Right on target, Roger.
"...A labor party is not only about elections but about building a
fighting labor movement to achieve major change..."
For my way of thinking, this is critical to our eventual success. And
by the way, this article will never find its way into the Mass Media.
I am posting it on my blog, and I encourage others to do the same.
Carl Jarvis
On 9/6/15, Roger Loran Bailey <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
http://socialistaction.org/bernie-sanders-the-labor-movement/
Bernie Sanders & the labor movement
Published September 5, 2015. | By Socialist Action.
Sept. 2015 Sanders labor
By ANN MONTAGUE
Socialist Action has published several articles in recent issues
exposing Bernie Sanders and the Democratic Party. This included a look
at past primary elections that were used to raise workers’ hopes that
there would be a place for their aspirations within the Democratic
Party. Another article looked at Sanders’ role in Congress and his
history with the Democratic Party.
It is also important to investigate what is happening in the working
class in relation to the Sanders campaign. Examining the changing
attitudes towards socialism and independent labor campaigns can help us
to see beyond Sanders in order to evaluate the shifts in the
working-class electorate.
We are in the midst of a financial and social crisis that has been
festering for almost a decade. The economic crisis has brought on an
upsurge of fightback activity from low-wage workers. At the same time,
however, most union workers have yet to respond with the same militancy
as their non-union low-wage brothers and sisters.
Long-time union activists have frequently asked each other, “Where are
all the young workers?” The first answer is that many of them are in the
Fight For $15 movement, and the second answer is that they are attending
Bernie Sanders rallies. We have seen in the period of about 10 weeks
this summer over 100,000 people crammed into sports arenas in a variety
of cities to hear Sanders’ populist message about economic inequality
and the fight against the “Billionaire Class.”
The many millennials, students, and young workers at the Sanders rallies
have been joined by union members—a lot of them. These groups are all
motivated by the same anger. They are angry at Wall Street and the
taxpayer bailout of the banks, the lingering effects of the financial
crisis, skyrocketing rents, the high cost of health care and shrinking
income while the wealthy 1% profits from policies of austerity, war, and
the prison industrial complex.
Crisis of union democracy
In the labor movement today, there is nothing as routine as the union
bureaucracy’s deciding to support the Democratic presidential candidate.
An early endorsement is often expected to show the Democratic Party
bosses that there will be money and foot soldiers ready for them
regardless of their anti-labor policies during the previous four years.
Preaching “lesser evilism” to any union member who might balk at their
marching orders is also part of the routine.
This year is slightly different. Distrust is evident toward Hillary
Clinton on a signature labor issue, the unpopular Trans-Pacific
Partnership (TPP), and also because of her close ties to Wall Street.
The fact that Clinton is openly raising $2 billion for her campaign has
also not gone well in the unions.
With the populist Bernie Sanders on the scene, many union members are
saying “slow down” on endorsements. The issue within some unions has
moved from which candidate to support to “why don’t the members have a
vote.”
When Randi Weingarten, the president of the American Federation of
Teachers (AFT), announced they were the first national union to endorse
Clinton, there was a strong backlash among teachers across the country
based on the undemocratic process and rumors that Clinton had offered
Weingarten a position in her cabinet.
A month later, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace
Workers (IAM) announced it would endorse Hillary Clinton. President Tom
Buffenbarger announced in a press release that the decision was made
based on an internal survey of 1700 members. Again the union members
were irate. One comment on their Facebook page was indicative of the
members: “What a sham. Not in the least bit democratic … only 1700 out
of 600,000 members is not a majority. … You guys need to wake up and
listen to the members.”
Mary Kay Henry, president of SEIU, could see the way the wind was
blowing and quickly said that there would be no early endorsement and
that they would continue pushing issues of economic inequality.
When the National Nurses Union was the first national union to endorse
Sanders, the most common comment from union members was about their
process. As one member of a different union, who didn’t support any
Democratic Party candidate, commented, “Did you see that? Their members
all voted. It was the members who actually made the decision.”
While on the surface it appears that this is merely a disagreement over
which candidate the union will endorse, it could be the beginning of
deeper conversations about the struggle for union democracy. Hopefully,
more specific discussions will also take place concerning Sanders’ lack
of any solution to the attacks on workers that are increasing every day.
The lack of union democracy regarding presidential endorsements is not
the only thing that has agitated the rank and file this summer. In July
and August there were events to celebrate the 50th anniversary of
Medicare. But instead of the regular “lobby and call your legislator”
event, there were working-class rallies to demand the expansion and
improvement of Medicare.
These rallies were called the National Day of Action to Protect, Expand
and Improve Medicare and were organized by National Nurses United, Labor
Campaign For Single Payer, AFL-CIO, and the union-based Alliance For
Retired Americans. One of the largest rallies was on Aug. 8 at the
Westlake Mall in Seattle, where 5000 rallied for both “Medicare For All”
and Medicaid expansion. The energized Seattle labor movement showed up,
coming off of their winning a $15 minimum wage, their growing movement
to fight skyrocketing rents, and the re-election campaign of socialist
Seattle city council member Kshama Sawant.
Every time there is a spark of rebellion in the working class, it
ignites more activity. Two years of regular fast-food strikes became a
movement of low-wage workers. The activity expanded from one-day strikes
to include union bargaining campaigns. Then it moved to mass rallies and
marches aimed at local governments. Now union members are emerging from
decades of acceptance that union bureaucrats should make the decisions
about candidate endorsements.
Poll results reflect the changing attitudes towards the major capitalist
parties and an increasing interest in socialism. A Gallup Poll completed
in 2014 shows that 43% of respondents do not identify themselves as
Democrats or Republicans. They consider themselves “independent.” This
percentage is a new high for Gallup, which has been polling on this
question since 1988. Identification as a Democrat has declined the most
during this period.
A poll in June of this year showed that 52% now support “government
redistribution of wealth” by increasing taxes on the rich. This is the
greatest support for wealth redistribution that has been measured since
1940. The pollsters also asked if respondents would vote for a
“socialist” for president, and a high 47% answered that they would do
so. The combination of increased support for wealth re-distribution and
the fact that the word “socialist” is no longer taboo demonstrate a
major shift.
For a labor party!
This is the time to start talking about an independent workers’ party.
Workers both young and old are angry at the economic and the political
system, and while at this time many are turning to a self-described
“socialist” who is running as a Democrat and who has said he will
support the eventual nominee of the Democratic Party, some union members
are talking about a party of their own.
The traditional labor party is based in the union movement. While union
membership in the United States is low compared to countries that have
traditional labor parties, the labor movement itself has been energized
by the movement of low-wage workers and their allies.
An August Gallup Poll reports that increasing numbers support unions
while union membership remains at about 12%. Approval of unions jumped
to 58%, which is an increase of 10% since 2009.
There was also an increase of those who want unions to have more
influence on the political process (37%).However, those calling on the
Democratic Party candidates for solutions to the problems we face will
never find satisfaction. The fight against the “billionaire class”
cannot be waged by the party controlled by billionaires.
Likewise, the struggles against racism and anti-immigrant bigotry will
not be championed by the Democratic Party. They will never stop saying
that the solution to racist cops is body cameras, and that the solution
to the immigration “problem” is to increase the militarization of the
border and to increase enforcement of laws against undocumented workers.
A labor party is not only about elections but about building a fighting
labor movement to achieve major change. Building independent workers’
power in the political arena as well as in the workplace and the streets
can help build a bridge from anger and disappointment to a successful
struggle for pressing demands. The call for a labor party can be that
initial step.
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Posted in Elections, Labor. | Tagged Bernie Sanders, Democrats, labor,
unions.
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