Did you know that there is no DU group

[mdmc]

for labor union members / labor rights! It is a sure sign that the mighty American unionized workforce is dying....

I was trying to find out some organizing info...

Hello DU!

I am an overworked caseworker that works for a contract agency that is funded by my counties department of social service and probation.

My agency does the same work that county employees do, just cheaper. We don't get cars, gas, phones, or a pension. We do the same work.

Recently, my agency increased our work load, an has made it nearly impossible to complete all assignments within a 40 hour work week. Generally the full time staff works about 50 hours, but newbies can never complete their work, even at 60 or 70 hours per week!

The county (unionized) employees would never be treated this way.

Is there a way to get representation by a union? I would love to explore this option.

Help me out DU!

Peace and low stress,
mdmc

[evolved Anarchopunk]

1. i work for a labor union (not just a member), the best place to start

is with the AFL-CIO. http://www.aflcio.org/aboutunions/howto/ the sites a little corny, but starting a union is no exact science, you need a broad base of support before you start.

Your right tho, risky business starting a union these days. check your states laws reqarding collective bargaining laws as well. i would love to talk to u more but i have to go home, reply if you want to talk more as well, perhaps we can set up a private forum, or a Organized labor forum if you're successful !

[Lefty48197]

2. I would LOVE to see a forum for unions/workers' rights

maybe it's a Michigan thing?

[bobbieinok]

3. also for a forum/group.....grew up in an anti-union city Tulsa

[mdmc]

4. How can DU not have a labor group?

uncivilized, I tells ya!

[bobbieinok]

5. no labor/union group on DU does make ya wonder

[Snotcicles]

6. Here is a teamster link

http://www.teamster.org/

[mdmc]

7. thanks for the link

peace!

[UrbScotty]

8. Kick!

:kick:

[Tommymac]

9. I'd be interested

I'm in the tech industry...and we could also use some form of unionizing...if only to help protect the jobs left here that have not bee outsourced...

Count me in on the call for a forum.

I'd also recommend the AFL link as a start ...I have a relative who works for a Union...sometimes they are a good resource.

[oxbow]

10. 35% of America used to be unionized

what is it now, like 13%? We either need a revolution in labor or something new to take its place, cause we're in bad shape there

[sadiesworld]

11. A glaring ommission, IMO. n/t

:evilfrown:

[intheflow]

12. Here's a union just for "non-standard workers."

From it's site:

National Network on Nonstandard Work Continues Organizing

In its fourth year of public work, the National Alliance For Fair Employment (NAFFE) has continued to build its network in cities across the country, including Seattle. NAFFE is a network of organizations across a broad range of constituencies affected by problems associated with nonstandard work, such as part-time, temporary and contract employment.

http://www.cfcw.org/organizing.html

I looked into organizing temp workers when I was perma-temping in the late '80's through mid-'90's. I became very discouraged because it is incredibly difficult to organize contract employees. Mostly this is due to the fact that contract workers work for an agency, but they don't work at the agency, and are spread throughout a region with little or no interaction with each other. It's not as though you have access to email lists of fellow contract workers or even see them to hand them organizing information. Wish this group had been around back then.

It looks as though they've been working with SEIU (Service Employees International Union http://www.seiu.org/) which is doing the most dynamic organizing in my area (Denver).

Good luck--and let us know what you find out.

[JNelson6563]

13. Where are you?

I probably know someone who can hlep you get in touch with the right people.

Julie

[mdmc]

14. nys