Working America – a labour organization for the unorganized
21/Jan/2007 15:22
Question: How does a labour central like the AFL-CIO
speak and act for workers when only 12 per cent of
the country’s labour force is unionized? Answer: By
creating a political organization called
Working America
and inviting all non-union workers to join.
Membership is free. Launched in the summer of 2004,
already almost two million workers have signed up.
Working America delivers some direct services, like
access to a group health plan as well as free legal
help through a network of volunteer lawyers. Working
America also sells a credit card. But the main job of
the organization is to bring together non-union
workers into a force that can mobilize and campaign
for workers’ rights, jobs and expanded public and
social services.
Working America is an example of some of the rethinking that is going on in the US about organizing and representing workers. Experience and statistical evidence reveals that workers on average have a less than 20 per cent chance of winning formal union representation by organizing under existing labour laws—and that’s in workplaces where employers don’t actively oppose unionization. In many industries and parts of the country, the chances are even lower. Furthermore, union membership is very tenuous for most workers. The labour force is made up of many more former union members than current ones. Working America provides organizational support and structure to workers who want to unionize but can’t, and to workers who leave union jobs for one reason or another.
In class discussions about Working America it has come out that some in the labour movement are concerned that this type of organization could get in the way of unionization efforts if it starts acting to much like a union. Apparently there is a political understanding within the AFL-CIO that Working America will not organize in workplaces, leaving that territory to the AFL-CIO’s affiliates. Nevertheless, Working America can provide a bridge for workers who are between union jobs, which are increasingly few and far between The US Bureau of Statistics released today show that the number of persons belonging to a union fell by 236,000 in 2006 to 15.4 million: a drop of 0.5 per cent. Other highlights of the report:
• Workers in the public sector had a union membership rate nearly five times that of private sector workers
• Education, training and library occupations had the highest unionization rate at 37 per cent
• Men have a higher rate than women
• Black workers are more likely to be union members than white, Asian, or Hispanic workers.
Working America is an example of some of the rethinking that is going on in the US about organizing and representing workers. Experience and statistical evidence reveals that workers on average have a less than 20 per cent chance of winning formal union representation by organizing under existing labour laws—and that’s in workplaces where employers don’t actively oppose unionization. In many industries and parts of the country, the chances are even lower. Furthermore, union membership is very tenuous for most workers. The labour force is made up of many more former union members than current ones. Working America provides organizational support and structure to workers who want to unionize but can’t, and to workers who leave union jobs for one reason or another.
In class discussions about Working America it has come out that some in the labour movement are concerned that this type of organization could get in the way of unionization efforts if it starts acting to much like a union. Apparently there is a political understanding within the AFL-CIO that Working America will not organize in workplaces, leaving that territory to the AFL-CIO’s affiliates. Nevertheless, Working America can provide a bridge for workers who are between union jobs, which are increasingly few and far between The US Bureau of Statistics released today show that the number of persons belonging to a union fell by 236,000 in 2006 to 15.4 million: a drop of 0.5 per cent. Other highlights of the report:
• Workers in the public sector had a union membership rate nearly five times that of private sector workers
• Education, training and library occupations had the highest unionization rate at 37 per cent
• Men have a higher rate than women
• Black workers are more likely to be union members than white, Asian, or Hispanic workers.
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