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The Endless Potential of the Labor Movement and a Strong President to Revive America's Economy and Its Middle Class
This past weekend in Chicago, I had the great honor of being elected president of the American Federation of Teachers. With my mom, a former teacher herself, looking on, I was filled with such tremendous pride and gratitude -- especially for the example she set for me.
When I was a child, my mom and her union voted to go on strike, not simply for economic issues, but for concerns of quality and professionalism, and my view of teaching changed forever. When those teachers went on strike for seven weeks, I saw my mother, and the entire teaching profession, differently. I saw a woman who was so dedicated to her profession that she was willing to back her words with action - even if it meant, as it did, material sacrifice for our family.
I always knew that teachers were called to their profession because they cared about kids. But, during my mother's strike, I learned some lessons that would last a lifetime about teaching and trade unionism. I understood that while teaching will never get you a penthouse, it shouldn't put you in the poorhouse. I understood that when teachers can no longer accept low wages and poor conditions, their only choices are to give up and leave, or to stand up and fight. I understood why unionism is so essential to professionalism.
As we move into the final months of this consequential presidential election, those who care about our economy, our disappearing middle class, the growing divide between rich and poor, and the conditions under which many children are being raised in our country today need to be reminded that when unions are strong, the country thrives.
Barack Obama understands this and that's why the AFT voted overwhelmingly to endorse his candidacy for president of the United States. He is devoted to changing the disastrous course we are on in this country, and he understands that stability and opportunity for working families lie at the heart of what makes America great. But he also knows that we all need to be willing to innovate to meet the needs of a rapidly changing world.
In New York City, where I have been president of the United Federation of Teachers for the last 10 years, instead of hunkering down and refusing to change with the times, we embraced the reform movement and made it our own. We raised salaries by 43 percent in six years, giving our members a solid seat at the middle-class table in America. And in that time, recruitment and retention of teachers -- a persistent problem across the country -- improved, and so did student achievement.
There is a lot more we can and should do. Graduation rates are still abysmally low in this country and No Child Left Behind - the multiple-choice-test-driven mania masquerading as accountability - must be changed in favor of a rich and diverse curriculum that respects teacher professionalism and actually prepares our students for the intense demands of the 21st century workplace.
But the example we set shows that if workers have stability, a measure of respect and a strong union standing behind them, the result for everyone inevitably improves. So if you want to see a stable middle class, dignity for working people, and a more secure and prosperous future for America, unions must be strengthened. We must bring down the barriers to organizing and restore the balance between management and labor. We tried it the other way. We let the "market" decide. And guess what? It's not working.
Whether the issue that confronts us is education reform, healthcare reform or governmental reform, these efforts will be doomed to failure unless they are built on a foundation of respect for the professionals who do the work. When you give professionals the respect, the recognition and the rewards they rightfully deserve, there is no limit to what they can accomplish. And there is no limit to what America can accomplish with strong, growing unions standing behind Barack Obama as our next president.
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Obama knew he was going to receive the endorsement from the American Federation of Teachers in Chicago,a union that consists of millions of people, yet didn't attempt to speak to the delegation in person. Instead he chose to give a few minute speech by satellite. However, he did have time to attend a fundraiser for his campaign in Chicago that same weekend at the same hotel many AFT members were staying at (doubt they were invited). He also was in Chicago on the Saturday of the conference but chose to take the day off from campaigning and stay home. He lives only a few miles from where the conference took place. Apparently, teachers aren't important enough to Obama to speak to them in person. He also snubbed the NEA when they held their conference.
Obama claims to be the candidate for change? Yeah, right.
By the way, Hillary Clinton flew in and spoke to the delegation in person. She knows what is important.
JOIN A UNION, NOT THE ARMY AND REALLY FIGHT FOR AMERICA.
Teacher' Unions are vital aspect of educational business narrative and should remain so.
I fully support its goals and aims.
But Obama is a wrong person to represent educators. I am convinced that he'll sell us down the river given half a chance. I am convinced that vouchers will become common place. I am convinced that given the choice between the Evangelical power ( he's toying with them right now) and teachers union, he'll chose his religious inclination.
I understand that your union has to live with the choices.... I believe it's was wrong choice....
I am writing in Hilary Clinton.
