We need to resucitate this part of the Democratic party. Labor unions have been hugely diminished by globalization. Democrats haven't been able to do anything about it because they've been dependent on corporate donations.

But this year, that all changed. Millions of small donations over the internet mean that the Democratic party is no longer beholden to corporate America.

We should push to expand labor unions into un-outsourceable industries. Many service jobs cannot be outsourced. A low-wage worker in China can't bring you your meal at your neighborhood restaurant. A low-wage worker in India can't restock the shelves at your local WalMart. There's no reason why these jobs can't be just as good as the ones we are losing overseas. These sorts of workers are hard to organize because they are so mobile, but now, with the internet, it's easier to organize dispersed groups. I think the time is ripe.

While we're at it, why don't we push for a big increase in the minimum wage to a real living wage?

In America, if you work hard and play by the rules, you should be able to make it into the middle class.

all these jobs are the jobs americans dont want,,,first you must control immigration...thats the reason wages have falling,,,the cement block plants that were union ,could not compet aginst the plants working illegal immigrants...the carpet mills could not keep paying 15.00 hr when a plant down the road started with 5.15 a hr immigrants,,you cant pay men 15.00 a hr to build houses,,when other people are paying immigrants 5.15 hr..yet the democrats dont know why they were voted out..it takes money to work americans,,,social security tax..and other tax and ins.that you dont pay on immigrants..

[COLOR=green]You have a good point. But I think you're talking about illegal immigrants. And that is another issue altogether. But to speak to the subject of unions....unions championed the basis of fair employment guide lines way back in the 1920s (don't hold me to that year, I'm not that positive). While I take you point about immigration and jobs americans don't want - it is the very salaries and workinig conditions that entice immigrants to come here.

Also it's not that simplistic. I feel there is the concept of employer-employee loyalty. Beginning in the 1980s those at the top wanted a larger paycheck, they formed their business/corporate PACs and guilds and lobbied for fewer restrictions and taxes. They got what they wanted. Now 20+ years later, we, the foot soldiers are trying to start or maintain small to moderate sized businesses. Those who are not, are still clawing for the few scraps from the table. And the CEO/Pres. class is taking big bonuses for downsizing and outsourcing. And that "let us and our employee decide our company employment guidelines" is non-existent.

This brings me to another component - quality of the product or service being offered. I don't care who does the job - if you aren't making enough to cover basic living expenses, and you know that you work only "at the pleasure of the employer" (and most employment contracts say that now), and you know that no matter how hard or how many hours you work you can still be laid off/downsized etc., you aren't going to put out a quality product or offer the best service you can.

A union is not a silver bullet to everything but when they were strong a larger segment of the country had solid employment. And with that employment came the necessary benefits for themselves and their families. But unions have to give a little as well. They have to find more ways to help their members with their union benefits and help them find work (not all locals of unions do this and that is a problem when it comes to employees supporting the union).

So there is a good case to be made for and against unions. But for the larger work population and the problems we have, unions are the best sources of advocacy for employees.

So I really feel the Democratic Party should champion this group again. This has been a long standing partnership and think it should be brought to the forefront.

I strongly support the unions and I am in Mgmt without union coverage! I have to say that in the last 5-6 years I have been dismayed to see how much the union seems to put Mgmt's interest over the workers- it has left many of the workers frustrated and disillusioned in my neck of the woods. I've actually had to advise some workers from other divisions in my workplace where to seek remedy within the union to have questions or concerns answered. Needless to say this has not made me the most popular member of the mgmt. team but I believe all workers should be treated fairly and with opportunities for advancement. Don't get me wrong- I also feel that unions and mgmt/adminstrations can work in tandem toward the common good but right now I've noticed a trend by union rep's to just roll over on employee rights and concerns-all the while raising annual dues. My brother works for a different entity and he has said that he has noticed this as well. I would not be surprised at all if the current union is not replaced or just voted out in the next couple of years at my workplace.

