[lbo-talk] craft unions

[Mike Kramer]

That the NLRB puts RNs in a separate bargaining unit
has nothing to do with the distinction between craft
unionism and industrial unionism. The Board cuts
hospitals up into quite a few different bargaining
units. SEIU organizes wall-to-wall, uniting all of
those workers into one local. Of course there are
different provisions, work rules, etc. for different
job classes. The point is that SEIU organizes along
the principle of one industry, one union. The CNA, on
the other hand, says that skilled RNs do not belong in
a union with housekeepers and dietary workers.

Michael, why are you so hung up on Eliseo Medina? I've
seen posts from you on a couple of lists dealing with
SEIU and without fail you bring up Medina. He's just
one of several EVPs (a good one, in my book). What's
the deal?

-

While SEIU might organize all sorts of workers in
hospitals, it must,
by practical necessity, function as a craft union when
it organizes nurses.
The NLRB and state labor relations agencies do not
allow nurses to be
in the same bargaining unit as orderlies, cafeteria
workers, maintenance people, etc.
So in this sense, SEIU functions the same as the CA
Nurses Association.  I am  
sure its nurses' contracts are similar to those of the
CNA in many respects.  And
while it might be easier for SEIU to promote worker
solidarity if it has nurses in one local
and other hospital workers in other units, such
solidarty is not guaranteed.  Nor is it precluded in
a CNA hospital.  Craft unions have shown solidarity
with all sorts of workers in the past.  In any event 
the derogatory tone with which some CNA critics use
the word "craft union" seems
unwarranted here.  CNA has taken strong working class
positions on many isues, not least of which
is national health care.

 
Maybe SEIU VP Eliseo Medina believes that CNA is like
the Teamsters he used to fight when he was
with the UFW.  I don't see this.  Actually I sense a
lot of UFW authoritarianism in the way SEIU operates.
I hope I am wrong here.

 
I do not see what is wrong with the CNA organizing
nurses or what is necessarily good
about SEIU organizing nurses in the first place.

 
Michael Yates

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