I share your conclusions (but I'd write in Edwards or even Kucinch).
One thing the teachers' union must do, at some point, is weed out the incompetent ones. But please believe me, I do NOT believe the problems of the American educational system are the fault of teachers. One needs only visit inner-city schools to see conditions the students are placed in, conditions that the ASPCA won't let animals be kept in.
Max Tegmark, a cosmologist, pointed out that when he was living in Sweden his university enrollment was provided by the goverment (I know, aka taxes). But it means Swedish society highly values education. The US still lives in the 19th century when a grade-school education was considered all that was needed, and high school was overkill, especially for girls. When the US was still an agrarian society.
The failures of our system merely points out how little we value education. Athletes here make more than doctors.
Supervisors, boards of education, and state agencies weed out incompetent teachers. Unions exist for a number of reasons, one of which is safeguarding due process for teachers charged with misdeeds. As Ms. Weingarten wrote, teachers want what is good for kids and education.
Today, like our public schools, unions breed mediocrity. As member of a union I assure you, I can work as hard as my ethics and energy will carry me while the guy next to me with the same duties and responsibility has a secure job with minimal contributions. Those of us who do well and work hard have no way to be recognized or awarded for our achievements but that guy sitting next me, doing a lousy job, well lets just say the union will do everything possible to help him keep his job and get paid the same as me even if he's doing a terrible job.
Public employee unions like yours and mine, National Association of Government Employees, have created a system that protects under-achievers and stifles innovation. Unions especially for public service professionals obstruct the pursuit of excellence by protecting incompetent members while ignoring those dedicated to solving real problems. Unions have earned a bad reputation because they invested a lot in representing some bad employees and do it at everyone"s expense. Was that 43% salary increased accompanied by requirements for improved performance?
So quit your job and go work in a non union shop. Unions have done more for workers rights than any other organization.
We do not have to fight for our raises, vacations, gender wage equality, unsafe working conditions, protection from harrassment, benefits, overtime...........
Appreciate what working conditions existed to prompt workers to organize in the first place, and know that people died for what you benefit from now.
GM salary just got a collective body blow yesterday, losing their benefits. Blue collar got to keep theirs. They wish they had the same protections.
IT people are trying to organize now, because they are being overlooked for foreign visa holders and temp workers.
Most jobs have nonperformers and hard workers. It is not just union shops.
"So quit your job and go work in a non union shop."
Good one Lorla.
I'm not suggesting unions have not benefited American workers, I believe they have. I am suggesting that unions, often those who represent public employees, have gone in the wrong direction. I don't want to quit my job, I like what I do and believe it makes a difference but unions has focused on protecting employees at the expense of rewarding achievement.
Define "achievement". You can't. I solved many technical problems for my last employer but credit was given to others. But how does one prove such things? Especially when you simply point out the problem and verbally explain the solution. Oh and my supervisor took over my department (old supervisor was forced into retirement) and called me into his office to tell me he wanted me out of his department, I was too old to work for him.
IOW, you don't know what the hell you're talkng about.
Ironic we are the "United" States of America, but there is seemingly also a wide spread dislike of "Unions" by many...
40 Hr work week, Pensions, Health Insurance, Job Safety, Overtime pay, Vacations, and much more a results of Unions, that non Union workers now take for granted and enjoy...
Sadly, when President Reagan fired the Air Traffic Controllers, WE the People (Government) with co-operation of Unions, did not shut down the Country, until our Elected Office Holder put them back to work and negotiated with them... Seems to me we're experiencing the "trickle down" fallout from that...
Corporate wealth purchases (snicker) influence with the two Branches of the Dominant, Democrat and Republican, Corrupt Political System... Break Unions, run the Corporation into the ground, while making millions and now can File Bankruptcy (of Management) and dump their half of Collective Bargained for Pensions, etc... And, often get paid millions of dollars for Managing so badly, but success in shafting the workers...
The most difficult concept with "Unions" seems to be even Union workers seem to think, the business Agents and Shop Stewards are "the Union"... (Therein giving up their [workers] true power)... WE the People of the (Union) I.E., the United States of America are the true power and Government, but most Citizens call our Elected and Appointed Office Holders, "the government'... WE the People snooze and give our power over to a Corrupted Political System... Are doing so right now!
