QUestion fromone who neverhad a chance to be a union member.

[napi21]

Can't workers still strike even without the bargaining rights? With FB, Twitter & the net, they could still set up meetings ec.

[Brickbat]

1. You can "strike," but you don't have the protection of a contract.

If you are striking for recognition, that's different.

[Roselma]

2. Sure...it's called "failing to show up for work." They can be

fired for failing to show up for work. If they are unionized, but the union is forbidden by contract from striking, then they can "wildcat." Of course, then they can be fired for failing to show up for work.

[napi21]

3. I understand that, but is it realistic if say all the teachers went on strike,

or all the police, or the entire road crew when there was a bad snow storm...could the Gov. really replace them ALL? IF there really are over 100,000 public emploees in a union, I can't believe he could possible find enough trained workers to take over. Am I just being naive?

[Brickbat]

5. When you're scabbing, you don't give a shit if they're trained or not.

Any problems, you just blame it on the strikers.

You've also hit on the simplicity and difficulty of a strike. Sure, if EVERYONE goes out, it's a powerful thing. But try to persuade everyone to go out.

[TygrBright]

10. That's called a "general strike" if enough people participate. It may just happen in WI.

It may take a few days to organize. But if not one single public employee except firemen, police, and EMTs showed up for work on Monday, it might be very interesting.

Very.

And I don't think it's totally impossible at this point.

amazedly,
Bright

[Jackpine Radical]

4. The answer is solidarity.

Interestingly the WI teachers gave up the right to strike when they got their union recognized. Maybe they've regained it, ironically, with the passage of Walker's bill.

[readmoreoften]

6. Yes, but they can't BARGAIN without bargaining rights.

That means every time you want something you have to strike or lobby politicians instead of negotiating the terms of your work as a group. Striking will be illegal. So all that's left is lobbying politicians who don't give a shit about you to do for you what you can no longer do for yourself.

[A HERETIC I AM]

7. The next logical step is for the members to block access for any scab workers.

That can get ugly. It has happened before, but it is never pretty. The union members simply stop anyone trying to cross their picket line. What happens next is often violence, with the cops or hired thugs sent in to break the picket line - literally and physically.

[Oasis_]

8. Very true

My Grandfather helped hold the picket line strong against (then) LTV steel in 1956 ( I believe that was the year)

Scabs didn't dare attempt to cross. They held out for 150+ days and it was a monumental struggle, but they eventually won.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with strikers intimidating potential scabs, in my opinion. Carrying out on the threats is obviously unlawful and an entirely different story. No one condones nor should employ violence to further their cause.

But when you're literally fighting for your rights and lively hood, sometimes measures that include intimidation I deem perfectly acceptable, imo.

Ossis

[stockholmer]

9. hope the Pinkerton and Silver Shirt scum dont emerge from the time machine

http://www.workersliberty.org/story/2008/10/16/teamsters-against-silver-shirts

http://www.a-w-i-p.com/index.php/2011/02/24/union-busting-in-america

"Numerous other incidents at that time involved shootings, hangings, beatings, and arrests, unionists viciously attacked to disrupt them.

● In 1919, nearly four million workers struck, including against against steel and coal companies. Management retaliated. The year's Great Steel Strike failed. Company owners called workers dangerous radicals threatening America. Federal and National Guard troops again were used, resulting in violence, deaths, injuries and arrests. From 1919 - 23, numerous coal strikes also occurred, government again siding with management.

● In 1920, the Battle of Matewan resulted in nine deaths, later sparking an armed rebellion of 10,000 West Virginia coal miners at the Battle of Blair Mountain, the largest insurrection since the Civil War against which army troops intervened.

● In 1922, the Herrin, IL coal strike massacre left 21 dead. In 1927, picketing coal miners were massacred in the company town of Serene, CO. In 1929, National Guard troops and armed thugs destroyed the National Textile Workers Union (NTWU) office during the Loray Mill Strike.

● During the 1937 Little Steel strike, Youngstown Steel and Tube and Republic Steel employed hundreds of armed police who fired on strikers trying to prevent scabs from entering factories. On May 30, things exploded when Chicago police joined them, opening fire on picketing strikers and their families, killing 10 and injuring hundreds..................

and on and on :-(

[demodonkey]

11. My father could remember the Coal-Iron Police riding up to our farm on horses w rubber horseshoes

They snuck around in the night, quietly with the rubber horseshoes, checking on workers' homes where they saw lights on.

The Coal-Iron Police (private police hired by the Coal and Steel corporations) kept tabs on "hunkies" (very derogatory term for people of eastern European descent) because they didn't want them fomenting any strikes or "Bolshevik" stuff. He also remembered the Klan wearing hoods and burning crosses against the hunkies (there were no black people in the area.)

This was in Western Pennsylvania, in the 1920s. It was a different time that I do not think we as a nation really want to return to.

Fortunately I got the oral history of a lot of my Dad's memories on tape before he passed.

[stockholmer]

12. the descent to violent tyranny is such fine line that we all forget too soon

btw, so glad you got your father's memories of the days past that he lived through on tape, it is his gift to you and your future generations

cheers