That Union Thing
Americans Want Unions!
49% of people are dissatisfied with their jobs...with layoffs and reductions there’s more pressure on people to produce more...the average CEO pay is 500 times that of the average worker...corporate accounting scandals abound...61% of Oklahomans think the one-year old Right to Work law has done nothing to improve the economy...it’s no wonder workers want unions (58% of workers age 18 to 34 would say yes).
History has shown that a stronger worker voice through unions can reduce corporate abuse of power as well as increase economic security and equality. That’s what unions are about...we have a vested interest in the means of our livelihood, and our voices should be heard.
And we can see ourselves as part of something bigger. Being able to control more of the aspects of our job and the direction the business takes empowers us to make things better not only for ourselves, but for our employers as well. Those that do the work are an invaluable (if often underused) resource for making “products” better. Whether it be suggestions for programming changes that will sell more tickets or for rehearsal procedures that allow us to perform at a higher level, a union voice is a good thing!
From AFL-CIO Work in Progress:
ORGANIZING FOR BETTER CARE—To gain a voice at work and a say in the way care is provided, a majority of 120 nursing home workers at Rio Pinar Health Care in Orlando, Fla., voted last month for SEIU District 1199FL.
SOLIDARITY SÍ—After a long battle, 10 on-air employees at Chicago’s WSNS-TV, owned by Telemundo, voted for AFTRA this month. “The election in Chicago is just the first step of AFTRA’s ongoing efforts on behalf of Spanish-language broadcasters and performers in the United States,” said Huerta Suarez, AFTRA’s director of special projects
DO THE MILWAUKEE MASH—Theatrical workers in Milwaukee are mobilizing to raise public awareness that nonunion touring productions pay sub-par wages and benefits. Members of MASH—Musicians, Actors and Stage Hands—leafleted recent performances of the nonunion production of “Rent” to advise patrons that little of their ticket price was going to cast and crew.
CLEAR AGREEMENT—AFTRA reached an agreement April 22 with Clear Channel Radio, averting a planned strike of on-air hosts at four of Clear Channel’s five New York City stations. AFTRA is conducting a nationwide campaign to save live radio, targeting, among others, Clear Channel for replacing live local announcers with canned voice radio shows.
CARD-CHECK VICTORY—A total of 271 Linens of the Week workers at facilities in three cities—including Miami—won respect on the job with UNITE this month via a card-check. Linens of the Week is a linen laundry and rental company.
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