The ONLY way Obama can regain the trust of labor Democrats ( like me) is to appoint Robert Reich to the Secretary of Labor again or at least Fed. Chairman. if Mr. Reich is willing. And announce it NOW.
Although in a perfect world Robert Reich would the Presidential nominee and Obama a Sec. of Education.
But being short , beard and a Jew.... Not in America.
I went to a labor conference with Reich during the C linton administration. I completely agree with you.
Correction: Reich for Sec of Labor. O for POTUS.
Let us not be deceived by Obama's speeches. He cares nothing about unions and blue collar worker or lower middle class. A rich Senator lawyer, an admirer of Ronald Reagan, a born-again Christian fundamentalist is only coasting on his empty speeches and PC appearance.
A true union support stands little chance of becoming a Presidential nominee. HInt: Kucinich couldn't even get a hearing from the Big Money Democratic back-rooms.
the White House is lost to Big Business, as usual.
Workers need to agitate more and form more close international connections with their peers. Like dock workers. Why not teachers, and fruit glowers and fisheries workers and computer programmers.
The companies are global, so should the unions. This is the only hope.
"Workers of the world unite" slogan is more relevant now that has ever been.
Now I must disagree with you Ludi. O's mantra is that he started out as a community organizer. He has also built the strongest grassroots organizations in political history. He is not only telling you to organize, if you volunteer for his campaign, he is teaching you how to do it.
Labor dropped the ball with NAFTA. As business globalized, organized labor should have been doing the same.
Obama went in to become a politician. Thats why he did the grassroots thing.
When that didn't help him, on advice of some people OBama suddenly got religion.
Not just any religion, but mega-church politically connected religion-- the kind that gets the vote. Fine I don't begrudge him that. All politicians are power mongers, otherwise they wouldn't get involved in politics.
I simply don't trust him. Sorry....I gotta stick to that.
Unless he gets some pro labor people around him, bot just Hollywood liberals and Obamaniacs, I'm voting Green... for the first time in my life in U.S.
I still will be voting Dem on state and local, of course.
"To say that 'he cares nothing about unions and blue collar worker or lower middle class' is complete nonsense. "
Reagan put us on a fundamentally different path because the country was ready for it. I think they felt like with all the excesses of the 1960s and 1970s and government had grown and grown but there wasn't much sense of accountability in terms of how it was operating. I think people, he just tapped into what people were already feeling, which was we want clarity we want optimism, we want a return to that sense of dynamism and entrepreneurship that had been missing." Obama interview.
Hmm... a man who admired Reagan and does not approve of Clinton.
It is laughable when a rookie disses a two-time President.
"Dynamism and entrepreneurship" these are conservative, union busting code words.
The "excesses" are code words for feminism, consumer rights, the civil rights , the environmental movement. Vietnam War opposition.
NICE
But time will tell..
Say what you want, but any person who graduates from Columbia, and moves to Chicago to community organize for 3 years, is OK with me. To say that 'he cares nothing about unions and blue collar worker or lower middle class' is complete nonsense.
Who are you?
Congrats on your election as President of the AFT, Ms Weingarten, and I would agree that the revival of the Labor Movement in the United States would be of tremendous benefit to the Nation. When I review the history of Labor in the United States (which has tragically been almost completely expunged from American Educational Curriclum), it is amazing how much influence labor pressure had in moving the Nation in a direction that was benefical to millions of Americans, and in keeping the Government and Corporations honest ...
When the IWW was able to call a General Strike and shut down an entire city ... that was when the American people still had leverage over the actions of Government and the Business Class. I would argue that the lack of a strong Labor Counterbalance in recent decades has brought the US Economy to the pitiful place we find it now ... with stagnant wages and outsourcing abroad of the very jobs that once empowered the American Consumer and created American prosperity for so many generations.
I am uncertain of what success reconstituting Labor Unions would have today, with so many of their tradtional trades outsourced, and so many white collar workers poisoned against them ... but there is no possible way for the US to get back on course without the strong imput of American Labor of every stripe.
Hopefully, once elected, Obama will recognize the true benefit of the Labor voice as well.
