Sometimes stories happen because of planning; other times serendipity intervenes, which is how we got to the conversation we'll be having today.
In an exchange of comments on the Blue Hampshire site, I proposed an idea that could be of real value to unions, workers...and surprisingly, employers.
If things worked out correctly, not only would lots of people feel a real desire to have unions represent them, but employers would potentially be coming to unions looking to forge relationships, and, just to make it better, this plan bypasses virtually all of the tools and techniques employers use to shut out union organizers.
Since I just thought this up myself, I'm really not sure exactly how practical the whole thing is, and the last part of the discussion today will be provided by you, as I ask you to sound off on whether this plan could work, and if so, how it could be made better.
It's a new week...so let's all put our heads together and rebuild the labor movement, shall we?
As the son of a union member, I witnessed one of the last successful strikes - the CWA/NYNEX strike in 1989 - which lasted 17 weeks.
When I moved here to Louisiana in 2003, I was struck by how the union movement was in the fetal position down here. Not anymore. Not with the election of Don Cazayoux to Congress. But I am still surprised by the number of former union workers here who still cannot pull the lever for Barack Obama. This one's for them:
The entire speech is below the jump, with the video portion of the speech in bold.
This afternoon, the Louisiana AFL-CIO announced that it is backing State Rep. Don Cazayoux in his bid to replace outgoing Rep. Richard Baker, who is retiring to take a lobbying job with the Mutual Fund Association.
Regarding the endorsement, Louisiana AFL-CIO President Louis Reine stated:
"Based on his record of support for Louisiana's working families, the AFL-CIO is pleased to endorse Don Cazayoux for the sixth Congressional district race. We are confident Don will be a strong voice for working families in Washington."
This is just more good news for the Cazayoux campaign. Mr. Cazayoux will qualify for the special election tomorrow, and I hear that his campaign will be announcing a very impressive fundraising haul for this quarter, which for them, started a mere three weeks ago.
Yesterday, the Louisiana AFL-CIO Federation endorsed Foster Campbell for Governor. The picture at left shows Louisiana AFL-CIO President Louis Reine shaking Foster's hand at the announcement. The Campbell campaign sent out an email announcement to their supporters, in which Mr. Reine had this to say about Foster:
"Unions representing the building trades, public employees, teachers, fire fighters and police officers, transportation workers and others all agreed that Foster Campbell is the best candidate for working people and their families. He has had an outstanding career as a consumer advocate fighting for workers' rights.
Foster Campbell's plan to tax foreign oil is an idea whose time has come in Louisiana. Our state has been bled dry by the foreign-dominated oil companies, and it's time for them to pay their fair share. Under his plan, we can restore our coastline, rebuild our transportation infrastructure, improve our health care, protect and educate our citizens, and at the same time give all workers a pay raise by abolishing the state income tax."
Seriously, that's the best way to explain abolishing the state income tax I've ever heard - give yourself a pay raise. Of course, we'd have to ensure that the oil and gas fee on foreign oil is in place before doing so.
