The workers are losing while our labor leaders sleep or hide out, hoping they can hold onto their position until they retire. Our labor leaders appeared to have given up the rural areas and pulled their efforts into the big cities. This is like having a fort with a moat around it and think they are safe. We all know forts can be conquered in the long run. It’s as if labor leaders learned nothing from the Clinton era.
We, at this time, are losing with the Right to Work laws being passed in 27 states, and now there is legislation in Congress for a national Right to Work law. Couple this with legislation in Congress to ban the Davis-Bacon Act on prevailing wage law, and the attacks on union pensions. These things will drive the nail into the heart of unions. This is happening in other countries, like the UK and France, who are electing leaders, such as Marine Le Pen, a far right leader.
We, here, in the U.S., cannot just depend on the Bernie Sanders-types. We need new, strong unions with good, strong leaders, willing to fight for their members regardless of where they live. If the people in place don’t want to rock the boat, then do like Lee Iacocca once used Laurence J. Peter’s quote, “Lead, follow or get out of the way.”
To our union rank and file members, you cannot wait for someone else to do the work for you. Who do you think will have your best interests and will fight for you or ensure that you keep the eight-hour work day, healthcare, pensions, job safety, and good wages? Now don’t look behind you for there is no one there except, maybe another union member.
The attacks on workers are here, and now being embolden with the election of Donald Trump and in countries like Ukraine, France, UK, Portugal,Italy, Greece, and South America are watching what happens here. So, workers get ready for the streets. This is where our fight will be won and where the new leaders will come from. It will be from the bottom up, not the top down.
Fight for a living wage of $15-$24 an hour, and the right for a union.
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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