TODAY INNOCENT PEOPLE ARE BEING KILLED IN IRAQ. WHY IS THAT. BECAUSE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE PUT ISSUES THAT HAVE BEEN AROUND A THOUSAND YEARS, BEFORE THE MISTAKE OF THE WAR IN IRAQ.

I am a Union Representative for the public sector employees. The apathy of the people is evident in the latest voting statistics. Remember there is a "U" in union. People are not willing to stand up for themselves ,but feel that the "dues" they pay, is sufficeient. When there is a weak contract it is generally due to weak leadership and/ or a lack of committment from the rank and file. Only 17% of the Union households voted in Ohio. The AFL/CIO spent more money and was more active that in all the 30 years I have been involved. I walked and called for months. We tried everything imagineable to get rank and file participation. It was pitiful. As I contacted ONLY Union households, the " One issue and uninformed members was evident. What were the answers to outsourcing;assault on the Fair Labor Standards act; No child left behind; social security and pension issues?

" Democrats want to take my guns"; Cannot change Presidents during war time: Kerry wants babies killed" And the moral majority JUMPED out of the woodwork.

When you would show them statistics they had tunnel vision. Well they have their guns now; but may not be able to afford the bullets; They can sleep well at night safe from " married homosexuals" and they can rest assure we have the SAME leader that took us into a wrong war. As for the "values issue", association and rhetoric does not make you eligible for sainthood. As these sheep are led to slaughter, I am sure I will here the loud lament from these workers " What is the Union going to do for me."

Hello everyone! As a Teamster I saw how hard we worked on this election . I helped our local union by passing out fliers at work and discussing the REAL issues we as a union and a country are faced with today. We passed out information to all of our members. I feel that the members of our local were very well informed at what was a stake. Living down south, the home of John Edwards, the moral issues came up. No one cared that we are being "down graded" by this president. Attacks on overtime, pension funds, organizing, and the high cost of percription drugs, that make our good insurance coverage look cheap, didn't seem to bother them?!?!? I haven't seen what the percentages of union vote we got in NC, but we tried. We're one of the only states in the union that will elect a Republican President and a Democratic Governor over and over! John Edwards has been a friend to our local since before he took office. We had great times at the rallys. We as a group went to all but 2 or 3 when Kerry and Edwards came. The turnout in Raleigh after Edwards was announced for VP was amazing!! As a progressive union we will continue to work with local officials to make sure they work for us. Thanks.

Yes the unions need to be energized.

TODAY INNOCENT PEOPLE ARE BEING KILLED IN TH US
People have been fighting a war in are own country and it is senseless.
5,524 fatal work injuries were recorded nationwide in 2002
5,559 workers lost in 2003
The numbers go up and OSHA keeps telling us there are less deaths. These numbers do not reflect those that have no quality of life. In most states you may not sue the employer and in some (as my brothers case) workers comp does not pay a dime.
Stop our country from killing it’s own. http://www.usmwf.org sign our petition!
United Support & Memorial For workplace Fatalities

An excellent site, thank you! I was looking for just this sort of thing.

No Problem, we haven't been up long but it seems to be doing some good. please pass it along.
Tammy

There hasn't been any new labor law in forty years and we're clubbed over the head with what little protections remain.

We need more labor-friendly candidates.

Stop badmouthing the unions. Teach the history of labor unions in the schools!

what exactly is a "living wage"?
in 1994 when I was divorced, the judge said that it took an annual income of $25,000 to live in this county...at 2000 workhours per year, that translates into (then) $12.50 an hour. I imagine it is more now, and even more when raising a family.

How many $12.50/hr jobs are out there today? Good jobs with benefits...benefits add another third to a half onto the employment package. Employers really balk at paying almost $20 an hour... but we all pay when business fails to pay an adequate wage and we get stuck with paying for low income healthcare, school lunches and day care so someone can fill a low-wage position...


I belong TO a Union and I work FOR a Union. I am mostly fortunate.

