Unless there is some kind of odd trend going on, it appears that many workers that I meet are not even sure how they can be active in the union movement. What upsets me about this is that if the workers don’t know how they can be active then does this mean they are not being communicated with from the locals, stewards or organizers?
I am not sure who is reading this blog babbling that I am doing — but I can say this: If anyone wants to be active now they can watch how the mainstream media presents working people and labor disputes, and then speak up on Union Review and other like-minded blogs with our side of the story.
I am concerned more than worried that many people are about to see things in the media regarding the Waste Management strike in Los Angeles. The workers, today, decided to end the strike and go back to work — but this is not a victory at all. From what I understand, the workers got the shit scared out of them when they saw 40 spineless scab morons get hired. These people began to believe that the last offer the company made, which was rejected originally, was the best that they would get and feared they’d all lose their jobs to scabs.
Whether I agree with these workers and their decision is irrelevant, what is relevant, however, is how this will be played out in the press. I am concerned that the press will write of press releases the company will circulate saying that this is the best thing the workers did, that they provided a just and sound contract, etc. If you should see that kind of rhetoric know this: it is bullshit!
These workers will get some added wages but it is nothing in comparison to other municipalities of the same size. They did not get what they wanted and this final offer from the company should have, in my opinion, kept the workers striking and the local fighting for another round of negotiations – but that is just me. I am not supporting my family from Waste Management and if I were, who knows, maybe I would have broke too.
For now, if any worker interested in being more active in the union movement comes to the point of not knowing what they can do … I’d suggest starting with reading how the media will handle this story.
