If you live in a so-called right-to-work state your wages and benefits are probably less than they would be if you lived in a union state. That’s because the labor movement benefits all workers, even those who are not covered by unions. The five day work week, vacations, pensions and other benefits, and much more were all introduced to the American workplace through the efforts of Labor. These are the kind of things that Republicans hate, so Labor is under attack, as this article by John Nichols demonstrates.
When I asked Newt Gingrich if he planned to campaign for Scott Walker in the recall election the labor-bashing governor of Wisconsin will almost certainly face, Newt answered, “Sure!”
“Scott Walker’s fight in Wisconsin has made him a national leader on issues [that are] important to Republicans,” said the former Speaker of the House. “Of course I would campaign for him.”
The Republicans who would be president disagree on some issues. But they are pretty much united in their affection for the nation’s most embattled governor.
After Walker attacked public-employee unions last February, Mitt Romney announced that he was donating $5,000 to support the Wisconsinite [Romney delinked]. And Rick Santorum hails Walker’s “tremendous courage [propaganda delinked].”
What is it about Walker—who is so unpopular that hundreds of thousands of Wisconsinites are petitioning for his recall and removal—that makes him so appealing to the leading figures in the national Republican Party?
That’s simple. Scott Walker is an anti-union zealot. And anti-union zealotry has become a core premise of the twenty-first-century Republican Party.
Attacks by Walker and Ohio Governor John Kasich on public-employee unions may have gotten the most publicity. But other governors, most notably Indiana’s Mitch Daniels, are striving to undermine the collective bargaining rights of private-sector workers.
But nowhere is the disdain for organized labor more evident than on the Republican presidential campaign trail. Never in the modern history of the Republican Party, which once made a serious effort to compete with Democrats for labor endorsements and the votes of union members, has a field of GOP presidential candidates been so united and so aggressive in opposing collective-bargaining rights for public-sector and private-sector workers. As recently as 2008, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee appeared at the annual convention of the International Association of Machinists and received the industrial union’s endorsement in the Republican primaries. Today, just four years later, the Republican contenders are not just refusing union invitations. They are using every opportunity to explain their opposition to labor’s agenda, along with their support for legislative initiatives that are designed to undermine collective-bargaining rights… [emphasis added]
Inserted from <The Nation>
Why is this? Very few union members are millionaires, billionaires and corporate criminals. Those are the only people, such as the ones pictured in the graphic, whose interests Republicans represent.
Is labor always right? Of course not. Labor supports the Keystone XL Pipeline, increased offshore drilling, and fracking. That’s because their focus is narrowly fixed on jobs. However their overall influence on life for American workers has been a well demonstrated plus, and if labor loses their collective bargaining rights, it will pave the way for a national workers’ regression to the nineteenth century.
Therefore, it is critically important to keep Republicans out of political office from dog catcher up. On a federal level, any vote that helps Republicans take power is a vote to kiss workers’ rights and benefits goodbye.
18 Responses to “Are You Pro-Labor?”
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Knowing much of what is in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, I checked the first 10 amendments of the US Constitution which form the Bill of Rights, and while some rights are the same, the big difference is the Freedom of Association. The freedom to form or participate in a union is guaranteed in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms which is part of the Canadian constitution, and as such cannot be amended by Parliament with a ‘flick of the wand’.
For years I was anti-union, but not because I was against a living wage or benefits. I was anti-union because I had plans and ambitions —- I didn’t want to be held up in my career because someone with more seniority was keeping me back. I didn’t want to be held up in my career because I had more drive to do well and others resented that.
Being a student of history, unions were very necessary during the industrial revolution. Unions brought necessary reforms and strength to workers. IMO, unions eventually became too big, too strong for their own good. But, with the likes of Walker, Kasich and the other Republican/Teabagger rabble, unions are once again necessary. It is too bad that freedom of association is also not in the US Bill of Rights.
Oh, and TC, everytime you use a picture of the Kock brothers, I really want to puke!
