Ask Labor Jane: Can We Stick to the Union but Keep Our Independence?
Unions are great — everybody should have one. But when it comes to actually organizing one, workers are faced with some thorny questions, because so many American unions have made horrible deals with employers that trade away rank-and-file workers’ right to fight.
A worker is surrounded by sparks from molten steel flowing into casts at the TAMCO steel mini mill on October 4, 2002 in Rancho Cucamonga, California. David McNew / Getty
Hi Jane!
I’m a shop floor organizer at a behavioral health agency. I’ve been working at the agency for over a year now, and we’ve managed to build up an organizing committee of ten (we’re halfway to our goal of twenty for 10 percent of the whole bargaining unit). Based on our momentum, we’re expecting to double that number by December.
It’s been a long, grueling, year that’s been rewarding as hell. We deal with all the major problems of the industry: low pay, dangerous working conditions, and a total lack of respect and disregard for the frontline workers who actually implement the treatment plans of our clients, who we are absolutely dedicated to.
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