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Forum Post: Unions co-opting the movement

Posted 13 years ago on Oct. 7, 2011, 12:19 p.m. EST by Loscurit (13) from Punta Gorda, FL
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With all the corruption in the unions, why are you letting them take over the protests?

19 Comments

19 Comments


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[-] 1 points by Boletus (125) 13 years ago

The 1% is terrified that the lofty ideals of the OWS movement and the considerable negotiating power of the unions can be merged into an extremely potent force for real change. I ask only that those who refuse to consider the inclusion of unions in this effort consider what is truly required for us to attain our common goals.

I do not wish to see anyone compromise their ideals for the sake of expediency; that would ensure the movement dies a quiet death. But the other sure formula for failure is to allow the "divide and conquer" wedge of our preconceptions to prevent us from working together. That is exactly how we ended up in the mess we are in. And short of brute force, it is the only weapon of the 1%. And brute force is expensive and less effective than divide and conquer.

[-] 1 points by Loscurit (13) from Punta Gorda, FL 13 years ago

The unions will do what unions do... that is, take care of thier own. (after they pay thier dues and only as long as the people with higher senority agree with what the new members want) The people welcoming the Unions have either never had any real dealings with modern Unions or are paid shilsl for the Unions.

[-] 1 points by Boletus (125) 13 years ago

Those are baseless assumptions. Back them up with facts.

[-] 1 points by cmt (1195) from Tolland, CT 13 years ago

Unions raise non-union wages as their members gain economically - research out of Harvard documented it.

I'm not paid by a union, but am a member now. My union has worked for causes beyond our members' money, and has been constructive.

[-] 1 points by Loscurit (13) from Punta Gorda, FL 13 years ago

What Union do you belong to? And how much of your pay checl do they take?

[-] 1 points by cmt (1195) from Tolland, CT 13 years ago

I'm a retired member of an SEIU local (used to provide psychological services to intellectually handicapped people). I pay $4 a month. Even when I was working, my dues were reasonable.

[-] 1 points by Loscurit (13) from Punta Gorda, FL 13 years ago

See, you are a member of the SEIU... problably the worst of the modern unions... you amount to Obama's brown shirts.

[-] 1 points by geminijlw (176) from Mechanicsburg, PA 13 years ago

No one is going to take over, unless OWS lets them, and it is apparent that is not going to happen. We support them, and there are too many of us, American people. But let's not forget unions are made up of people, and you cannot tel me they are all that happy with their unions, and their pull in Washington. I want to see a movement that stays as it is, with integrity, with heartfelt ideals, and the idea that people control the government, not the way it is now. We are with you OWS.

[-] 1 points by Loscurit (13) from Punta Gorda, FL 13 years ago

Having been in two unions in my life I can tell you that most unions members have no idea what the union leaders are doing... are never think to ask.

[-] 1 points by groobiecat (41) from Brattleboro, VT 13 years ago

LOL. Unlike, say, the Tea Party, right?

http://occupyparty.org/

Yeah, there's been zero corruption on the right. Oh, wait, sorry, my bad, that's in fact, exactly what the #OWS movement is about: corrupt practices of the 1% richest people. People who made huge investment mistakes which crashed our economy and then got bailed out.

Sorry, whoa, for a second there, I sorta forgot what this movement was about. But no worries, I won't make that mistake again...

:D

[-] 1 points by Loscurit (13) from Punta Gorda, FL 13 years ago

btw: I see your are promoting that union/moneon.org run fake site. Nice to know who you work for,

[-] 1 points by groobiecat (41) from Brattleboro, VT 13 years ago

No, no, no: I do not promote that fake site. I've been warning people about that site all day, and even posted something on this board about it. I posted it as an ironic counterpoint to the original poster who accused the #OWS of being co-opted. The fake site is another attempt to co-opt #OWS.

[-] 1 points by Loscurit (13) from Punta Gorda, FL 13 years ago

then stop linking it.

[-] 1 points by Loscurit (13) from Punta Gorda, FL 13 years ago

Like the Unions leaders?

[-] 1 points by groobiecat (41) from Brattleboro, VT 13 years ago

And what, specifically, are you referring to, in terms of corruption? Do you have specifics to the people who were at the rally, or are you just fear-mongering?

[-] 1 points by Loscurit (13) from Punta Gorda, FL 13 years ago

SEIU and thier strong ties to the Democratic party/Obama. Thier strong arm tactics against anyone that disagrees with them.

[-] 1 points by groobiecat (41) from Brattleboro, VT 13 years ago

Seriously? Sorry, but here's the thing: The republican party has the deepest ties to Wall Street, and always has. You attack the unions, but unless you work 12 hours a day, 6 days a week, remember that unions actually stopped that practice. Are they perfect? Definitely not. But do not think they serve no purpose and have not done a lot more to help prevent corporate predation than any other entity...

[-] 1 points by Loscurit (13) from Punta Gorda, FL 13 years ago

that part about the Republicans is laughable. The rest is cool though... except where the unions have done some really bad things, more and more frequantly of late... and no amount of good erases the bad.I don't expect you to change your mind as i beleive youare most likely another Union member with an agenda to push.

[-] 1 points by groobiecat (41) from Brattleboro, VT 13 years ago

Actually, I was a scab during a recent strike that shall remain nameless. I'm management, but if I didn't cross the line, I'd be summarily fired, and I can't have that. I make good money. Live in a very nice three story home. That's not to brag. That's to say don't stereotype someone because of their political views. And okay, maybe you don't think that most rich people are republicans and that republican policies don't favor the rich, okay, but just watch, for 10 minutes, CNBC in the morning. 10 minutes. Those aren't liberals up there...