As with so many other things in this country, the Republicans and Big Business have suceeded in making the word Union (and the word Liberal, for that matter) a dirty word. What most peole don't seem to realize is that the existence of any job that pays a decent wage is due to the hard work and persistence of labor unions that fought for those jobs and benefits in the past and raised everyone's standard of living over time, not just those of the union members.

Having grown up in a Union household, I understand the benefits of organized labor. We all have to work toward the goal of erasing the image of organized labor that a large portion of the country has and demostrate to them that our, and our families hard work benefits them all. Needless to say, we have some hard work ahead. By the way I'm very glad to see that this website came into being to allow those of us that followed John Kerry's campaign closely to contine to share ideas and help the Democratic Party.

Just my two cents....

Long time Kerry Blog lurker...

cdebella

Unionizing Wal Mart should be a priority for labor and the Democrats. Take a stand against the Wal!

[COLOR=purple][B] I'm a Teamster as well, and I'm very discouraged that for all the work, polling, calling, contributing, that we were not able to tip the vote.
I was even more dismayed when I saw our Steel Worker Brothers & Sisters align with Bush in W Va....( tariffs on imported steel doesn't hold lots of water when your job went overseas anyway)

I think Americans have totally forgotten the concept of Labor Unions....sub standard wages, and what amounted to sweat shops.

Bush will feed us this disrespect as long as we are willing to eat it!

I'm very discouraged- It is ok to be discouraged so long as you do not give up!
As in any fight you are never alone, you have to keep optimistic or others will sense you- your self do not have faith in your fight.
Not that you should be afraid of being a teamster but the rule of thumb is never give the info unless they ask. This way reasoning will have a chance to get through before they make a judgment about your status.
When I campaigned I spoke to many that had never voted and many republicans who chose to vote for a democratic rep. First, I ask them questions and made it personal for them. Second, I gave them proof of my stance. Third, I invited them to contact my candidate/or myself with any questions they may have in the future. In all the time I was out I have one person cut me off, many tried and ended up liking what they heard. If I was asked what party I was…my reply does it matter…two responded yes so I told them I vote for the individual not the party.
My only regret is that I didn’t do more for the presidential election-feeling bush didn’t have a chance. That is the number two rule haha do not take anything for granted

If the Labor Unions want to reinvigorate they will have to expand their membership, that is obviously a no brainer. Some advice to the Labor Unions if they want to do this. . .

First, change your business model so you are qualified as a non-profit organization. I can't understand why unions choose to operate as private organizations that are classified as for profit. This change in philosophy is more in tune with what the labor unions traditionally were created for.

Second, don't bring the bargaining banter to the public eye. If people get caught up in a traffic jam because of civil disobediance shutting down major arteries during rush hour, they are not going to have much simpathy towards the union's position in a dispute. Settle your disputes in the board room with the corporations you have a grievance with, not on the interstate highway entrance ramp.

Third, plan for change. The real benefits of the unions seem to be collective bargaining, where the employees are given a marginal voice in the dispute (see UAL's pilot union not allowing a member vote before going to the airline negotiating table.) In industries that may be counting down start to offer education benefits to union members for when the inevitable comes along and their jobs are gone. You can never erase the pain of a shut down, but preparing members mentally for the emotional event, and showing there are other skills they can learn will make any transition (wanted or unwanted) easier on the members.

Just my short sighted opinions. I don't think I have all the answers, but I think the conversation (in essence, not just in a thread) must be expanded upon for Unions to turn the corner and grow again.

It is also sad to see that Ford who was violently anti-unionist, was more foreward looking than most off the Corp-chiefs and neo-cons today, he knew that by giving a fair wage he made more customers for his produkts and made the cake we all eat from that much bigger, (So he could that much richer)

I think this post misinterprets the statistics on the turnout of union households in Ohio. I think that the turnout of union households was about the same as for everyone else or perhaps better. It is just that union households constituted only about 17% of the electorate in Ohio, which is about the same as union households constitute of the general population there.

