Building Grassroots Power

JOURNAL: ISSUE 2 - 2013

When workers stand together, our capacity to fight for and win decent wages, safer jobsites, fair treatment and good benefits is undeniable. In state after state, however, those gains are under attack by a series of carefully orchestrated, well-funded assaults on unions and union members by ultra-rich business interests and the politicians they support. Such assaults aren't new, nor are we the only targets. For too long, low-wage policies have kept wages stagnant and sent the income gap between the very rich and the rest of us soaring, in effect shrinking the earning power of America's working middle class, roughly 60% of all workers. And it's not just about wages. Environmental protections, workplace safety, retirement security, and equal opportunity all get ditched when the race to the bottom proceeds unhindered and profits take precedent over people. (This is especially true in the southeastern U.S. – see page 8). 
As Labor Day 2013 is celebrated in the U.S. and Canada, pundits across North America will undoubtedly use the occasion to point out the relative decline of union membership and raise the palpable question: what is the future of the labor movement? 

It's a question that's being intensely addressed by the AFL-CIO, which, representing 57 unions and 12 million workers, is preparing for its quadrennial convention in September, when delegates will chart the federation's course for the next four years. To the north, the Canadian Labor Congress (CLC) is launching its "Together Fairness Works" campaign to draw attention to the shared values of all middle class Canadians with organized labor.

There's a rich history of successful coalition building between labor and our progressive allies, including civil rights and grassroots organizations. Building a more permanent model that can bring labor and community partners together under one umbrella rather than relying on temporary, single issue campaigns has the potential to double or triple the number of workers whose voices can help amplify ours and who would gain greater exposure to the benefits of union membership. In addition, given the rise of anti-union measures at the state level, being able to draw on community partners' established presence in areas with low union density would be another significant plus. 

As one of 48 Vice Presidents of the AFL-CIO Executive Council, it was a privilege to be asked to chair one of the federation's three convention committees, which has focused in recent months on creating more enduring labor-community alliances to advance our shared agendas. Although these and other matters will be ultimately be determined by the convention delegates, the dialogue surrounding the future direction of the labor movement* in the U.S. and Canada is deserving of BAC members' attention because of the impact on rebuilding national union density. Significant increases in overall union membership would mean greater leverage at the bargaining table, with such gains requiring new union members to reflect the diverse labor pools of each nation.

In the meantime, I can say with certainty that the proud tradition of our members' civic involvement and volunteer efforts in their communities (see pages 14-16), and BAC's outreach programs to advance the recruitment and retention of women and minorities in BAC's ranks (pages 9-10) are positive steps in our Union's path forward and very much in stride with a North American labor movement dedicated to its founding principles but open to new avenues of change.

*For updates, go to www.bacweb.org and follow BAC on Twitter and Facebook; also visit www.aflcio.org and http://canadianlabour.ca/.