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labor...
Posted by beezelbub (Guest) - Friday, September 30 2005, 22:11:57 (CEST)
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I don`t think there`s a more fascinating aspect to American history than the rise of labor unions and the struggle that gave birth to them...it`s the story of a mostly peaceful struggle for dignity through decent wages and working conditions that lead to a growing middle class who made America the flawed ideal of so many people.

It`s far more interesting than any war we ever had...the people who fought those battles went through incredible adventures, ran all sorts of risks to fight back at the increasing greed and carelessness of the ruling class...and of course it isn`t taught anywhere except as a specialty...a major.

The most amazing thing, I think, is how the government conspired with the Mob to corrupt union leadership so that in time the rank and file workers would "naturally" lose respect and trust for unions...when it was the union movement that GAVE American workers any dime they ever earned over starvation wages...wage slaves if there ever were.

That`s why this tiny effort from the slaves of Wal-Mart to organize, even though they don`t call it a "union"...in the same bullshit spreading play with words as Wal-Mart uses when it refers to them as "associates"...is such a hopeful sign. The American worker has it in his and her power to dictate the rules...and if they can get sophisticated enough to see through the ploys of management and politicians they`ll get it right this time...collective action is what democracy means...in ACTION.

"...The members say they hope their efforts will persuade the company to listen to its people and make some changes.

"Management seems like they don't really respect the associates," said Carl Jones, acting chairman of the new group, who makes $9.40 an hour as the lead cart-pusher at a store outside Orlando. "We don't have a voice. We don't have any rights at all."

The company, however, says most of its associates are happy, and characterized the effort in Florida as another attempt by the unions to get their hands in the pockets of some of its 1.3 million workers in the United States.

"It's within (employees') legal rights to do that, but this group is a wolf in sheep's clothing," Wal-Mart spokeswoman Christi Gallagher said. "This is a labor organization attempting to masquerade as something else."

The world's largest and most profitable retailer has heard the employees' complaints before. Stores around the United States have been accused of everything from paying lousy wages and locking workers in overnight to discriminating against women, while foiling attempts by labor groups such as the United Food and Commercial Workers Union to organize workers."

...long live the union movement...the real one.



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