UAW convention

[MScoleman at aol.com]

Doug succinctly points out the fact that UAW national leadership is trailing
the country in supporting the strikes of their own union members.  The sad
fact is, this is all too typical of numbers of unions.  As a more general
question, how can this pattern be fixed?  Generally, it is the most tame and
bureaucratic of union members who get sent to conventions, thereby insuring
the re-election of the bureaucracy (in general this is true -- certainly in
the CWA, my alma mater).  Also, when mavericks get elected on an individual
basis, they almost always become part of the conservative pattern, rather than
changing the conservatives to more progressive actions.  So, in the words of
whatshisname: what is to be done?  If elections tend to perpetuate the status
quo, and if occasional activist leadership persons tend to be co-opted, the
how do unions become more the front line of defense for the working class?  Do
we need all new unions?  Do we need a new movement?  Is there some way to push
existing unions into class action?

maggie coleman mscoleman at aol.com