When Do Unions Start Supporting Each Others

[rsmith6621]

When will unions begin to refuse to cross picket lines of other unions. I think this is the problem with unions today,NO UNIFIED SUPPORT.

I can remember watching a special on the extended strike of Overnight Freight a strike that lasted for many months. In the show they showed union drivers going in to Overnight Freight shipping yards and picking up and dropping trailers thus crossing the picket line.

Like the Tacoma WA teachers strike, even though they have been ordered back to work why isn't another local in the area picking up gthe slack and having an informational picket and keeping the grievance of the teachers out there.

Until unions unify the corporate and political vultures will continue to eat away at them and once collective barging is gone it is over for most of us.

[lonestarnot]

1. Beyond me damn it to hell!

[Generic Other]

2. The teachers are defying the injunction

They plane to man their won picket lines. The district informed the parents by recorded phone message they plan on holding classes tomorrow. They plan to create chaos and division in the morning.

The union is holding fast at this point. No one is wavering.

[sam11111]

3. "one for all and all for one"

Good motto

Another post here said nonunion supporters can join picket lines but check with captain of the line first to be sure.

And natch, can bring snacks. Again, check with picket captain before baking cookies.

Chicago's Labor Radio station coming back?

Try wiki on homestead steel strike or Seattle strike (1912?) to get the feel of how it was, when unionism was at a peak. Haven't looked at wiki but both should be there.

Also; Knights of Labor - so popular they turned away some who wanted to join. That's what I read! Hard to believe that. Might be an exaggeration. KoL about 1880 or so. Got us the secret ballot.

[pnorman]

7. Sam, that was the Seattle General Strike of 1919.

I don't have my books handy at present, but Google should fill everyone's need here. a Wobbly (IWW) doggerel at time ran along the lines of: "The town was shut tight! The only thing running was Mayor Hansen's bowels!"

"An Injury To One Is An Injury To All" was the slogan of the Knights Of Labor, and is now the motto of ILWU. It seems to be observed by labor unions in most every nation but here where it was originated! For that, we can thank Samuel Gompers with his concept of Labor Aristocrats.

[pnorman]

8. " Seattle General Strike" from Wiki:

A few weeks after the November 1918 armistice ended World War I, unions in Seattle's shipbuilding industry demanded a pay increase for unskilled workers. In an attempt to divide the ranks of the union, the yard owners responded by offering a pay increase only to skilled workers. The union rejected that offer and Seattle's 35,000 shipyard workers went on strike on January 21, 1919.

Controversy erupted when Charles Piez, head of the Emergency Fleet Corporation (EFC), an enterprise created by the federal government as a wartime measure and the largest employer in the industry, sent a telegram to the yard owners threatening to withdraw their contracts if any increase in wages were granted. The message intended for the Metal Trades Association, the owners, was accidentally delivered to the Metal Trades Council, the union. The shipyard workers responded with anger directed at both their employers and the federal government which, through the EFC, seemed to be siding with corporate interests.

The workers immediately appealed to the Seattle Central Labor Council for a general strike of all workers in Seattle. Members of various unions were polled, with almost unanimous support in favor–even among traditionally conservative unions. As many as 110 locals officially supported the call for a general strike to begin on February 6, 1919, at 10:00 am. Among the strikers were war veterans who wore their uniforms as they went on strike.<2>

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

[MilesColtrane]

4. There is a tradition of solidarity in my field.

When Broadway musicians went on strike in 2003 the stagehands and actors struck with us.

Local 802 returned the favor when the stagehands struck in 2007, the actors were there too.

They know that we're all in this together.

[sam11111]

5. nt

I

[Supply Side Jesus]

6. hey man, they can't be bothered unless it effects them....

i know this first hand.

solidarity my ass....