[lbo-talk] union density

MICHAEL YATES mikedjyates at msn.com
Wed Apr 16 11:12:33 PDT 2008


Some on the list seem to believe that careful, long-term campaigns to build inside union membership and maximum member democracy and empowerment are a waste of time and that employer/union deals of one kind or another give better results. A reading of the many works by Kate Bronfenbrenner and by her and Tom Juravich would appear to dispute this, with decent statistical evidence.

Also, without a labor (left) ideology, hammered home as much as possible at all possible times, I am skeptical that density will be increased much or that if it is, it will mean much for a labor movement rebirth. Of course, most all union organizing is a good thing. But there is a larger picture to consider. Things Stern and almost all labor leaders are oblivious to. Look at union labor education. Almost all of it focused on the short term, nothing on thinking about bigger issues, like the nature of the economic system. For the most part, union leaders fear a competent and educated rank and file.

Michael Yates



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