AS long as management continues to provide that $2 - per - share yearly divided, I don't think they will be judged too incompetent by the people who renew their contracts and sign their checks.

Posted at December 7, 2005 12:50 PM in response to GM Job Cuts Demonstrate The Business Case for Health Care Reform

It's true that workers can't count on liberals who pontificate without knowing, for instance, one end of an impact wrench from the other.

But: Isn't part of the problem to be found in the corporate-friendly stances of the largest unions, the ones like my UAW which refuse to wage full-strength fights against corporate downsizing and phony bankruptcies, and which accept (even enforce) two-tier wage and benefit structures, and worsening conditions on the job?

Workers aren't exactly inspired to expect much out of unions, the way they conduct their affairs today. So why go through the years of aggravation to organize one? 

Posted at December 7, 2005 12:42 PM in response to Anti-Unionism is the Date Rape of Corporate Crime

"Do these numbers-- janitors pay dues of roughly $20 per month, or a bit over $200 per year.  Multiply by 5000 and you suddenly have an organization with $1 million per year to promote organizing and political mobilization in the Houston area."

    Well, you COULD have, depending on what the upper levels of the union do with that money. I don't have the confidence that you have in them. Though it would be very inspiring were it to happen.

Posted at December 1, 2005 8:07 AM in response to 5000 Janitors Organize in Delay's Back Yard

Today's Detroit News (Nov. 20) has an article about how the managers at Volkswagen dealt with the leaders of the workers' councils. VW sent them on high-priced trips complete with luxury hotels and luxury women.   This is why eminent domain is a better idea in the long run than stopping at workers' councils.  As long as there is $ in the hands of private management, they will find a way to get their own way.

Posted at November 20, 2005 5:30 AM in response to An Idea Whose Time Should Come

I'd like to see the workers' councils as the ones who would exercise the right of JohnOneOne's Eminent Domain.

Posted at November 19, 2005 4:43 PM in response to An Idea Whose Time Should Come

Republicans are "hard" imperialists. Democrats are "soft" imperialists. Any other questions?  :-)   LC

Posted at November 19, 2005 4:33 PM in response to Topic for Discussion

Quite right, the issue of Roe v. Wade will be used to drive this kind of issue out of the public discourse.

Posted at November 1, 2005 6:45 AM in response to Scalito on Workers Rights

Probably I'm missing some nuances here, but I don't see what is wrong with pointing out inconsistencies in most Democrats' positions re corporate/worker interests. They're "competition" minded when workers' fates are involved, and "protectionist" minded when corporate fates are involved.

 Re: 'Most "free-traders" are not for Darwinian capitalism where there are no public police departments, no public transportation and no national highway systems.'  It seems to me that they certainly are, as my local police dept is more terrorist than service, my local public transit is a joke, and the highways crumble away daily. In a "traditionally Democratic" state and city.

Posted at October 29, 2005 12:25 PM in response to DC Wonks Undermine the Anti-WalMart Movement

It's truly awesome to see so much thought expended with so little consideration of the need for US robber barons to stake their claim to mideast and ex-USSR energy sources, against the rising -- and competing -- would-be barons of Russia and China.

Posted at October 29, 2005 10:54 AM in response to So Why Did Bush Go to War?

The unions are not only not defending themselves, their conduct TOWARD THEIR OWN MEMBERSHIPS makes less credible those of us who do wish to defend them.  Who is going to change their conduct? How?

My timing is terrible, I am leaving for several days,  just as you have started this absolutely vital topic. Just let me say thanks, and surely we will have later exchanges. -- LC

Posted at October 20, 2005 7:16 AM in response to What Makes Unions Strong?