Progressives/Liberals Are Scabbing: It's NEVER OK To Cross A Picket Line

[Omaha Steve]

http://zcommunications.org/progressives-liberals-are-scabbing-its-never-ok-to-cross-a-picket-line-by-jonathan-tasini

By Jonathan Tasini

Source: Working Life
Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Scott Walker, Sarah Palin, Glenn Beck, Paul Ryan…make your own list of the people who are viciously anti-union. We know the threat they pose: attacking the labor movement, and undermining the right to strike, is a death blow to the middle class and justice in America. The problem is that we are also undermined by another dangerous threat: liberals and progressives who cross picket lines—and do so with full knowledge that they are breaking a union strike. It's shameful.

Here is the story. There is a strike, boycott and electronic picket line targeting the Huffington Post. That strike has been called by two legitimate unions: the Newspaper Guild (an affiliate of the Communications Workers of America) and the National Writers Union, Local 1981 of the United Auto Workers. The two unions, and hundreds of bloggers throughout the country, are trying to get a share of the riches pocketed by the owners of the Huffington Post via its sale to AOL, and, as important, set a standard for fair treatment in the future. Full disclosure: I am a proud member of the NWU/UAW.

This strike can be won. But, the many bloggers who call themselves "liberals" or "progressives"--people who collect money from unions and/or ask for labor's political endorsements--have to stop crossing the Huffington Post electronic picket line. But, they continue to work for--scab-- at a workplace that is being struck and boycotted.

I have decided, for now, not to publicly “out” those people who are scabs--though it doesn't take a lot to figure that out. I want them to come to their own conclusion that their actions are undermining the fight against the right-wing--that if we are not united in support of labor, then, we cannot expect the rest of the country to show solidarity with workers.

This campaign--to publicly identify and praise people who support the strike and publicly identify the scabs--is about to commence in earnest. Many leaders have taken the right position regarding the strike, with the declared support from, among others, Richard Trumka, president of the AFL-CIO, and Leo Gerard, president of the Steelworkers and a long-time progressive labor leader.

FULL story at link.

[patrice]

1. Thanks for the info, Steve. No more posting to HuffPo threads anywhere, for me!

Will spread the word.

[niyad]

2. same here, steve, and thanks for the info. I don't go to huffpo anyway, and won't click on any

articles from there. please let us know what else we can do to help.

[riverwalker]

3. Ode To A Scab by Jack London

The following written by Jack London in 1915.

Ode To A Scab

After God had finished the rattlesnake, the toad, and the vampire, He had some awful substance left with which He made a scab. A scab is a two-legged animal with a corkscrew soul, a waterlogged brain, and a combination backbone made of jelly and glue. Where others have hearts, he carries a tumor of rotten principles.

When a scab comes down the street, men turn their backs and angels weep in heaven, and the devil shuts the gates of hell to keep him out. No man has a right to scab as long as there is a pool of water deep enough to drown his body in, or a rope long enough to hang his carcass with. Judas Iscariot was a gentleman compared with a scab. For betraying his Master, he had character enough to hang himself. A scab hasn't.

Esau sold his birthright for a mess of pottage. Judas Iscariot sold his savior for thirty pieces of silver. Benedict Arnold sold his country for a promise of a commission in the British Army. The modern strikebreaker sells his birthright, his country, his wife, his children, and his fellow men for an unfulfilled promise from his employer, trust, or corporation.

[TheWraith]

4. Labor is one of many reasons to avoid the Huffington Post.

Among the others are their granting columns to Republicans, their promotion of pseudoscience, and their entire business model.

[mountainlion55]

5. No one

who claims to be progressive or liberal should ever cross a picket line. No fucking excuses. You cross a picket line you are nothing but the enemy!!! Ms. Huffinton is not a friend to organized labor and never will be. I've been in my union for 25yrs. I have seen firsthand what damage impostors like Ms. Huffington cause. The middle class was strongest when 35% of the workforce was union. Now we are only 10% of the workforce and its because of people like Ms. Huffington. Boycott Huff Post!!! :mad:

[JDPriestly]

6. I am observing the strike, and I object to the posts on DU based on

Huffington Post. That offends me.

[guruoo]

7. So how is striking the new owner (AOL) supposed to motivate the previous owner

(Huffington?)to 'share riches' that have already been 'pocketed' by said previous owner through a sales transaction
that was (presumably) legal? :shrug: Please explain.

[Omaha Steve]

9. George Lucus had an unexpected blockbuster American Graffiti

It ended up in the top 10 money makers ever at that time. George paid bonuses far beyond the terms of the contract out of his (not Universals) pocket. Why can't Ms. Huffington do the same?

[guruoo]

10. You understand what I'm driving at here, don't you?

Even though I agree with you in principle (the bloggers deserved a cut) and (to say the least) I am no fan of AOL, I still have to ask, why punish new owner AOL for past owner Huffington's actions?
Do you believe that striking AOL will somehow force Huffington to come to AOL's rescue?

[Omaha Steve]

11. I do see what your talking about

But for the little people, she could have given a next to worthless share of stock per story. Then if she only made $200 million herself, she would have less of a tax burden. :-)

There were plenty of big name writers that don't or didn't need the $.

[prairierose]

8. Thanks for the reminder Steve....

I have not gone to huffpo or clicked on a link to one of their stories since the sale. I plan to keep it that way. I was terribly disappointed in what happened with that site and the way the writers were treated.