On 13 June at 9:40 AM, Dickey posted this gem:

Union Goons are the ones that pour acid in the electric panels of establishments because they did not hire union electricians. They are trying to make a living too without having to pay blood money to the union.

OK, Dickey, just who among the "goons" are you referring to? You have made a pretty broad generalization there. Do you understand what demagogery is? Would you like me to start pulling up stories of the violence against striking workers by management goons? Outfits such as Armored Group International? How about the Security Guard in North Carolina, who in his day job was a Sheriff and harassed workers trying to organize? There are so many examples of violence against workers, that you would be foolish to try and make that comparison.

Here is another one for you. You indicate that the company was trying to avoid paying "blood money" to the union. Now that is exactly what I talk about when I make the case that folks like you operate off preconceived notions instead of facts. What the company was trying to avoid was the payment of fair wages and benefits.

Dues. Of course dues are to be paid on time. How the hell else would the union be able to carry on the duty of fair representation? How do they pay their light bill, etc? As to you having to pay dues, of course you do. You are getting the same wages and benefits as the union negotiated. The cost of negotiation comes out of dues as well. Here is another one for you, but read it slowly for comprehension, OK? In the States, Unions are tasked with defining which of its costs are for the business of collective bargaining, contract administration, etc. These are known as chargeable costs. Other things, such as political activity, are non chargeable costs. They are known by these indicators, because some folks don't want to be a part of the union, and/or don't support the political aims. This legislation was passed by the right wingers and the National Right To Work Committee, to damage unions. Unions can only charge folks that elect non-member status the amount equal to the chargeable costs. Guess what they found out? The Unions range between about 88% and 98% of their money being spent directly on administering the contract and serving their members. So much for one such bit of misinformation.

I want to take on one that my friend Bobert threw out there earlier in this conversation. He said:

So if anyone expects that this dieing movement is going to lead the charge on the war on poverty, I wouldn't bet the farm on it...


I understand why he said that, it is a popular perception in todays world. Another variant is something like "unions were important once, but they are not needed anymore". Let me take a crack at both of these perceptions.

Our labor movement is not dying, but it has been injured by years of anti union legislation, and by supposed friends in the Democratic Party and their inaction to take a principled stand on these issues. They are their with their hand out for the money, but when it comes to meaningful labor law reform, can't find them. At least the Republicans tell us they are going to screw us. But we are still out there, we continue to plug along, and the issues are of critical importance. Our demise has been predicted many times, but to paraphrase, they are exaggerated. As long as a soul-less bottom line on a spreadsheet governs corporate actions, we will be here fighting.

As to being important once, but not needed now. Tell that to the workers at the Tar Heel, NC, USA pork processing plant. They have an incredibly high worker injury rate. Their pay is substandard, as is their health benefits. There is a company store approach to Workers Compensation, with the company forcing the workers to use the same Doctor for Workers Comp as they do for personal health care.

Tell that to the workers in the turkey processing plant I was organizing a few years back. The company would plant managers by the bathrooms and harass the women so badly that they would wear Depends adult diapers to work to avoid leaving the lines. I will never forget watching through the fence at shift change and seeing a crying woman, as her hands warmed up, because they hurt so bad, and her friend holding her and giving comfort.

Apologists for Corporate World can say what they want. But these are things I have seen. They couldn't care less about the little folks and view them as nothing more than a commodity to be used. The Ugly American would like to think that this stuff happens only in the Third World. Horseshit. It is going on daily in this country.

We are the only major group out there speaking out on these issues. We have our problems, but I am seeing daily a more radicalized movement emerging. I intend to be in that group.

Save your canned responses.

Mick