Our Internal Struggle

I haven’t written anything in the past few weeks, I’ve been converting our spare bedroom to a nursery for our little one due in late September. While going through this process, a lot flows through one’s mind about the future for one’s children. I look at what’s happening in our great nation and feel quite melancholy. How far have we really grown? We had a chance to do something truly great…and it was squandered. Much good has been done in the last nineteen months, but too much was compromised and great legislation was whittled down to something that paled in comparison. I still believe in the Progressive Movement and all that it encompasses, to be a Unionist is to be a Progressive. So, when I hear someone putting down progressives and social justice, I know it won’t be too long before they start trashing the Labor Movement, attempting to place a wedge between workers and the very thing that pulled those that came before us out of the dirt to stand on their own two feet with pride and dignity.

Something that bruises me to the very core is when a Union brother or sister attacks everything we stand for, usually because they’ve hit hard times. I understand their frustration; I walk in their shoes every day. But listening to the talking heads on certain news outlets and regurgitating that poison upon your brothers and sisters isn’t helping things. Not to say the state we find our economy in right now isn’t bad, but things could be much worse. The Labor Movement in this country was not of great monetary means when it started out. It all started with an idea and a hand full of people with integrity and determination to see it through. They were beaten, bloodied, bashed and even died for what they believed in…a better world for all of us and our families. They sacrificed so that we could take up the torch and continue on down the path to true Industrial Democracy.

We’re all struggling and scraping by, but think how it was for our grandparents and great grandparents…and those that came before them. Things were much harder; they didn’t have the social system that we have that has kept many of us from losing our homes. We don’t have the soup lines and tent cities and shanty towns also known as “Hoovervilles” as there was in the past. If it wasn’t for Unions, Progressive Thinkers and Social Justice we would be left in the darkness fighting over the crumbs from Industry’s Table.

As Labor Day approaches, we should all reflect on what we wouldn’t have if Organized Labor never existed. If we’re ever going to truly win this fight for equality, we must first stop battling each other. As Abraham Lincoln said, “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” Those words are just as true today as they were in 1858 when first spoken by Lincoln. I plead to those that have given up hope, don’t turn away. By spreading the lies of our opposition you’re falling right into their hands and you weaken all of us. We still have time; all is not lost my friends.

Europe Has The Right Idea

I was recently at a social function that takes place at my Union Hall twice a year, and I found myself in a discussion about the fate of Unions in America. I brought up the point that for a true Union renaissance to take place the American psyche has to change first. I also brought up how most of Western Europe is fairing much better after the near global market collapse and perhaps some of what they're doing is one way of solving that problem. My cousin who was sitting next to me was skeptical of the idea. I don't recall the exact words he uttered...we all had a couple drinks in us. Now an apprentice sitting with us at the table did have a interesting theory of why there is some animosity toward the labor movement. I don't know if these were his own observations or perhaps someone enlightened him to them. He went on to say, there are a lot of people out there that spend tens of thousands of dollars for a Bachelors degree, Masters, PhD...etc. To enter their field making 80,000 dollars a year (roughly). Now they see us (our particular local) getting paid to go to school for free and when we finish our apprenticeship after four and a half years, we make 80,000 dollars a year (roughly). And some are a little upset by that. He made a very good point and I applauded him for it, that was an excellent observation. Now...how do we fix this?

Well, this isn't exactly a fix that I have here, but rather another observation, if you want to change anything you must make an observation first, right? Let's go back to when I mentioned Western Europe and how their systems are set up. For the most part Universities in Europe are either free to the student or very inexpensive, you have to test into them though. Now what do those people who aren't exactly college material or don't particularly like a traditional type of learning environment do in Europe? Are they thrown to the streets to fend for themselves? No, they join a Union and learn a trade. This completely nullifies the issue of professionals vs the Unionized working class that was stated earlier. Can we do this here? Probably not with out a major fight.

There would be crowds of people marching in the streets waving the Star Spangled Banner and holding their signs that would have words like "Socialism", "Communism" and don't forget "Fascism"...because giving students a good education for free or at a lower cost is evil...yeah ok.

OK, I'll get back on point now... If you look at Western Europe, manufacturing in those counties is not on life support, in fact its thriving. Germany and France two of the strongest, if you combine their exports they overshadow even China. Oh yeah, and workers wages are higher than the American worker...yes even the American Union worker. Japan (who follows a similar path as western Europe) and Germany have the highest wages in the world, yet their manufacturing sectors are doing just fine...they compete with the rest of the world. So anyone that says we can't compete in the Global Market is for lack of a better term...Full of shit.

Western Europe's economy is Capitalist, many call it "Socialist" (Oh Noes!!!). Its actually "Social Democracy", but Neocons prefer "Socialist", I suppose because its easier to say..less syllables. Anyway, Social Democracy is essentially what was set up here in our country by FDR and the "New Deal". Many of the systems in Europe are modeled after it, but sadly the second the New Deal was set in place conservatives started chipping away at it. Social Democracy is responsible Capitalism, it ensures that the haves cannot exploit the have-nots. Social Justice is at the core of Social Democracy, how can anyone say its evil? I know they do...some because they want to keep the status quo, they don't care if the working class have anything, just as long as they can stuff more and more money in their wallet. But then you have the misguided souls, the ones who've been manipulated by those few that have more to gain by the working class not getting a leg up, I really feel bad for them...they don't see it and its right in front of their faces.

Also the economies of most first world nations are worker based, they know that if they invest in their workforce that investment will come back to them ten fold. Our neighbor to the north Canada is well on its way out of the hole (if not already out) because of these very practices. If you have a strong working class with good Union wages and benefits, those workers will pay back into the economy. There must also be Fair (not free) Trade agreements in place as well. As I've said before if you have a strong working class as the foundation of your economy, the house will not fall. Right now our nation's economy is a house of cards and even worse it has a foundation of sand. I seem to be constantly going back to the same theme in many of my blogs, but the more research I do, the more validated those themes become.