people in America don’t have to pay the tab for the greed and excesses of the leaders of the financial markets. Having attended the GMP’s Quadrennial convention, I recognized AFL-CIO Secretary Treasurer Richard Trumka (check this clip from YouTube) who speaks against the bailout package put together by the Bush administration. Watching the documentary it was interesting to observe the efforts of labor and then to see policy change because of those efforts. See the documentary at the NOW website.
While it was exciting to see labor and in particular the AFL-CIO take such an active role in one of the great challenges of our times, it made me sad to again be reminded that my local, GMP #17, remains on the sidelines politically, and has not taken an active role in this crucial presidential election. Senator Barack Obama is a friend of labor, and if elected President will sign the Employee Free Choice Act, which potentially could usher in a golden age for labor, and reverse the anti-labor positions adopted by the Bush administration.

Judgment

When examining the judgment and decision making process of our two Presidential candidates, it became clear that only one candidate has the judgment to pull us out of the abyss that the inept Bush administration has led us into. One of the most important decisions anyone who aspires to be President makes is who will be their vice-presidential running mate. Senator Obama chose Senator Joe Biden. Biden’s experience in domestic and foreign policy is unparalleled in American politics. There should be no doubt in anyone’s mind that Senator Biden, if called to do so, has the experience and knowledge to be President. Meanwhile, Senator McCain made the irrational choice of Gov. Sarah Palin to be his vice-presidential running mate. After meeting her only one time, McCain felt that Ms. Palin was qualified to be a heartbeat away from the Presidency. We are now finding out what a poor choice that was, with stories of scandals and inappropriate behavior marking her terms as mayor of Wasilla and Governor of Alaska. Since her nomination, Gov. Palin has been kept away from the media, and has allowed no interviews. What is she and the McCain campaign afraid of? Likely they are afraid that her lack of knowledge in foreign and domestic policy cannot stand up to close scrutiny and they need more time to prep her on these issues. Does the American people really want a trainee to potentially be President of the United States? McCain claims "Country First" but clearly this choice was not in the best interest of the country.

The Great Partisan Inequality Divide

I found this great article in the New York Times about the economic stakes in the current Presidential election. When Democrats say that they are better for the poor and middle class, and for the economy in general, they have the data to back it up! Click the link below:

Is History Siding With Obama’s Economic Plan?

Palin Speech

Did anyone else notice the tepid applause when Gov. Palin mentioned that her husband Todd was a member of the Steel Workers Union? It was probably the least amount of applause she received for anything she said. It is always important to remember how anti-union the Republicans and the Bush administration are and obviously John McCain will keep up the pro-business and anti-union attitude that has hurt unions in this country.