It is time for the labor councils to join the 99ers who are the Wall Street protesters. For we all have the same concerns: shelter, food, health care, pensions and jobs. The 1 ‘percenters’ have crossed the line and not just in the USA.
This is now a worldwide movement. It is reminiscent of Industrial Workers of the World (IWW). We the working people have had opportunities before and did not take advantage of them. This time we, the 99ers, and unions now have no choice but to keep going for the 99ers are at the bottom of the financial ladder. If you are not in the top 1 percent on the economic scale, you’re a 99er.
This is not the first time we've had to deal with corporate greed. Ralph Chaplin captured the 1 percenters' greed at the turn of the 20th century.
“It is we who plowed the prairies, built the cities
where they trade
Dug the mines and built the workshops
endless miles of railroad laid
Now we stand outcast and starving
Midst the wonders we made, but
solidarity will keep us strong”
by Ralph Chaplin 1915
We must stay on the move; be on the offensive as opposed to the passive defensive. Sun Tzu (Art of War) realized that no war can be won by adoption of a static attitude. The strategy and tactics that have been used with success are 4 things:
1). when the enemy advances, we retreat
2). when the enemy halts, we harass
3). when the enemy seeks to avoid battle, we attack
4). when the enemy retreats, we pursue
Sun Tzo, Art of War
I hope that I am wrong, but what I see at this time is our unions are going to be in the fight of their existence. This is the most perilous time of our life. The life we had is threatened like never before. Unions are the largest organized group of people who can save our country if things keep going the way they are heading at this time. We need to all stand together for power, but we each must prepare and plan to take care of ourselves and our families. We can fight the big fight and not be distracted by worry about things that can and should already be taken care of. For instance, stashing at least one month’s pay and at least a month or even a year’s worth of food, whether the food is staples (pasta, rice, canned goods) and meat or chicken in the freezer. Keep your vehicles' tanks full and if possible a gas can full. It’s in your best interest to also save money for house or rent payments plus extra. This is not new thinking for us old trade workers who had to prepare when...
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