Leaders of unions that represent large numbers of people working in companies trying to deny them their right to unionize act as though union organizing was something new and egregiously difficult. The fact is that huge, organized strikes are nothing new in this country. We've had labor unions forever, inspired originally by the 18th century Industrial Revolution in Europe. Shorter work days, livable minimum wages, and rational benefits have always been a bit part of union organizing. For example, poor pay and working conditions led to strikes by the Pullman Railroad Workers and the United Mine Workers in the late 19th century.
Over the years unions grew across many sectors and by 1979 there were 21 million union members in America. Today union membership is growing again after a slump, thanks in part to the pandemic and a rapidly changing labor market. Young workers are unionizing across various sectors now because of tech-driven jobs. They are joining farmers, factory workers, food handlers, and others as they seek safe and equitable employment, just as factory girls and children sewing apron pockets did before them.
For UPS drivers, Amazon workers, Starbucks baristas and others, companies that refuse to bargain are enraging. Labor leaders and workers have had enough. They are tired of corporate leaders who make phenomenal amounts of money a year, own mansions and yachts, and still continue reneging on workers' rights. Amazon, for example, has engaged in dozens of unfair labor practices, including terminating the entire unit of newly organized workers. Starbucks "has become the most aggressive union-busting company in America," according to a staffer for Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and more than 200 workers have been fired for taking part in organizing activities.
I'm not trying to put a Pollyanna spin on unions. I know there is a troubling history of corruption and criminal intent in some organized labor movements and unions, and that is not something to be overlooked. But I agree with John F. Kennedy that, "Labor unions are not narrow, self-seeking groups. They have raised wages, shortened hours, and provided supplemental benefits. "They have brought justice and democracy to the shop floor."
Dolores Huerta 2019 cropped.
(Image by Wikipedia (commons.wikimedia.org), Author: Jay Godwin) Details Source DMCA
More to the point perhaps in these troubling political times, labor leader Dolores Huerta was right when she put the point this way: "If we don't have workers organizing into labor unions, we're in great danger of losing our democracy."
My friend Esther would agree with her old boss, JFK, and with Dolores Huerta, with whom she worked on labor rights for women and children.
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