Labor journalist Hamilton Nolan and Adam Conover discuss the challenges facing the labor movement, including high public support but declining union membership. They explore the historical dynamics, power struggles, and strategies for workers to find solidarity across various trades.
Successful organizing efforts can lead to impactful changes in laws and benefits for workers.
A progressive leader like Sarah Nelson can shape the labor movement's priorities towards employee empowerment and political engagement.
Prioritizing worker organizing and utilizing strikes are essential for revitalizing and strengthening the labor movement.
Deep dives
The Power of Organizing Childcare Workers in California
An inspiring 20-year campaign successfully organized 40,000 childcare workers in California. These workers, largely immigrant women, were paid a state subsidy below the cost of providing childcare. Organizing efforts led to changes in the law, securing healthcare, PPE, and training funds for workers. The union contract negotiation began, addressing crucial issues that were previously ignored.
The Leadership and Vision of Sarah Nelson in the Labor Movement
Sarah Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants, exemplifies progressive leadership and vision in the labor movement. Her strategic approach and fiery advocacy for workers' rights make her a stand-out figure. As a potential candidate for the AFL-CIO presidency, her impact on reshaping the labor movement's focus on employee empowerment and political engagement is profound.
The Role and Potential of the AFL-CIO in Transforming the Labor Movement
The AFL-CIO, as the largest union coalition in the U.S., is positioned to lead the labor movement revitalization. However, the current approach primarily involves financial contributions to political campaigns. A shift towards prioritizing worker organizing and utilizing the fundamental power of strikes is advocated to strengthen the labor movement.
The Importance of Utilizing Labor Power Through Strikes
Strikes represent the core of labor power, showcasing the ability to withhold labor and negotiate for better conditions. Declining strike numbers in the U.S. underscore the vital need to leverage strikes as a demonstration of worker power and a catalyst for enhancing labor rights and worker solidarity.
Opportune Moments for Labor Organizing and Legislative Impediments
Seizing opportune moments for labor organizing is vital as the economy fluctuates, highlighting the significance of expanding union membership before economic downturns hinder such efforts. Legislative hurdles, including laws that restrict unionizing independent contractors, pose substantial challenges to labor movements. Despite President Biden's pro-labor stance, labor laws in the US historically favor management, underscoring the need for comprehensive legislative reforms.
Union Power as a Solution to Economic Inequality and Democratic Participation
Unions serve as a potent tool to combat rising economic inequality by empowering workers to reclaim their fair share of wealth through collective bargaining. The concept of unionism offers a practical antidote to systemic economic disparities and political disenfranchisement. Union engagement fosters genuine democratic experiences for members, contrasting against authoritarian structures prevalent in various spheres of American life, ultimately embodying the transformative potential of collective action.
The labor movement is in a state of flux. Support for unions is the highest it's been in decades, including the explict support of the Biden administration, yet actual union membership has plummeted to a historical low. With only 10% of the workforce unionized, is the labor movement missing its best chance to organize more workers? This week Adam sits with Hamilton Nolan, labor journalist and author of The Hammer: Power, Inequality, and the Struggle for the Soul of Labor, to reconcile the popular support of unions with the grim reality of declining membership. They discuss what led to the current moment we find ourselves in, and the best strategies for workers to find solidarity no matter their trade. Find Hamilton's book at at factuallypod.com/books
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