On Feb 23, 2009, at 10:32 AM, James Straub wrote:
> I suspect andy and anna think trade unions as conceived of in the
> past, are not going to exist in the future of the US private sector
> (they may be right about this--- indeed, the data indicates they are
> almost certainly right!).
Early to mid 80s in the San Jose shop where I worked, the toolroom trade machinists moved into the teamsters, while the shop floor labor was represented by the machinists. I offer that simply to establish a distinction twixt trade and labor.
By this time I can imagine that the skilled machinists might all be independent contractors. That seems to me a market relationship with their customers, one that requires representation. What kind of representation would that relationship need/develop? How would the needs of that group differ from those of the labor group, if they differ?
martin