@ProgressiveAudio Exactly; they don't have to be the end all be alls. But they're pretty damn effective at what they are. Use your imagination, unite with other workers, and fight like hell to make it better. Nothing magical about it, but it seems to work. Solidarity.
@ProgressiveAudio a union starts with just you and another worker deciding to stand by each other through thick and thin. It's just people coming together toward a common cause. No need for an NLRB election, a fancy hall, and all that. You and your fellow workers working toward a common cause.
@ProgressiveAudio Jimmy Johns and Starbucks are good examples. In the Jimmy Johns case they actually had an "official" election and lost by two votes but that doesn't mean they don't have a union. Starbucks hasn't done the "vote" but they very much have a union. It's not just an idea; it's being practiced by workers right now.
@ProgressiveAudio @ProgressiveAudio In its original form I supported it with reservation; at this point it's so watered down that I'm indifferent to it or not and consider it a dead issue. I'm not "against" the NLRB so much as I understand what it is (think Judo, I guess) and think it should only be used when necessary. Our power rests on the shop floor.
@ProgressiveAudio No, no, no, bro. You're misunderstanding. I meant a formal election with the NLRB. You're union, even in solidarity unionism, should be purely democratic. Your power as a worker is on the shop floor, not getting tied up in the beauracratic nightmare of the NLRB.
@ProgressiveAudio A great book to pick up is Labor Law for the Rank and Filer by Staughton Lynd. It'll give you the know-how of when to use the law and how to avoid it for the most part. No worries about rudeness. We're trying to forge a revolution here. I've got thick skin. Say what you gotta say, brother.
@DELLBIRD Which local? It's a tough time right now in the construction trades but joining a union is always a great idea. Wish you all the best. I'm in local #608
@crud4 Look into food recovery. There's lots of great food being thrown away everyday all around you. All you need to do is find it. Also check out a local Food Not Bombs and other groups that provide food to folks. I know times are tough for all of us. Hang in there.
I hate the fact once I graduate college, it's likely I'll enter a non unionized workforce :( Though my first job at a grocery store was surprisingly enough unionized. Though all my co workers would bitch endlessly about "the union". The programming runs deep...
@netinfoseek We didn't get the memo about the white hard hats, I guess. LOL; I promise I'm no working class traitor. When we going to take back control of our union?
@ProgressiveAudio Nope. Check out solidarity unionism. The main idea is to avoid the NLRP at all costs; develop solidarity on the shop floor with your fellow workers and act as a cohesive unit to make things better. No need for elections or any of that shit. Seriously, you can do it. We had unions long before the NLRB. You don't need a hall or dues; you just need workers willing to stand shoulder to shoulder. That's it.
@ProgressiveAudio There's tons of problems with unions, as any human endeavor, but they still remain some of the most Democratic institutions we have in this society; and we need to push them to be even more Democratic. As to "regulation," well we discuss that another time I suppose. But realize I'm probably one of the biggest critics of unions; but we don't wanna throw the baby out with the bathwater. You dig?
My dad was a non-union carpenter and couldn't get a job with the union and had to change cities because of it. So stop acting like unions help "the worker". There are lots of workers who aren't in unions who would gladly work for less money than your BS overpayment of wages.
