Campaign Update: Union 101

Over the past 40 years, the precipitous drop in the number of America's unionized workers (i.e. workers that are united, empowered, and protected by a contract) has meant many things for Americans. It has meant that overall we are working more, making less, and that overwhelmingly Americans have no idea what a union is or what a union does. On face this final point may not seem as pressing as abusive workplace policies, arbitrary firings, or unfair wages, but it is equally responsible for the exploitation of American workers. The lack of knowledge among American workers on what a union is and what a union does has meant that those interested in increasing profits on the backs of their workers and dis-empowering them in the workplace have been very successful in painting unions as something unnecessary, or even worse, bad. While I've always had a positive view of unions (as a result of actually understanding what it is that they do and how they work) the past month as a Union Summer Intern has given me even further insight of what unions are.

When I think of a union the following words come to mind: democracy, community, unity, civil rights, economic justice, grassroots.

What words come to your mind?

My lunch break at Chicago ACTS (Alliance of Charter School Teachers and Staff) is about to be over soon, and I've yet to eat lunch, so I'll catch up with you all later!

Cheers sisters and brothers!