Why not focus on building unions instead of criminalizing immigrants?

[RagingInMiami]

It's obvious that the working and middle class in this country are seriously losing ground to the powers that be. This includes blue-collar workers, white-collar workers, middle management, service industry workers, etc.

And some argue that this is all or partially the fault of the illegal immigrants who will work for almost nothing. But that doesn't explain why the salaries of white-collar, middle class workers are not keeping pace with the cost of living. Nor does it explain why salaries haven't kept up with the cost of living in areas where there is very little immigration.

Nevertheless, the issue of immigration has risen its divisive head and it's not going away anytime soon. It divides the republicans as well as the democrats.

But unlike republicans, who tend to possess more of a follow-the-leader sheep mentality, the democrats might be unable to come together for the sake of the party come election time. Our strength is our independence and free-thinking, our downfall is our stubbornness.

I think this "immigration crisis" is a republican tactic to divide democrats in a crucial election year where "national security" and "family values" and "morals" is not going to be as effective as it has been in the past.

So as dems, who are constantly accused of "not having a message", why not make it an issue to restore unions and workers' rights?

Thanks to right-wing manipulative talking points over the years, unions have gotten a bad rap, contributing to a steadily decline in membership since their heyday in the early century.

Why not start a campaign to change the image of unions? To make unions a stronger presence in while-collar jobs as well as blue-collar and service-industry jobs? Why not come up with a catchy slogan or talking point, as well as a solid plan.

Something like, "Making the American Dream come true." Something that unites us.

As dems, we need to remember that we have strength in numbers. If we focus on the immigration issue, we will be divided 60/40, if the recent DU poll on immigration is any indicator of where democrats stand on the issue.

I can't think of another political issue that has us divided almost in half.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=797061

[leftofthedial]

1. building unions is hard work

building unions doesn't punish *them* for being different from *us*.

hate, greed and lust are always easier to fulfill than love, respect and accomplishment.

[LostinVA]

3. I agree with your posts and the OP's completely

[Virginia Dare]

2. Didn't you get the word?

Unions are corrupt, besides they're communists.
:sarcasm:

[JHB]

4. Why not focus on criminalizing employers who exploit immigrants?

Seems to me it would run hand-in-hand with union-building.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

6. Absolutely

:thumbsup:

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

5. Unions need to realize they are competing with Churches.

They need to do a better job making people realize that they do a lot more than just go on strike. They need to be more active within the community, provide basic community services, and just generally be seen and heard from in other places than the picket lines. The same can be said for just about ANY Liberal organization for that matter - we need to be seen as more than just "interest groups".

[RagingInMiami]

7. I've been covering the University of Miami janitor strike

And the union, SEIU, has done an excellent job of working closely with the local churches in this matter. It has become a team effort.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

8. That is great

What I mean, however, is that I think unions need to organize more charitable events. Become more active in the community. Provide basic services to families (maybe set up daycare for its members). And if they ARE doing those types of things, they need to go on one hell of a PR campaign to show it.

The Church is more politically active than the Unions are, yet they don't share the same stigma, mostly because they provide things for people. Of course, the Church is many centuries older than Unions and have learned how to lure people in BEFORE sending the message a long time ago.

[RagingInMiami]

10. You're right

SEIU, which is Service Employees International Union, created a lot of controversy last year when they broke off from the AFL-CIO because nothing was being done to reverse the trend of declining membership.

But since then, from what I've seen, they've done more for workers rights down here in the last few months than any AFL-CIO affiliated union. Their goal is to unionize service workers throughout the south, which is traditionally a union-weak region. I'm hoping they will lead the charge in recreating the image of unions nationwide.

[Bridget Burke]

9. Excellent idea.

From another current thread: "I say let the prisoners pick the fruits," said Rep. Dana Rohrabacher of California, one of more than a dozen Republicans who took turns condemning a Senate bill that offers an estimated 11 million illegal immigrants an opportunity for citizenship.

Proposing that prisoners pick the fruits blows the "but they drive down wages" argument out of the water. The radical Republicans obviously don't care about ANY workers, anywhere.

Unions should also contact the "illegals." As they stay here longer, they will become braver. And Latin America has a history of labor activism.

What about reaching out across all the borders? Some Indians are trying to organize the call-center employees, so they'll ask for better treatment. What if even more workers started demanding better pay & better rights?