You have, however, correctly identified one problem which is that many union households place their commitment to the conservative side of the abortion and gay rights issues above their commitment to union values. I am amazed by this willingness of those who have little to agree to have even less in order to have a government which meddles in other people's lives.

Whether other people have abortions or homosexual marriages affects me not at all, whereas the terms and conditions surrounding Social Security, Medicare and unions' collective bargaining rights affect me deeply.

This counterintuitive fact is reminiscent of the statistics about voting among veterans and military service personnel who would rather have a president who engages in military adventurism in which they might be killed than a president who would want to avoid "stop-loss" programs and improve veterans' health care entitlements.

Having read the items under this topic I feel I must put in my two cents. I believe that the current union structure does not do what it was intended to do when initiated. Unions were really for the workers protection. Both in the safety of the workplace and a fair wage. That is where I have a problem today. What is a fair wage? If we continue as we are now a fair wage cannot be defined. And on top of it the heads of the unions (national) receive salaries that rival the CEO's of the very companies that we are talking about with their excessive salary and bonuses. These monies are coming out of the pockets of the members as are the salaries of the CEO's because what they take they cannot give to their employees! In addition all this money in the end is passed on to the consumer in the cost of the goods or services sold and that means higher prices. Higher prices mean we need higher wages and we keep going around in circles trying to catch up. I don't think it is just union households we need to think about but everyone! I do understand that we need to provide a living wage for all. However, we will never be able to do that if everything keeps going up and everything will keep going up as long as everyone including union employees and CEO's are continuously looking for higher wages. Maybe we need to take a lesson from our senior citizens and learn to live within our means and not continuously look to extend those means!

Just some thoughts!!!!!!!!

This is all true but we need to start with hidden cost such as insurance companies. They profit more and more every year all the while saying they need to cut jobs & expenses. They keep saying they are loosing money but most have increased profits by 50%.

http://www.rense.com/general57/faster.htm

Since we are putting our cents into this……I will too. The unions do a great job of educating their members on workplace safety. Between the contract that guarantees clean and safe working conditions and the stewards and agents that monitor the contract and governmental oversight, i.e. OSHA, the unions do great. Fair wage is definitely not $5.15 per hour. A person with a family of 4 needs to make at least $17.00 per hour to stay above poverty levels. You can’t make that at Wal-Mart!! Last week there was an article about a CEO that had a $50 million golden parachute! I know a few top ranking union officials and all of them put together, with a few more thrown in for good measure don’t come close to that. Remember these officials have to negotiate contracts with these CEO’s and lawyers that make millions of dollars. I know there are some that make more than others, but to throw them all in one pile and say they make too much isn’t accurate. During the 70’s there was a lot of money in the unions. With government oversight and the jailing of many union leaders lots of those problems came to an end in the 90’s. Now it’s the companies turn. You read about it every day. Now the country has spoken and we have got 4 more years of the same old thing…….how many of you really think the guys at Enron will be punished for all they done?? I do agree on one thing…….unions never just think of themselves. Every bill that we have worked on recently affects ALL working people, not just unions. Living within your means is a very smart thing to do. All in all the union members that I know and see EVERY DAY live well within their means. The CEO of the company I work for was known for wearing $100 ties. He also made, in one day, a bonus of $4 million!!! I work for a living, belong to a union, make a good wage, and am proud of the leaders of my union. I really doubt that my wages and other union members caused prescription prices, health costs, and oil prices to go up like they have the past 4 years. Something else to think about. K.E.T.

If I remember write some time ago I signed a petition for overtime pay and this also was union based. I personally have only worked for a union once. My opinion is that unless your willing to do something about it do not complain about it. If there is a problem with something it is usually because no one steps up to the plate. My husband worked for a company and tried to get a union in twice…it never happened. Since then several people have stated they wished the union had made it. These were the same ones who never bothered coming one meeting. Point being no organization is any better than the people evolved and there are always strength in numbers.

