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lessons for Independent unions
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Mark Baugher
And someone was complaining about anarchists on the list recently.
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I have talked a couple of times with people from the Portland IWW, and I see value in not taking the Taft-Hartley unionism route. But I'm not well informed on the strategy, overall, of people forming a union rather than joining one. At some point, people need to join. thanks, Mark On Jan 29, 2023, at 6:04 AM, Dayne Goodwin <daynegoodwin@...> wrote: |
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Dayne Goodwin
Yes, interesting ... and good imo On Sun, Jan 29, 2023 at 8:16 AM Roediger, David R <droediger@...> wrote:
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Roediger, David R
Wow, interesting that Labor Notes runs this. lr
David Roediger AMS/University of Kansas
My new edition of my THE SINKING MIDDLE CLASS: A POLITICAL HISTORY is available for order from Haymarket at https://www.haymarketbooks.org/books/1879-the-sinking-middle-class From: marxmail@groups.io <marxmail@groups.io> on behalf of Dayne Goodwin via groups.io <daynegoodwin@...>
Sent: Sunday, January 29, 2023 8:04 AM To: marxmail <marxmail@groups.io> Subject: [marxmail] lessons for Independent unions Viewpoint: Burgerville Workers’ Lessons for Independent Unions
by Kevin Van Meter, Labor Notes, Jan. 25 https://labornotes.org/blogs/2023/01/viewpoint-burgerville-workers-lessons-independent-unions . . . The Burgerville Workers Union, which went public in 2016 and won its first contract in 2021, has recently been influencing and supporting independent union efforts in the region—and it has a few lessons to offer independent unions around the country. While the union is affiliated with the Portland branch of the Industrial Workers of the World, it operates largely autonomously. “What workers want is to form a union, not necessarily join a union,” asserts founding member Luis Brennan. . . . Independent union drives can succeed where ones organized by traditional unions have failed. These newly formed unions are “coming out of workers’ own self-activity,” Brennan said, and they should be cautious about affiliating with a union that would not respect their autonomy or could insist they follow a different organizing strategy. Moreover, Starbucks workers and other new organizers will soon discover that their parent unions can be undemocratic, with entrenched leadership that is hostile to union democracy and meaningful radical change. Brennan and BVWU offer a few lessons for independent unions: Use solidarity and take direct action. Continuously reevaluate your strategies. Develop strong community partnerships—but just don’t forget that power among co-workers is what wins the day. And amid the challenges of bargaining and implementing first contracts as independent unions, remember that negotiating with management is not the only way to win.
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Dayne Goodwin
Viewpoint: Burgerville Workers’ Lessons for Independent Unions by Kevin Van Meter, Labor Notes, Jan. 25 https://labornotes.org/blogs/2023/01/viewpoint-burgerville-workers-lessons-independent-unions . . . The Burgerville Workers Union, which went public in 2016 and won its first contract in 2021, has recently been influencing and supporting independent union efforts in the region—and it has a few lessons to offer independent unions around the country. While the union is affiliated with the Portland branch of the Industrial Workers of the World, it operates largely autonomously. “What workers want is to form a union, not necessarily join a union,” asserts founding member Luis Brennan. . . . Independent union drives can succeed where ones organized by traditional unions have failed. These newly formed unions are “coming out of workers’ own self-activity,” Brennan said, and they should be cautious about affiliating with a union that would not respect their autonomy or could insist they follow a different organizing strategy. Moreover, Starbucks workers and other new organizers will soon discover that their parent unions can be undemocratic, with entrenched leadership that is hostile to union democracy and meaningful radical change. Brennan and BVWU offer a few lessons for independent unions: Use solidarity and take direct action. Continuously reevaluate your strategies. Develop strong community partnerships—but just don’t forget that power among co-workers is what wins the day. And amid the challenges of
bargaining and implementing first contracts as independent unions,
remember that negotiating with management is not the only way to win. # # # |
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