Community Blogs Login | Search Blogs
Post from Ben Adler's Blog:
UNIONS OUTSOURCING
By Ben Adler - Jul 25th, 2007 at 1:53 pm EDT
Also listed in: Campus Progress Blog
Comments |  Mail to a Friend
Tags: activism, labor
Bad? Brilliant?
You can rate this post.
Register or login now and
tell us what you think.

The Washington Post had an interesting front page story yesterday on the carpenters union's habit of using unemployed people, typically pulled from homeless shelters or SROs and paid around $8 per hour, to picket outside buildings that use non-union construction labor. I tend to side with critics of this practice. I think that for passersby to see sometimes disheveled or unenthusiastic picketers doesn't create a very positive image of the labor movement. Also paying people just a couple bucks more than minimum wage with no benefits seems hypocritical. I'd urge unions to instead hire a few full-time grassroots activists to whom they pay a living wage plus benefits and can present their message more effectively.

 

cross-posted on TAPPED. 


Reader Comments

Comments are closed for this post.
  
keeping their story alive
By Zach Marks Jul 25th 2007 at 2:06 pm EDT
today was the first day the protesters at 1100 13th street had use of the 12-foot rat.

it might not "create a very positive image of the labor movement" but at least it helps the unions get their voices heard. They already have "a few full-time grassroots activists." They're the ones who supervise the protesters to make sure they don't appear too "disheveled or unenthusiastic."

plus, they hook up the free bagels. Link
  
That union's leadership is moronic
By jr Jul 25th 2007 at 2:32 pm EDT
Doug McCarron is a power-hungry wingnut. He destroyed local autonomy, helped ULLICO fall into disgrace several times, and traded the interests of working Americans for a chance to ride with Dubya on AF1 a few times (not to mention endorsing Bush in 2004, despite his incredibly anti-labor first term). I can't say I'm surprised in the least that his crew is using non-union day labor for, of all things, picket duty. Why not use that cash to keep the families of members who walk the line fed and housed instead?

Much as I want Change to Win to be a successful force in reasserting labor's role in the workplace, I think AFL-CIO is better off without McCarron and I hope CtW gets wise and starts monitoring his actions a little closer, because I'm sure there will be more stories like this.
  
Campus Progress

Please remember that Campus Progress' terms of use do not allow promoting or endorsing any particular political party or candidate for office. Posts or comments that do this will be deleted.
Campus Progress