Hey usmwf........point well taken. In my local, we participate in different projects to get the rank-in-file involved. One of the largest was the NO PNTR for China. We travled to Washington to march on the Capitol. It was great and helped get more people involved in bad goverment decisions for working people!

I bet that was a great experience! If you get the right people motivated you would be surprised what you can do!
Ps excuse my spelling, it’s not a great asset of mine.

Bush is getting ready to open the borders.

If you want to invigorate union membership it starts with the Employee Free Choice Act. Don't blame the Democrats, it's lack of public interest that is killing this bill. Help "celebrate" the EFCA's first birthday by emailing the committee chair and asking when it will be heard. Email address and phone#'s below.

Senate bill S.1925, the Employee Free Choice Act, will be one year old on November 21st! For those of you not familiar, the Employee Free Choice Act strengthens the National Labor Relations Act. It's a good bill, because it should lower the amount of cases that the government is forced to hear, by increasing the penalties that companies face when violating the NLRA. It will help keep government small and efficient, and help employees protect their own jobs from outsourcing.

Currently, even highly ethical companies, like Hewlett Packard and Agilent Technologies, do not seem to fear the penalties for trampling employee rights. Hewlett-Packard, the company from which Agilent had spun off, fired an employee for attempting to organize a union with the United Steel Workers of America, AFL-CIO, in August 2002. This was found to be a violation of the National Labor Relations Act (Case 25-CA-28591). Agilent faces a charge of a violation of the NLRA, the decision of which will have ramifications for anyone working in the digital world, whose job could be outsourced.

In honor of this anniversary, folks should send birthday cards and emails to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, where the bill has been heard exactly zero times. It is also not currently scheduled to be heard in the next year. Now some people would call this neglect of little Bill S.1925, but it's just politics.

US Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
428 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-6300
(202) 224-5375

Majority Staff #: (202) 224-6770 Senator Gregg (R.-NH) (sets the calendar for hearings)
email Sen. Gregg
Minority Staff #: (202) 224-0767 Senator Kennedy (D.-MA) (sponsor of the Employee Free Choice Act)
email Sen. Kennedy
The sister bill H.R.3619 suffers similar neglect in the House Committee on Education and the Workforce
Rep. John Boehner (R- Ohio) Chair
(202) 225-6205

To further execise democracy in the workplace, go to www.agilepeople.org

All labor unions should join forces to work for a universal single payer health
care program. This would eliminate the overhead expense that goes to insurance companies. It would take health care out of the work place and therefore
reduce the amount of power bosses have over workers. More focus could then be placed on other elements of workplace reform.

These are all good posts. The subject is valuable. I agree with those who say unions should start a public education advertising campaign!

I also agree that illegal immigration should be strongly opposed from a Labor/Union perspective. This will bring in alliances and drive a wedge between the "Cheap Labor" Conservatives and most other conservatives!

I agree that Americans seem to be under-educated about unions. I'll give you an example from Pgh. A group of janitors working in the building across the street from my office signed a collective bargaining agreement through the SEIU. I don't remember all of the details off of the top of my head, but I think they received $7 or $9 dollars per hour and decent health benefits. Shortly thereafter, the subcontractor they worked for lost their contract and another, non-union, subcontractor was brought in. Since then, the SEIU has conducted various protests outside of the building, most of which we've been able to see from our office. Some of my co-workers have expressed annoyance with the protests, and probably wish the union would just give up and go away. Personally, I don't think they're asking for that much for a job that most people wouldn't want to do.

On the other side of the coin, I grew up in a union household. Thanks to my dad's union, he's made a good, safe living, with enough overtime to put me and my sister through college. Now, there are some dumb things involved in union membership (for example, if someone moves a computer instead of my dad, he can file a greviance and get 4 hours pay for doing nothing but some paperwork), and I also agree that union leadership can be perceived as complacent and too accommodating to management.

