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UNITED WE STAND!
While we see a good part our world sliding toward
confusion, disorder and possible collapse in some social areas, it is time to
take a look at the stability of unionism.
Things are not
going so well in the stock market and the economy, or in the wars of Bush's
empire building, or in the stressed federal budget slipping the country toward
bankruptcy, or in the scandals of the corporate world, or in the problems of
morality in the Catholic church, or in the political farce of California's
recall election, or in the widespread stresses of uncertainty in the population
at large. We see a serious institutional breakdown taking place our country.
Where it will
lead and when all this social unraveling will end is a question all are asking.
In going through this we wonder if there is somewhere we can look for some kind
of stability - some organization that offers hope.
Well, there is
such an organization - unionism. Unions have been around a long time. They came
with the early settlers who brought traditions of unionism from the old country.
They have survived.
The
important distinguishing feature of trade unionism is its survivability against
all odds. Capitalism has always
fought unionization, especially in our country. The "American
way" was supposed to make unions unnecessary as well as illegal. The very
first US law on labor relations declared unions illegal. Since that time unions
have had to struggle continually for survival.
That struggle
has gone on for over two hundred years and is continuing, most notably today
under Bushism. Unionism has survived. Today unions represent thirteen and one
half million workers.
That's a pretty
good record of strength. It can be said that if any other organized movement had
suffered unrelenting opposition from almost all sectors of society as has trade
unionism, it would have gone under.
That strength is
based on one simple (if complicated in face of powerful opposition) principle:
it seeks to raise living standards. That is a universal demand among all
peoples. It also, in spite of republican lies to the contrary, embodies the
"American Dream". In addition, unionism embraces democracy. Its
affairs are largely determined by vote of its membership as contrasted to
governmental affairs ruled by lobbyists and money.
So, if you are going to
place any money on the future of our country, bet on unionism. The more you bet
on it, the more it pays.
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