..by author of "Save our Unions" Steve Early | Posted: 05/27/2015 3:37 pm EDT
When Steve Early first met Bernie Sanders:
When I first met Brooklyn-born Bernie Sanders, he was a pretty marginal figure in his adopted state of Vermont. It was 1976 and he was running, unsuccessfully and for the fourth time, as a candidate of the Liberty Union Party (LUP).
Liberty Union (LUP) was a radical third party spearheaded by opponents of the Vietnam and at its peak garnered maybe 5 or 6 percent of the statewide vote.
In the mid-70's when Bernie Sanders was making a run for governor of Vermont Steve Early joined him to meet with local granite cutters, teamsters, and electrical workers, native blue collar Vermont folk.
These local union delegates had come together to make candidate endorsements under the banner of the Vermont Labor Forum, a coalition of non-AFL-CIO unions.
During that meeting Bernie gave what is now called 'The Speech' because what Bernie was teaching us then some 40 years ago is what he continues to address the nation with today:
Sanders' message to the Labor Forum was that corporations were too powerful, workers were getting screwed, and both major parties were beholden to "the bosses" (or, as Bernie might call them today, "the billionaire class," a social category not yet invented 40 years ago).
Steve Early points out something that needs mentioning:
Rarely do they [unions] take a chance on third party candidates, no matter how ardent their support for labor causes. Even a union rank-and-filer who runs against a corporate Democrat (for example, Howie Hawkins, the blue-collar Green who challenged Andrew Cuomo for governor of New York last year) finds it hard to collect labor endorsements.
While it's true that some unions have threatened to pull support of Dems because of recent trade deals and the mechanism used to pass them; the TPA (fast track) & TPP (Trans Pacific Partnership), it's important to remember by 2016:
The only place in the nation next year where union members will have viable, pro-labor third party candidates to support, at least at the state and local level, is Vermont. And, for that, the U.S. labor movement has Bernie Sanders and other Vermont Progressives to thank.
When Sanders comes knocking on their door, looking for support in his presidential primary challenge, trade unionists in other states should remember his long history of helping Vermont workers get their act together, in politics, organizing, and contract strikes. It's a track record that few "friends of labor" can match.
emphasis added
A robust Democratic primary process strengthens the Dems as a party. Hillary Clinton already has the financial clout. Why not unite and pull together to bolster a Bernie Sanders campaign which will be made up of many smaller donations to help achieve that goal?
Steve Early then goes through the past history of Bernie Sander' uphill climb, hard won successes and his dedication to and support of union workers over many years.
I was fighting for working families," he told The Nation last year. "We were paying attention to low and moderate income neighborhoods rather than just downtown or the big-money interests. In fact, I went to war with virtually every part of the ruling class in Burlington during my years as mayor. "
As a result of this grass roots campaigning, talking directly to the people:
"large numbers of people who previously had not participated in the political process got involved." - Bernie Sanders
A Progressive Coalition was formed. The forerunner of the statewide Progressive Party founded in 1999.
Bernie's success at the state level, that support (and funding) didn't spread out nationally despite an impressive number of achievements.
His goals for unions and worker solidarity remain on target:
♦ Sanders helped create a left pole for mainstream labor's soon-to-be-thwarted campaign to reform the National Labor Relations Act
♦ He introduced a "'Workplace Democracy Act' to comprehensively reform and strengthen workers' rights
♦ promoted the idea of "economic conversion" -- converting Pentagon-dependent manufacturing firms into producers of socially useful goods
♦ Bernie used his Congressional office to help workers get better organized, in their workplaces and communities, even when the labor movement lagged behind in both areas
♦ Sanders not only urged Vermonters to "Vote Yes" in union representation elections, he actually convened annual meetings of local labor activists to help them develop more successful organizing and bargaining strategies, in the private and public sector
♦ Sanders and his staff invited out-of-state labor speakers who were part of national efforts to revitalize organized labor
♦ a staunch and longtime ally of the Vermont Workers Center, the statewide community-labor coalition that fights for single payer healthcare, immigrants' rights, paid sick leave, and other working class causes in the Green Mountain State.
It's promising that many rank-and-file activists have already signed up to join the "Labor Campaign for Bernie." And, of course, the Vermont State Labor Council is urging the national AFL-CIO to support him as "the strongest candidate articulating our issues."
But, if the rest of organized labor just plays it cautious and safe, jumping on the Clinton bandwagon instead of rallying around Bernie, it will be one more sign of diminished union capacity for mounting any kind of worker self-defense, on the job or in politics.
Labor Unions have been under attack by the corporate controlled GOP for many decades. Membership has declined because of it. A lot of the hard won victories will be undone if the party of "conservatives" succeed. And about the future of the Democratic party without strong labor unions ?... that is exactly what an Oligarchy seeks - corporate economic and political dominance
Maybe it is time to throw caution to the wind and for all unions to unite behind a Bernie Sanders primary presidential campaign.
Why wait?