> Well yeah. But if you organize unions which promise not to say an unkind
> word about the boss, much less go on strike, and you let the boss specify
> which shops you can organize (while not telling the students working on your
> behalf) - exactly what is gained? Doesn't this just underscore the
> difficulty of organizing unions rather than get around it? A cynic might
> think that it's all just empire building and dues farming. Or is there some
> magic point at which density changes everything? How will we know when we
> get there? Can the secret agreements then be ripped up?
Why do workers join unions in the first place? To go on strike? To say unkind things about the boss? Or to change the conditions of their employment? You pose some good and necessary questions, but you haven't addressed this key latter question, the standard by which these organizing agreements should be judged.