March 02, 2005
Changing Unions to Change Workers’ Lives: An Interview with SEIU President Andy Stern
In case any of you are wondering why I'm posting so much on Andy Stern, it is because tomorrow could be a very big day in the labor movement whose leaders are currently meeting in Las Vegas. Read all about it at Unite to Win or Daily Kos
From Social Policy
(These are the last questions of the interview)
Social Policy: This debate within the labor movement – why should anyone outside the unions care about the outcome?
Stern: Because without strong and growing unions there cannot be a strong and growing progressive movement in America. In our country, unions are the only effective anti-poverty program that works, and it does not cost the government a dime. Unions insure that work is rewarded not just for CEOs and managers, but for everyone who works hard and plays by the rules. How do you fight for health care and a different kind of globalization and a different economic model than Wal-Mart’s without a strong union movement?
Look at the 2004 elections. Union members voted by 2 to 1 against Bush. Majorities of every category of union members voted against Bush – male, female, white, African American, Latino, religious, not religious, single, married. Why? Because union members are used to standing together for their common economic interests.
But the trouble is that in northern states like Ohio there aren’t nearly as many union members as there used to be, and in the South and Southwest there are hardly any.
SEIU was the largest contributor both of money and of people to America Coming Together and the other progressive coalitions. It is the money and the volunteer work in the streets by union members that elects candidates who stand up not just for workers but for the environment, for civil rights, for women’s rights, for putting people first.
So anyone who cares about progressive issues should be doing everything they can in the next four years to help more workers join unions.
Social Policy: How? How can people help?
Stern: Support workers who are trying to form unions. It is not acceptable, as far as I am concerned, to think you’re progressive because you are a Democrat or socially concerned. I don’t think you can be anti-union or lukewarm about unions and be progressive.
National polls always show that between 43 and 50 percent of workers in America say they would choose to have a union if they didn’t have to face intimidation and reprisals from their employer – not just risking being fired but direct pressure from the supervisors who control their work assignments and schedules and chances of promotion.
We need people to stand up for workers’ right to form their own organization and be represented in decisions that affect their work life. Not only because it’s right, but also because in the long run it’s the only way progressives in America can win.
And beyond that, when we revitalize the union movement and launch real campaigns on issues like health care and the Wal-Marting of jobs in our communities, it’s got to be a joint effort. As important as union members are to fights like that, we can’t do it alone. It takes everybody working together.
Changing America is not a matter of chance. It is a matter of choice. And now it’s time to decide.
Daily Kos also has an article with comments
Posted by Melissa at March 2, 2005 05:48 PM