Anti-Wall Street Groups Arrive for Washington Meet

[Hissyspit]

Source: AFP

Anti-Wall Street groups arrive for Washington meet

By Agence France-Presse
Monday, December 5, 2011

WASHINGTON — Hundreds of anti-Wall Street protesters and union activists on Monday began to arrive in Washington for a campaign in which they aim to “Take back the Capitol from corporate control.”

A week of demonstrations and sit-ins are planned “in the name of the 99 percent,” that the anti-corporate movement says has been sidelined as lobbyists have bought up the US political system for the benefit of big business.

As “Occupy” camps across the United States have been broken up by city authorities, starting with New York’s “Occupy Wall Street” movement, Washington’s “Occupy DC” has become the epicenter of such protests.

Around 3,000 people are expected in around 15 tents deemed the “People’s Camp” on the National Mall near the massive white dome of the US Capitol, the home of Congress, also near the White House.


Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/12/05/anti-wall-street-groups-arrive-for-washington-meet/

[jtrockville]

1. This "camp" is sponsored by the SEIU. It's not an organic "occupation".

I just drove by the Mall on my way home from Freedom Plaza (http://occupywashingtondc.org). The tents they have on the Mall don't look like the typical tents we have at the two on-going occupations (McPherson Square and Freedom Plaza). They're more like pavilions. It doesn't look like they're set up to house people, even though the article says they're "preparing to welcome “Occupy” activists from now discontinued camps in cities such as Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Dallas, New Orleans, Oakland and Portland".

Also seems kind of odd, especially since the article is about the event on the Mall, that they'd show a photo from McPherson Square, not the Mall.

[abelenkpe]

2. So it's not cool if the seiu occupies too?

I thought there was power in numbers ?

[jtrockville]

3. Personally, anyone working to get $ out of politics is cool with me.

But the organic occupations are pretty skeptical of any big organization. Fear of being "co-opted", especially by an organization who's already endorsed a presidential candidate, runs rampant.

I spoke in favor of welcoming support for our occupation from the SEIU at Freedom Plaza's GA tonight, but I was in the minority. I wasn't alone - others mentioned the SEIU's powerful numbers, and other benefits of joining forces - but most people have mighty strong opposition to labor unions.

[999998th word]

4. The unwillingness to be co-opted by an organization is understandable

but to be opposed to Labor Unions is confusing to me.

Is it the principles or the organizations themselves?

I'm a person who just happens to think the 'Occupy' movement is the best thing to come around in DECADES

(have attended my local one) but am also a Union supporter, and a little confused-hope you can help. :thumbsup:

[jtrockville]

6. I'm not sure I can clear things up.

I can't attend all the general assemblies, so I have only part of the picture.

On one hand, it seems many folks view unions (SEIU in particular) as corrupt organizations. On the other hand, we have folks who belong (or used to belong) to unions, and have a favorable view of them. It really seems to be a divisive issue for us.

[cyberpj]

5. A comeback of labor unions is the way to bring the pendulum back from it's corporate arc.

I, too, know that the Unions got out of hand and most likely will again without proper regulation but I'd still rather see the working man get more than corporate CEOs.

[jtrockville]

7. If "occupy" is successful at pulling the $ out of politics....

then something's going to have to fill the void. Seems like organizations who are skilled at advocating for worker's rights (like Labor Unions) would be an ideal way to fill the void.

I'm not fortunate enough to belong to a Union, so maybe I'm overlooking some flaws that may be obvious to others.

Do you have any specifics for how Unions got "out of hand"? Any examples?

Given the income gap, I'd say they've not been terribly successful in recent years. But that's quite different than being corrupt.

[cyberpj]

17. It was the standard 'power corrupts' scenario - Union leaders getting too free with dipping into the

union dues and pension funds - corrupt deals with benefit providers, etc....

It would seem once ANY organization gets power and money, the leaders are unable to resist the temptation to line their own pockets with other peoples' money.


Labor unions, a rather long and complicated history - feel free to skim and learn:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labor_history_of_the_United_States

[wordpix]

11. +1 recall, we wouldn't have weekends,8 hr. days and child labor laws without unions

[cyberpj]

18. Too many either don't remember the benefits of collective bargaining or have never really known what

unions were all about since the Reagan assisted downfall of unions gained speed in the 1980's.

Unions had to be disempowered in order for corporations to start abusing their employees - it's worked quite well actually.

But now we have to resurrect unions GLOBALLY - that's quite important - in order to bring economies back into balance.

Will we?

Personally I'm not sure it's possible at this point in American History.

We shall see.

[abelenkpe]

8. I think one of the best things OWS has done has been to

Reinvigorate the labor movement and remind unions how to stand up and fight for workers rights. Thanks for supporting union participation.

I used to belong to the union but more studios are non union these days. I would love to see them come back. Had I stayed at a union shop I'd be only five years from receiving lifetime healthcare benefits. The global economy has not worked in the favor of American workers. Union or non union. Don't think workers can afford to fight amongst ourselves so hope that more people participating in OWS consider union participation acceptable.

[No Elephants]

10. I am a the daughter of two union members and was myself a union member, when my work

made that possible. I am very strongly pro-union.

Nonetheless, I can distinguish between workers fighting each other and workers fighting unions. A union is not a worker.

[No Elephants]

9. Most occupiers are strongly opposed to unions?

[jtrockville]

13. Shockingly, yes. At least they're opposed to being "co-opted" by them.

But many just flat out view Unions as corrupt.

I can only speak for sentiment at the Freedom Plaza DC occupation. Would like to know if this view is wide-spread or an anomaly.

[No Elephants]

14. I can understand, to a point. (See Reply 10.) But only to a point.

Yes, unions also put money into politics. But they do so on behalf of issues that benefit the 99%.

There's no denying that some union officials have been corrupt, but more so in the past than now.

I's stand side by side with OWS. However, I would also stand side by side with with Trumka, even though his salary puts him in the 1%.

[jtrockville]

16. I fully agree. Unions really ARE the 99%.

I plan to visit the "People's Camp" on the Mall at least as often as I visit Freedom Plaza.

[wordpix]

12. there is strength in numbers, as anyone who's worked on a campaign knows

whether the campaign is to raise $ for a good cause or to get someone elected, doesn't matter. The powers-that-be do not listen or change without lots of people behind movement to change.

[No Elephants]

15. Yep, which is why I think all of us need to contact our Senators, Rep and the WH and say we

support OWS.