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:: Thursday, March 04, 2004 ::

How to Organize 50 Million to Join a Union LaborTalk By Harry Kelber
Independent studies have shown that there are as many as 50 million unorganized workers who say they want to join a union. That number is substantially more than three times the 13 million who are members of the AFL-CIO. That's the richest, highly favorable field for organizing since the 1930s, and we should take advantage of it.

It is probably true that millions of workers are scared to join for fear of losing their jobs. The AFL-CIO has frightened many of them by constantly repeating a litany of ways that employers can use to intimidate and fire them for even talking about a union. They are constantly being told by both employers and labor leaders that joining a union is a risk, not a right.

But there must be millions of workers who would like to join a union but have never been asked. They've figured out that they can get better wages and benefits with a union than without one, but they don't know where to go to join, or what happens next when they do join.

It's up to union organizers and volunteers to reach out to these potential recruits and help them become union members. Even those who are scared can be convinced to join if we can get to talk to them. But where and how? Here is what we propose:

posted 5:21 AM :: reference link :: 0 comments ::

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