Lynn, I agree that Unions became too big and too strong. UAW in the 1970s is a perfect example. By the same token, it was management tht opted to increase the price and reduce the quality of US autos, instead of standing up to the unions. It is good that you have it in your Charter.
The selfish old white racists of the “Lamest Generation” don’t vote for any reason except hate. Never mind that many of THEM enjoyed the benefits that unions brought to society, or that many of THEM presently live on YEWNEUN-negotiated pensions and Social Security checks-that’s fine for THEM, but NOBODY ELSE deserves a DAMNED thing. ESPECIALLY if that means that you might ask one of THEM for sacrifice of any kind! NOOOOOOO, that’s COMMANISM, man!
Some of them gleefully admit that they are screwing their own children and grandchildren. They flat-out do not give a sh*t, as long as they can screw over whoever their target happens to be. And they have a great big list of targets.
JR, that is certainly Teabuggery most foul.
Here in the USA, we have this phrase…. “We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect UNION…..” This country IS a union. I’m surprised that nobody has been banging away on that point.
Welcome, Mike. 🙂
Great idea!
They are all shills for the Kochs, etal.
Bingo!
It was about one hundred years ago when the mirror reflected much the same image of this “Union” – the same economy, the same crooks that brought the response of the “worker” – there was a true socialist movement at that time – and a movement that brought the unions into place that Roosevelt brought the entitlement programs that are now blamed for the economic woes that the rich are fabricating in hopes to squeeze the worker dry! History repeats itself, but this “socialist” will not go down without a fight! So ya I’m pro-labor! Mitt created “how many jobs? at whose expense?”, who wants to renew child sweatshops in Maine? Yes the unions are not “blameless” in many areas – fracking being the most egregious of them – and a delusion that a “boon” of jobs will last for any length of time, while they contribute to the destruction of this planet and especially the country! (that’s one area I could talk about for hours!_and may end up being the type of revolution that will bring about a violent side if it is attempted here in NY – that’s where I draw the line – and will seriously consider my 2nd Amendment rights in this State! pro union or not!)
Lee, I have to take issue with you there. Threatening a 2nd Amendment solution is how Republicans operate. We are better than that.
Not when it comes to jeopardizing the lives and health of 16.5 million people dependent on the Delaware River Basin for water – then I say protect your property and your lives – it is the ONLY reason the 2nd amendment was created and if my life and my family’s are being threatened then I – who haven’t held a gun – will do so in a heart beat!!!! I don”t even mention the wildlife and forests, and environment!
Lee, for many years I have condemned Republican calls to and threats of violence without exception. When I see one coming from from the left, I must condemn it s well. If I do otherwise, I would make myself a complete hypocrite. You are way off the deep end on this my friend. You discredit yourself in a manner you do not deserve.
The Right’s war on unions is but one front in their war on democracy. Voter ID, restrictions on voter registration, purges of voter rolls, limiting time and voting booths at polling places, etc.
Not to mention the attack on freedom and the Bill of Rights through permanent undending wars, the massive surveillance state, and military detention without charges or counsel.
And Republicans still dupe enough fools to stay in power…
Try this Dave. The Republican War on (insert anything good here).
The GOP wants to blame unions for the demise of the USA economy…don’t believe it for a second. Hello, but who was it that bailed out the “unmentionable banks” not to long ago. Who were the CEO’s that benefitted….definitely not your typical, blue-collar, overworked, tax paying, unappreciated worker. HELL YES, I am PRO-UNION. The majority of labor union workers work a honest day for a fair salary and, unlike what is in the media, the average pension is 20,000 to 28,000. And to think we put in 20 to 30 years….So please don’t believe the B.S that they put out.
Welcome Carmen. 🙂
Thank you for this. The media and the Republican Party only put forward extreme examples, not the norm.
I can’t wait for Wisconsin voters to throw that son of a bitch Walker out on his ass back out on the streets where he belongs!
Amen, Pope Jack!