The American working class has been subjected to years of confusing
propaganda designed to turn them against their own best interests.
A major error by working men and women has been the abandonment of
their participation in their labor unions. Just as the working class
has been cut out of the actual participation in the Oligarchy, so
we've been robbed of our right to participate in union affairs.
While it could be said that union members handed off this right to
participate, it can also be said that this was no accident. The
Ruling Class moved on containing the working class by efforts to take
over leadership in the unions, spread fear of foreign infiltrators
such as Communists, into the union leadership, and constant bad
mouthing union activities, to mention a few.
Working class folks need to be reminded that while they are dissuaded
from active participation in the basic affairs that are critical to
their well being, their Bosses are well organized, and know full well
the need to be active in the business of controlling the workers.
And then we go and elect Donald Trump. Gads!
Carl Jarvis
On 11/15/16, Roger Loran Bailey <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
https://socialistaction.org/2016/11/13/trades-versus-bottom-feeders/
Trades versus ‘bottom feeders’
/ 2 days ago
By BILL ONASCH
Along with multiple other crucial issues at stake in the struggle at
Standing Rock Reservation is a growing polarization over climate and
environmental issues in organized labor. Some important national unions
have condemned the brutality against peaceful protesters and also oppose
the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL).
These include the Amalgamated Transit Union; American Postal Workers;
Communications Workers; National Nurses United; National Writers Union
division of the UAW; Service Employees International Union; and the
United Electrical, Radio & Machine Workers (UE). So have “constituency
groups” like the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists; Coalition of Labor
Union Women; and Pride at Work, representing interests of LGBT workers.
The NNU sent volunteer RNs from their Emergency Response Network to
treat injured protesters at Standing Rock. Most of these groups are part
of the Labor Network for Sustainability (LNS) and/or Trade Unions for
Energy Democracy (TUED).
But literally on the other side of the line drawn at Standing Rock,
cheering on the rag-tag company rent-a-cops, police and National Guard
units from five states violently attacking and arresting peaceful
demonstrators and journalists, is the AFL-CIO—the dominant union
federation in the USA.
This reflects the clout of the recently formed North American Building
Trades Union (NABTU). This body collaborates with the capitalist
American Petroleum Institute, and they’ve never seen a pipeline they
didn’t like. Four of their affiliates—Laborers International Union;
Operating Engineers; Pipefitters; Teamsters—are especially grateful for
the offer of some dues-paying temporary jobs building DAPL.
None of these union bureaucrats are more outspoken than Laborers head
honcho Terry O’Sullivan. In a letter to all of his members sent after
the riot of the forces of “law and order,” he said, “The facts are on
our side, yet in the past month, we have witnessed vocal opposition from
groups, including some self-righteous unions, who know little about the
project and have no job equity in it. … These unions have sided with
THUGS against trade unionists. They are a group of bottom-feeding
organizations that are once again trying to destroy our members’ jobs.”
Since the topic was not aquariums, the bottom feeder reference was
clearly a slur directed at low-wage workers. That wouldn’t apply to the
NNU, whose members are all well-paid health-care professionals. It was
probably aimed at SEIU, which is devoting major resources to organizing
the working poor around 15 Dollars and a Union.
While none of the “self-righteous” unions have “job equity” in digging
ditches and laying pipe, they know all about the disastrous effects of
the DAPL project. That’s why they stand with the Native Americans he
calls “THUGS.” They are motivated by principles and
solidarity—attributes unfamiliar to brother O’Sullivan.
Neither the Native people nor their solidarity allies are indifferent to
job losses in the construction trades. The LNS and TUED advocate
programs based on the principle of Just Transition that would guarantee
generations of work for the crafts during the necessary economic
restructuring to replace climate-wrecking fossil fuels with clean,
renewable energy such as solar and wind.
The struggles for class and climate justice have become inseparable.
They received little attention during the recent election campaign. But
they are beginning to be played out in the only class-based mass
organizations of American workers—the trade unions.
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November 13, 2016 in Indigenous Rights, Labor. Tags: Dakota, Native
Americans, pipelines, Sioux
Related posts
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Taking Sides at Standing Rock
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