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A unionization primer thread:
The first thing to realize is the scope of a mass union movement and what an uphill battle we must fight. The politicians are against us. The Corporations are against us, and yes, the workers themselves are currently against us.
The first thing to realize is the scope of a mass union movement and what an uphill battle we must fight. The politicians are against us. The Corporations are against us, and yes, the workers themselves are currently against us.
Unionization has a seedy, underhanded "organized crime" reputation. Some of this is well earned, as the once powerful unions all fell to greed, corruption and subversion.
Much of this sentiment, however, was manufactured by opponents of labor. It's important to remember that.
Much of this sentiment, however, was manufactured by opponents of labor. It's important to remember that.
In short: this movement, should it get off the ground, will be opposed by every authority and most people. This is why leftists who want to organize labor need to steal a tactic from the once-powerful Alt-Right - "Hide your power level."
If we start this by invoking Marx, Engels and Lenin, we lose. If we fail to properly label this movement, we lose. If we walk out looking like blue-haired CHAZ refugees to make this argument, we lose. Say socialism, anarchism communism or any flavor combination thereof, we lose.
We, as leftists must learn to speak to people on the right again. Not speak AT them, or talk PAST them or down to them, but to speak TO them. This is a stark and important difference that we must learn.
If you're a leftist who has qualms with the above, this movement is not for you. We cannot effectively unionize only Leftist work forces. Hell, there is no such thing. The people we need to reach land ALL OVER the political spectrum, warehouse to factory to restaurant.
We need to speak the local vernacular at the grass roots level. That means finding people from the areas we seek to Unionize and bringing them under our wing - training them to organize, infiltrate and sew seeds of change.
This cannot be an overtly political movement. It must be LASER FOCUSED on issues that affect everyone across the political spectrum. Flat wages for 80 years, pitiful healthcare, eroding worker protections, disappearing vacation time, longer hours, paltry retirement.
Along with all of this, we need MONEY. We need SUPPORT, and we must take it wherever it can be found. The old battle-lines must be erased and new ones drawn. Our enemies list needs to be thrown away, or at the very least revisited.
With that money and support must come a brand new National labor organization. One that can train our operatives, support the establishment of Local unions and rain thousands of workers upon any strike line that is crossed.
The Local unions established MUST be a visible presence in their community. That means, in the early days, dues go to parks and green spaces in the community, new school buildings, repaved roads - all with a nice plaque - "Brought to you by the workers of local #254"
People have to SEE the positive change in their communities, many of which have ROTTED under the false promises of both parties. Show them that there is power in a Union, and that power betters their lives and the lives of their children in a way politicians never have.
This is how we must start. If there is another way, I'm all ears.