However, I don't have any other solutions to offer aside from educating the public, especially the history of labor in this country. A hundred years ago in this area, you worked in the mills for 10 cents an hour, 12 hours a day, 7 days a week, alternating weeks of day shift and night shift. Then, there was the long turn, when the day shift became the night shift and you worked for 24 hours straight. Let's just say it wasn't the safest of working conditions. Conversely, my biggest job hazard is a paper cut, but now many companies are squeezing more work out of fewer workers, causing longer and longer hours for the same pay if you're salaried. In my humble opinion, we're going backwards in worker rights, not forward.

The said fact is that what is missing in almost all organizations these days are the basics, morals, ethics and humanity. If the companies had these qualities in mind when standards were made the rest would fall in place. The companies would have more loyalty, less injuries, illness, death and time off. The workers would then have more dignity and pride in there work and time to spend with their families.
But then again I’m in my own world….gosh it’s nice in here.

I like your world.

My staff and I were in a larger departmental meeting today and we all had to run back to my office so we didn't get caught roaring over the overwhelming lack of accountability and integrity of quite a bit of our staff. It was just bizarre but the corporate environment encourages this over empowerment, responsibility, respect and making your employees feel valued and appreciated. Business' succeed in spite of themselves.

Tell me how to unionize the apartment maintenance industry in Texas and I'll do it. My husband does that for a living, and they are horribly taken advantage of. I've called the local AFL-CIO and nobody ever responded.

Don’t you love it when you hear some rich, smug conservative on CNN or FOX, go on with great conviction about how great the economy is? Retail Sales where down considerably from a year ago. Millions of Americans have lost their jobs to globalization; Americans living in poverty is on the rise, and not to mention an unnecessary war being fought in Iraq. The lack of empathy in these people (neocons), I mean, in essence they are living on an island, so out of touch with the average American and more in touch with their own kind (neocons), and how they can get richer.

On that note, has Bush done anything good while assuming the role of President? Honestly, I cannot choose one thing that he’s done that favors the middle class, never mind the poor. Tax Cuts, is that the best thing people can say? I can’t find a job inside my career; I have had to settle for what you call a job “Outside” my career. While Bush is cutting taxes, the Deficit continues to go up. Where is the money going to come from to support the military and other critical government entities that keep this country glued together?

I don’t think a few extra dollars in my paycheck is going to compare to what I use to make. I’ll side with a leader any day that is technically sound, and who has the common sense needed to make things work for everyone. Instead, we have a guy who’s married to his personal agenda, and to the neocons that be.

Actually, I find it very refreshing that there are intelligent people like myself who come in here and share their views which are very similar to mine. Otherwise, I have come to the realization that a large portion of Americans are just blatantly ignorant.

An old adage applies here…. “Out of sight out of mind!” The government and most of the media work with this frame of mind at lease that’s my hopes. I hate to think that people are really that cold hearted. Then again it did take Bush 3 days to comment on the tsunami.

I think Bush needed 3 days just to decide how he was going to come up with the assistance he eventually pledged. I think the pause was more of an indication how dire things really are here in America. In a better economy and a lack of a Federal & Trade abyss, a pledge of relief funds would have came much sooner.

If you want to turn things around, you have to get out and:
Run for every local office you are eligible for.
Get out the vote.
Take people to the polls that can not make it themselves or get them to get an absentee ballot and VOTE.
There is another election in 2006, Be sure to be running for office yourself and get out the vote. And, get behind the Reps and Senators that are on our side NOW.

You are absolutely right, and for all of the reasons discussed above- keep wages low and drive unions out of business. However, a significant portion of Republicans in both houses are against Bush's proposals- it's splitting the Republicans down the middle. As TheRestofUs said above, we need to get the unions on board to drive this home as a wedge issue- because it is. If anything can bring the congress back into the blue fold, it's immigration.

Forced Labor Said to Bind 12.3 Million People Around the World New York Times

Soong seeks common prosperity China Daily

IBM sides with FireFox Softpedia

US generals say Iraq outlook 'bleak' Christian Science Monitor

Bush picks Republican lawmaker to run SEC Boston Globe

Any thoughts on the NorthWest Airlines strike?