When I began this blog in 2001, I was appalled by President Bush's headlong rush to an illegal war (we were not in fact under attack). As time wore on and Bush began his assault on the Constitution and any people bold enough to criticize, I believed that "the republic is endangered more by actions of our own government than by those of any terrorist." With the election of a high-minded, compassionate, intelligent man like Barack Obama, my fears have ceased.
"Honor them with peace, not war"
United for Peace
Saturday, July 30, 2005
The New York Times:reports that a third union is leaving A.F.L.-C.I.O.
To me, it's good news that a group of unions planto revitalize the worker movement in this country - it's overdue.
The power of unions has been declining over the past couple of decades, in part because of their success in raising working standards for everyone (and a resulting feeling that unions are not needed), and in part because of persistent efforts by Republicans to decrease their influence and reach.
Despite the strong efforts of some unions to organize more workers, it seems that most efforts have been directed to increasing pay and benefits of existing union members.
Copyright © 2001-03 Pam Shorey
(except the specific sources credited in quotes)
Third Union Is Leaving A.F.L.-C.I.O.
The New York Times:reports that a third union is leaving A.F.L.-C.I.O.
The United Food and Commercial Workers, one of the nation's five largest labor unions, quit the A.F.L.-C.I.O. yesterday, becoming the third big union to leave the nation's main federation this week.
Joe Hansen, president of the union, which has 1.3 million members, said his union was committing itself to a new coalition that includes the two other unions that pulled out, the Teamsters and the Service Employees International Union.
'We have set a new course,' Mr. Hansen said in a telephone news briefing. 'There needs to be a fundamental change in the labor movement and a concentration on building worker power through organizing.'
The Food and Commercial Workers is the main union representing supermarket workers, meat-packing workers and poultry-processing workers.
Members of the new group say the A.F.L.-C.I.O., now down to 53 unions, has not moved aggressively to stop the decline of organized labor. The insurgents, the Change to Win Coalition, intend to foster a resurgence.
To me, it's good news that a group of unions planto revitalize the worker movement in this country - it's overdue.
The power of unions has been declining over the past couple of decades, in part because of their success in raising working standards for everyone (and a resulting feeling that unions are not needed), and in part because of persistent efforts by Republicans to decrease their influence and reach.
Despite the strong efforts of some unions to organize more workers, it seems that most efforts have been directed to increasing pay and benefits of existing union members.
Palema
7:32 AM
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Copyright © 2001-03 Pam Shorey
(except the specific sources credited in quotes)
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