Oe problem labor unions had, that led to their vunerability to rethug lies and subsequent decline, was the movement of organized crime into their management under the guise of "professional management."
if the labor movement has so much potintial then let it realize it and be judged and paid on merit and talent and not on seniority and quota
If corporations are so well ran let's eliminate: sweetheart boardroom appointments, tax breaks and subsidies for wealthy companies, off-shore tax tricks.
Oh, let's pay corporate CEOs and boardroom on merit, tied DIRECTLY to the performance of the company and be paid on merit...... No profit no money or stock options. GREAT Idea. Now that will a great equalizer.
They should be able to survive on the sheer power of their enterprising spirit of competition... Right?
Let's start with Freddie, Fannie and go on to Ford and Enron.
"when unions are strong, the country thrives".
One may put it another way.....when companies pay "middle class wages" to employees.....companies, public services and the country does well too.
Look at our economy during it's most successful eras. Surprise, surprise, it was when union membership was at it's highes levels. Look at the areas of our country that are still doing well during our current recession, and in spite of a pathetic policy from the wingnuts, surprise, surprise, it is where union membership is the strongest. Why any middle class American would vote for a continued policy to roadblock the ability of working Americans to have rights, and be able to live in dignity is beyond me. When is the last time the Corporate Media allowed a labor leader to appear on their TV stations, write an editorial, or speak their ming on the radio?
I fully support Obama's candidacy and see it as imperative for American workers that he win the election. That said, I'm not so optimistic that Obama will bring anything but incremental change away from unfettered corporate power or help to restore the power of organized labor or reexamine trade deals that are written with only the interests of elites in mind, even with a Democratically controlled Congress in both houses. Considering the economic advisers Obama has surrounded himself with, we're more likely to get a rehash of Clintonian Third Way economic policies that helped to continue the downward spiral of organized labor started by Reagan. Indeed, Obama administration will be a softer, more thoughtful and gentler treatment of the middle class rather than the harsh, contemptuous attitude of the Republicans towards working people. It will be an improvement and may help to stem the slide backwards for the middle class, but it won't be anything more than noblesse oblige. Still, I'll take that over the rampant Fascism of the Republican party any day.
Obama has shown no interest in tossing NCLB, okays vouchers , and wants merit pay , which will ensure that no one will ever want to work in any school but one where they can be assured the tests scores will be A-OK.
So what exactly did your union get from Obama for our support?
Obama is a right wing Christian and social conservative. If he wins, vouchers as as good as gold. Especially for his church buddies at the various Evolution- and European civilization-bashing indoctrination..... ah.. sorry.... I mean religious private schools.
Pure Socialist horn swoggle. Teacher unions are one of the major impediments standing in the way of improving our public education system. Go to Europe or Canada if you want to see how much unions can contribute (in the way of damage). In Canada, 25% of the population work (in Europe it's worse) for the government and civil service unions who do nothing but complain are on rotating strikes at all time as soon as one group of unionized civil servants finish their strike the next union goes on strike. I predict that within 30 days even Obama and the silliest of Democrats who've been brainwashed or hijacked by the environmentalists will be claiming that they have been calling for oil exploration to be undertaken everywhere & they've been calling for it for the past 30 years. You should take a few economics courses to learn of what you speak.
You know, stevespelling, you inspired me! I intend on signing up for a few economics classes as soon as I complete my course study in Phrenology!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phrenology
Standard of living better in Canada and Europe, life expectancy better in Canada and in Europe, economy better in Canada and Europe. There are approx 500,000 civil servants in Canada. Out of a population of 33,000,000 do the math. Lived in Canada relatively few strikes. Lived in England relatively few strikes. By the way US manufacturers are relocating to Europe and Canada.
Quit spouting right wing twaddle and take a few economics courses from an accredited university, not from Faux.
Thank you for this post.
Since I am getting tired of hearing views of business owners, political pundits which
includes liberal columnists and bloggers whom I refer to as armchair activists, politicians
and whoever, posts like yours coming as they are from the frontline, it gives fresh air to the
atmosphere.
Well, even public tv talk programs like Charlie Rose, has not been open to unionists, laborers, farmers and small peasants, for the most part. So, webzines like the Hunffington Post should be commended for bringing these views into the open.
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Posted July 16, 2008 | 06:35 PM (EST)