VOICES: Organize the South or die

[geefloyd46]

As the AFL-CIO and its affiliates contemplate the future of the labor movement, national labor leaders should look to the South for a glimpse of what that future might be. Workers in the South have the lowest wages, the fewest worker protections, and the least union representation. For decades, southern states have been "right to work for less" and have limited or denied their public employees the right to collectively bargain. Given the region's culture and laws, unions have not invested heavily in organizing the region. And so, it's no surprise that voters in the South keep electing state and federal officials who vote time and again against workers' interests.

The anti-worker culture of the South has an impact far beyond the Mason-Dixon line. Southern Tea Party conservatives block progressive policies in Congress. Companies are increasingly moving to the South in order to lower labor costs and avoid union contracts. And more states are adopting the union-busting laws that originated in the South and now form the basis for ALEC model bills.

More here: http://www.southernstudies.org/2013/09/voices-organize-the-south-or-die.html

[URL=.html][IMG][/IMG][/URL]

[geefloyd46]

1. The split that allows business to play workers off each other...

...and to drive down wages for everyone.

[Thinkingabout]

2. We have to help ourselves, organizing is a good way to start getting the wages we need to care for

our families. It would seem somewhere along the line if business people really looked they would find if small people had more money then they would be able to sell more goods and it goes round and round. The state governments would have more money and there would be employees who would stay faithful to the company for whom they work.

[demwing]

3. Rebrand Labor Unions as Non-Profit Employment Agency Co-Ops

Right now. a for-profit agency charges an employer a 30-50% premium for their staffers. UAW only charges 1.15% for dues.

A non-profit EAC (Employment Agency Co-Op) could transfer the fee to the employer (like a for profit agency), and charge a premium more on the scale of union dues (say 5-10%).

Employers benefit from reduced agency fees, EACs (Unions) have 5-10 times the revenue to work with, what's the downside?

To attract employers and employee, EACs can form Health Insurance Co-Ops and offer health Plans on state exchanges. Plan discounts can be given to membership employees, and the burden of heath care switches from the employer to the EAC. Offer unemployment health insurance through the EAC, not the employer, so that members who lose a job don't lose their health insurance.