On Thursday, November 19th at The New School, I attended Bookforum's panel discussion on labor issues in the 21st century. The crowd was full and attentive, the participants well-informed and enthusiastic, and the general conversation thought-provoking. I know how it is, though, to have to skip an event because of prior plans (or in the case of NYC, because there's just too damn much going on!). So, as I wish would happen more often at these kinds of things, I took notes to share with those who could not make it. Here's some food for thought, take from it what you will. I encourage you to visit visit Bookforum's website and hunt down the authors if you are interested in learning more. Looking forward to more!
Panel discussion, moderated by Chris Lehman. Participants: Andrew Ross, Thomas Frank, Kim Bobo, and Thomas Geoghegan.
Importantly, I should not what I didn't hear: that Labor in this country needs to get together to create a viable third, political party. As far as I know, the loudest screamer for this is Cindy Sheehan. Why it was not explicitly advocated by Bookforum's panelists baffles me.
What I did hear:
Andrew Ross: claims Van Jones was run out of the Obama administration because he was the most dangerous man in Washington. He was NOT run out by the blowhard Glenn Beck, but rather by Business as usual and Big Energy.
The stimulus package stands in for an industrial policy, which this country does not have.
De-carbonization should not be a threat to Labor, but job loss risk outweighs the risk of possibilities in job creation.
Tom Geoghegan: Why isn't there more anger over labor injustice? Or for Labor justice?
Why can't unions connect with regular Americans? Well, because there exists a culture within unions of "no voice" and "no exit." - Albert Hirschman's claim that American labor unions are involuntary organizations. You're either in, or your out, and once you're in, many decisions are made for you.
There is no incentive/motive to market unionism because money comes involuntarily/automatically from members.
Labor has to concentrate on wage bargaining and political movements.
Tom Frank: 60% of Amreicans want to be in a union, but Business uses all its guns to prevent it: anti-propaganda, firing, bribes, intimidation. Unionization means higher wages, better benefits, power-sharing, etc, stuff Business does not like to lose control over.
EFCA - the Employee Free Choice Act - would change the equation. But places like Home Depot and Wal-Mart are fighting hard against it.
EFCA passed under George Bush, so why can't it get passed now? Democrats like John Podesta are lobbying against it.
Kim Bobo: author of Wage Theft, discussed wage theft. It's the #1 problem at worker centers. Not paying minimum wage, misclassified as independent contractors, off the clock work, shaving hours, etc.
Religious groups and leaders are fighting wage theft. They are engaging youth and up and coming leaders too through their religious networks. Bobo and her cohort advocate direct action and wage theft enforcement and promote worker centers
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