pherris's Journal: Which side are you on?

Man, my dream job is to be a labor organizer. Helping my fellow man while pissing off every piece of shit management drone I come in contact with. Requirements include being a pain in the ass and swinging a Louisville Slugger. Fuckin'ey. Where's Woody and Jimmy when we really need them?

Years ago I tried to get the CWA into my shop of +400 underpaid and mistreated workers. They weren't interested. Almost got fired for that move. I guess wearing a CWA t-shirt (from a friend at US West) that said "Don't shoot - I'm craft" didn't help. Unions aren't perfect but are a shitload better than what we have now. It just means we need better decentralized unions.

Which side are you on?
by Florence Reece (1931)

Come all you good workers,
Good news to you I'll tell
Of how the good old union
Has come in here to dwell.

CHORUS:
Which side are you on?
Which side are you on?
Which side are you on?
Which side are you on?

My daddy was a miner,
And I'm a miner's son,
And I'll stick with the union
'Til every battle's won.

They say in Harlan County
There are no neutrals there.
You'll either be a union man
Or a thug for J. H. Blair.

Oh workers can you stand it?
Oh tell me how you can?
Will you be a lousy scab
Or will you be a man?

Don't scab for the bosses,
Don't listen to their lies.
Us poor folks haven't got a chance
Unless we organize.

BTW, J. H. Blair was the Sheriff of Harlan County, KY and killed a few coal miners that spoke out in favor of organizing.

The other side of unions...

[TechnoLust]

My mother was a member of a union (because where she worked it wasn't as optional as they'd have you believe). They collected her dues diligently every month. Then when she was hurt at work and her employer tried to stiff her on workers comp, the union boldly stepped in and turned it's back on her. They didn't help at all, they even misinterpreted the contract to her. Fortunately, she can read a contract (unlike the union reps) and she fought it and won. Thanks Union for taking her money and then turni

And the union was wrong

[pherris]

What happenned to her was unfair, wrong and all too common. Unions need a lot of work but I feel the concept is right. Too many union reps have forgetten why they are there.

IMO if a union fails it's workers they should give them the boot and get some else to represent them. Workers should be able to choose a union kinda like they get to choose a health care plan (except one union wins the contract for the year for everyone). Let multiple unions come in to the workplace once a year, give their best pitch a

Check out the IWW

[linzeal]

They [iww.org] have a union for tech workers.

scabs

[freejung]

A favorite teacher of mine once said that the scab is the lowest form of life on Earth. Pretty much sums it up. It's too bad the labor movement seems to have fizzled out and dissipated its energies in large, centralized organizations that don't do much good, it was a great idea to begin with. Good luck with all that!