For unions to be strong, they must be prepared and protect the one power they have over the 1 percent anti-union oligarchies. That is the strike. In the past, strikes always ended with losses on the wage slaves’ side because the unions never have enough resources to keep their workers fed or housed and money enough to keep the workers’ bills paid.
This is a ploy the money people have used against wage slaves. They make it easy for anyone to get credit and credit cards, which the oligarchies control all aspects of credit cards from the limits to the interest rates, and when the average person needs more money they are encouraged them to tap into the equity in their homes. With no savings, large debts, it does not take long to break a worker and the strike ends. The oligarchies literally starve workers back to work.
The unions must make a concerted effort to educate their union members on money management and how to survive a strike long enough to prevail in the strike. One thing that can be done is to use the example of the Mormons, who stock up with a year’s supply of food; and either have enough saved to last at least six months to a year either alone or in conjunction with their union. The Sheet Metal union I belonged to had a “Christmas fund,” which was used to support us during strikes.
If all unions could get their members and their unions in this plan set up then and only then could labor start planning for the Holy Grail of strikes, which could start with a whole city then expanded to a county, then state, and the country until you have the Holiest of Holy Grail—a general strike. Then make the demand of a living wage, healthcare, pension, good education for everyone, work safety in the work place, enforced food safety, environmental laws, and this would make Jack London’s The Dream of Debs a reality.
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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