The latest and greatest "compromise" on the Employee Free Choice Act eliminates one of its best elements: the provision of "Card Check." Six Democratic Senators got together recently to put together a compromise to the already "treacherous" legislation that is EFCA. Tom Harkin (Iowa), Arlen Specter (Pa.), Sherrod Brown (Ohio), Thomas Carper (Del.), Mark Pryor (Ark.) and Charles Schumer (N.Y.) all got together to draft an amendment that would remove card check from the table. This "compromise" is a great smack in the face of the labor movement.
The insistence of "legislative" measures by congress, lobbyists, and union heads alike all works against what has historically been that catalyst of major social reform: grassroots struggle. One spokesperson for AFL-CIO, Eddie Vale, event went so far as to cite Schoolhouse Rocks:
"As Schoolhouse Rock taught us, this is the normal process of how a bill becomes a law. We are very optimistic about passing the strongest labor law reform since the Wagner Act."
Adam Turl presents this frustrating "compromise" in his article for Socialist Worker, "Who killed EFCA?" You can find the entire article online.
Showing posts with label trade unions. Show all posts
Showing posts with label trade unions. Show all posts
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Where We Stand 1.2
Workers' Power
It is from the labor of the workers that wealth is created, but it is not the workers who own that wealth. The means of production are owned by the ruling class. Only when workers take control of the means of production and organize it democratically will a socialist society be possible. The workers make up the majority of society and it should be the majority that governs rather than a small minority.
Through the use of the strike and independent organizing from the union bosses can workers emancipate themselves. As such, we support trade unions, and the right of workers to unionize in an economy that constantly puts the capitalists' interests over those of the worker.
Because of workers' position as producers of social wealth they are the most capable of bringing down the capitalist system that continues to exploit and oppress.
It is from the labor of the workers that wealth is created, but it is not the workers who own that wealth. The means of production are owned by the ruling class. Only when workers take control of the means of production and organize it democratically will a socialist society be possible. The workers make up the majority of society and it should be the majority that governs rather than a small minority.
Through the use of the strike and independent organizing from the union bosses can workers emancipate themselves. As such, we support trade unions, and the right of workers to unionize in an economy that constantly puts the capitalists' interests over those of the worker.
Because of workers' position as producers of social wealth they are the most capable of bringing down the capitalist system that continues to exploit and oppress.
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