Now more than ever, Union members need our support

[Bluzmann57]

On Nov. 22 the UAW called off it's strike against Case New Holland and advised the membership to return to work that very day. The company then proceeded to lock out these skilled workers and hired scabs. Please do not buy agricultural equipment from CNH (ok ok so not many people in here are in the market for that product) and hound them if possible, perhaps with emails and calls to media outlets. The administration will complete the destruction of Organized Labor if we do not stick together. As a Union member, this concerns me greatly. Even if you are not a member of a Union, it should bother you as we have fought and sacrificed to make a better life for all Americans. So please do what you can to support our Union brothers and sisters in the holiday season, and all year long. Thank you. Union Yes!

[KlatooBNikto]

1. Although I sympathize with the workers and their plight, I am afraid that

we are going to see the end of their union soon. As companies that make products like these face competition from cheap overseas labor, they will demand more and more sacrifices from our people or simply move their work overseas.Even if the Union at New Holland makes concessions now, I am willing to bet the jobs are in danger.They will be gone in a couple of years.

[oscar111]

4. Not if we get tarrifs. European unions are not vanishing..seem stronger

than ever. Look at Italy.

THey seem to be doing less of the giveback thing that afflicts our nation. Their social benefits put us to shame. Month long vacations, free healthcare, often free college, unemployment benefits that last ten years in some nations, less poverty.

Yet they compete in the world economy. The big sledgehammer used on us..."to stay competitive"...doesnt work on them.... they stay competitive, without cuts everywhere.

[KlatooBNikto]

5. I am not sure if we can get tariffs.If we can, it would be great. But,

the corporate power structure will fight tooth and nail aginst any tariffs. In Italy,the presence of a large socialist party apparatus acts as a deterrent.But even that did not stop Fiat from going broke.

[oscar111]

6. I'm not saying tarrifs are easy to get, just a positive spot. Not as

doom-ish as your post made things seem.

As to Fiat, i am unfamiliar with that case... but keep in mind, some enterprises will fail regardless of the model.. TWA and Xerox failed, in their model.
Recall the massive failure of the nonunion Savings and Loans? All in their model for sure.
Both Credit Unions and Banks will fail, somewhere.

There is waste in their model at the top... two million dollar birthday parties... and in our model at the bottom.. we dont work as hard. I prefer our model.

The waste may be equal in both models , just benefiting different folks. I like it to benefit me, not Kozlowski with his birthday parties.

PS the highly unionized model of an economy also ends scourges like mass homelessness, which is inexcusable. They die at three times the normal rate. 150 000 per year deaths, due to heat, cold, and rat bites. Includes vets, small children, and the elderly.

I have seen a young twentyish girl with a small kid at midnight in a rough part of town, with a sign "want work". A part of town so rough, i would not visit it, except for the cabbie having picked the route from one safe area to another on the other side.

Reagan cut housing aid by 2/3rds, beginning mass homelessness. An abomination.

[InvisibleBallots]

7. heh - let them try

The smart rich people will step in - remember - rich people vote for Republicans because it serves their interests. Smart rich people vote Democratic, to keep us from rioting ;)

[American Tragedy]

2. All right.

I can't say that I'm likely to be hunting for Case New Holland equipment anyway, given my living arrangements and such, but you've got my support!

Incidentally, any Union member who voted for Bush, and I know that there were some, ought to be thinking very hard about that decision. I'm not likely to ever be at serious hazard from the economic policies of this administration, but they certainly are.

[oscar111]

3. site for all such cases? union label..look for it

is there a site with a convenient current list of such cases?

Knights of Labor made "look for the union label before buying" a force to be rekoned with in the first half of the last century. Even after the KOL was gone.

Sweden has/had, last i heard, 2O years ago, unionization rate of 95% in heavy industry, and ninety percent overall.

Ninety percent!

OUr rate has been cut in half since the high mark of about 30% ...was it in the fifties?

PLease refine the last paragraph if you know the facts better than i do.

Unions created the US middle class, as best as i can parse it out. Decline in unions now signals the decline in the middle class. Our middle class is committing suicide.

Unions are our real strength. Notice how bias is usually well hidden in the MSM, but usually very obvious when reporting on strikes. Strikes matter.

AFLCIO site needs to answer comments. too aloof. UAW ended their version of AAR, before AAR began. What is up with the new UAW chief, that he cancelled their version of AAR?