I know I don’t need to tell you that in recent weeks, the union movement has been in the news a lot more than usual. (To understate the case somewhat.)
Even before last night, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker had succeeded at hurting a lot of working people, since his state’s teachers and librarians and other public employees long ago said they would take the wage and benefit cuts he was pushing. And last night…well, if nothing else, Walker and his allies in the State Senate made it damn clear what their priorities are. Nobody can be in any doubt that the budget hysteria was really anything but a cover for attacking workers all along.
As a result, active support for unions has been higher in the progressive community than I ever thought I’d see: Right now, Wisconsin, unions, and labor are the first, second, and third most popular tags on this site. And Scott Walker is number four.
People are giving money and taking action and helping to shine a light on what’s going on, on the attacks on unions and on the fact that attacks on unions are just the opening move in a much larger war on the entire middle class. Scott Walker and Ohio Governor John Kasich and a host of other rabidly rightwing governors are going after the biggest organized force opposing their anti-worker agenda. If they can weaken the unions enough, that’s when they can really drive down wages and working conditions for everyone.
So all this support from people who aren’t in unions is amazing and powerful and important. But did you know you can move from supporting the labor movement to being an actual part of it?
Traditionally, you either had a union in your workplace and were a union member, or you didn’t and you weren’t. But that changed in 2003, when Working America was established. We’re the community affiliate of the AFL-CIO, organizing people who don’t have a union on the job to become part of the union movement and take action for an economy that works for working people. Working America members are members of the AFL-CIO, the nation’s largest labor federation.
We’ve fought for health care reform, for financial reform, for the Employee Free Choice Act, for workplace safety, for jobless workers. Last year, we had nearly a million in-person conversations with Working America members and undecided swing voters, and generated more than 300,000 letters, phone calls, petitions, emails and faxes to policy-makers and corporate bad guys.
And now, we’re fighting the attempts of Republican governors and state legislators across the country to roll back collective bargaining rights, slash pensions, and balance budgets on the backs of workers while giving corporations massive tax breaks.
Here’s what our members are saying at I Am Working America about why they’re joining together in solidarity with workers in Wisconsin (and Ohio and Indiana and across the country):
Noelle says “I am self-employed, and at the poverty line. But I am no one's scab.”
Michael says “I am angry because of the class war being declared on us!”
Tisha, who is obviously from Ohio, says “I am a mother, wife, daughter and sister. Senate Bill 5 will hurt this state family by family and in turn further hurt this country. It is one more step in taking away our rights.”
Ryan says “I am A Bus Operator in Portland , Oregon. An honest days pay for an honest days work. Remenber everyone , that The United States of America is a UNION !”
Randy says “I am a machinist and a father and grandfather and husband and a son. I am a taxpayer and I don't ask for tax breaks, just a coffee break.”
What about you? Tell us: “I am Working America and I am _____.”