The AFL-CIO has scheduled their annual convention for September 8-11, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. they have asked for feedback and ideas for further discussion to strategize the recovery of the American Union movement. I have written the following in their comment blog page:
The economy of the United States grew in strength with the growth of unions. the United States Post-world War II economy peaked with the period of greatest union strength in our history. Unfortunately, unions became overly self-protective, failed to learn the economics and politics of business and failed to meet the challenge of "right to work" states.
If unions are to recover their strength, they must become a relevant voice for labor that seeks partnership with business and government from a position of competitive power. Conservatives tout the value of a competitive marketplace, but powerful business interests always seek market monopoly (ask Monsanto about that). They also seek operational monopoly vilifying the voice of labor. It is up to the union movement to provide labor that marketplace voice and ability to compete.
This can be done through the promotion of training, high standards of worker skills, safety and efficient cost effective delivery of product, that neither foreign or non-union labor cannot provide or compete with. Strategies to bring production home to domestic union shops that guarantee the quality and consistency needed to contain costs.
Unions ought to be most aggressive in the right to work states promoting labor protective legislation, working relationships with state's infrastructure projects and vocational training programs. They should also be seeking worker support to form unions that will provide a voice for some, if not all workers in a plant or business operation to speak and work with management to ensure a healthy productive environment that promotes stability for both the worker and the company, which is needed for a company to flourish.
This is happening at Walmart. that labor movement ought to be a model for the future of the union movement.
