Never have I seen/heard so many good solid people, unionists, progressives of various stripes, activists/fighters verbalizing feelings of extreme frustration, powerlessness. Between COVID, complete legislative gridlock, a conservative packed Supreme Court, Trump’s continuing influence over large sections of white people influenced by racism, it seems as though the corporate ruling class has done a tremendous job of blocking any way forward. Wide sections of our people are fighting depression growing out of feelings of hopelessness.

However, as the great John Lewis liked to say; “It’s darkest just before the dawn! We cannot give up hope!”

As well, it is important for us to understand that the undemocratic power-grab by Republicans/corporate pols, is ultimately based in weakness, fear of a rising people’s movement, not in strength.

In previous periods, progressive government economic programs which put money into worker’s pockets, combined with Union organizing campaigns, have turned these situations around, funneling funds to workers, and helping the entire economy.

Obstacles To Progress Are Formidable

We can’t allow cynicism to become dominant! It is self-centered, defeatist, isolating and paralyzing if we allow it to capture us. Not only that, it is politically misdirecting, not allowing us to see the real progressive possibilities in front of us.

While our way forward continues to be blocked in the Senate by two corporate Ds, (Manchin-W.Va, Sessions-Ariz.), who’ve allied themselves, at least for now, with Senate Republicans blocking moves to eliminate the Senate filibuster so Biden/Democratic ‘Build Back Better’ proposal remains blocked. The reactionary Supreme Court, now with a right wing majority, also stands in the way.

Danger of fascism is greater than any time previously, as GOP works closely with right wing racist/fascist elements, who recently attempted an armed fascist coup.

Opportunity/Responsibility in Front of Us

While many areas of our economy are doing better, the wealth gap—that gap between working people and the super wealthy, remains where it had been, with literally ALL growth in the economy coming at the top, among the nation’s most wealthy. Working people, over the past 40 years, have gained nothing. Even here, any movement was at the very top, with top 1 percent gaining the more than the top 5 percent, and the tiny group of top 0.1 percent gaining more than the rest of the population combined.

A study recently published, by Carter Price/Kathryn Edwards of RANK Corporation, showed that the wealthy top 1 percent, due to structural shifts pushed thru by GOP, was able to “take $50 TRILLION from the bottom 90 percent of our economy.”

Along this, Bureau of Labor Statistics showed another 241,000 workers dropped off Union rolls this year, continuing organized labor’s decline. This represents around 10 percent of U.S. workforce (6 percent of all manufacturing workers), 14 million (down from 20 million, 11 percent in 1983). The decline is worse, down from 35 percent after WWII.

These numbers are DEVASTATING, especially after a year into the Biden regime! Make no mistake! Unless reversed, they can spell the annihilation of organized labor, a truly massive/unprecedented setback to the entire people’s movement.

Biden fired all of Trump’s anti-Union appointees within the Labor Department, replacing them with pro-Union appointees he brought in. More than that, Biden promised to be “Our nation’s most pro-Union president,” stating he plans to “rebuild our nation’s Labor Movement.” What we haven’t seen, as yet, is any really coordinated answering organizing drive coming from labor itself.

We have never seen this type of pro-Union partisanship from a US President, at least not since FDR/New Deal of the ‘30s. As with that period, a cooperative relationship between workers/Unions and the chief executive could pay huge positive dividends, if followed up on.

Historic Background/Outlook

It has been 87 years since FDR helped pass the Wagner Act, opening an entire new structural set-up that opened legal doors to workers wanting to join Unions. That was a key/central part of Roosevelt’s historic New Deal reform package designed to ease burdens on working folks hard-hit by the Great Depression of the 1930s. Then, as now, organized labor was small and corporations had enriched themselves at worker’s expense. The economy was mired in a deep depression where, also similar to the present, almost all wealth was going to the wealthy. It resulted in millions organizing into Unions, a wide sweep of progressive reforms, and influenced birth of new militant activist movements that improved people’s lives.

In today’s political climate, a multiple Union organizing push would overlap with, strongly influence, other movements against racism, for universal health care, for women’s/LGBT rights, retiree security.

It is here that Union organizing could have its biggest influence. This militancy/strength would isolate divisive/splitting forces, greatly strengthen unity of progressive forces across the board.

In my personal experience as activist/officer at the 8,000 worker USW, local 1104, Lorain, Ohio, I saw what it was like when workers were organized. Besides our local, with an active left, CP club and organized Rank & File Movement, Lorain County, Ohio had two UAW locals with over 2,000 workers each. A huge unionized shipyard was there and public workers joined the steelworkers.

It meant most workers had job security, pensions, health care and weren’t dropping into poverty with any setback. Unions got together for Labor Day, held events with over 40,000 at a local park. When one union had an issue, all of us answered, like when the local blood bank decided to go nonunion. We all stood united, boycotted them and a month later co backed off. In politics, we were educated, informed and elected folks that were with us.

All that ended, replaced by insecurity, fear, poverty and corporate rats feeding working people ignorance, hatred and fear! Voting numbers reflected this, as areas previously voting overwhelmingly Democratic, switched 100 percent. This model repeated across the entire area that had been “solid D,” switching up immediately to its exact opposite. Instead of our Union’s unifying presence, we now see corporate racist influence, ignorance, hopelessness.

While we wring our hands, question how/why workers went off the rails, why unity was disrupted, problems of this present political stalemate, I’d ask that we remember the role of Union miners in two key “problem states” (West Virginia, Arizona).

In the 70s, West Virginia miners were angry over safety/health issues. Demanding ‘black-lung’ benefits be improved/expanded, thousands marched on Charleston, that state’s capital. The next day legislators were seized by the new spirit of unity, passed improved benefits for ALL miners. Arizona, likewise, has a huge copper mine, militant USW local, formerly a militant Mine, Mill, Smelter local, it was the inspiration for “Salt of the Earth,” award winning film based on the big strike there.

Today, those states are “represented” by senators Manchin/Senima, who alone are blocking the path toward wide/progressive legislation. W Virginia doesn’t have a union mine today, and the USW miners local in Arizona doesn’t have the strength it once did. Does anyone think the situation wouldn’t be far different politically if labor was stronger in these areas?

The Way Forward

In today’s labor movement, anyone wanting to help out can find a place to fit in. If not in a union, you can join, or help build, a pro union coalition/committee and pitch in. Polls are showing workers as more pro-Union than any time since polling began.

We can:

• Pass local union, or labor federation, resolutions calling for setting up organizations to set up multi-union organizing committees.
• Write articles pushing need for union organizing.
• Put out info flyer on “how to” organize unions.
• Ask labor fed to organize classes on organizing.
• Work with local groups to help anyone wanting to help organize.
• Publish articles, letters/editor, flyers highlighting worker’s gains if unionized.
• Organize speakers to talk at Vets groups, retirees, women’s groups, retirees, small business folks and churches, highlighting how unions strengthen entire communities.

It’s not going to be easy, but it’ll be essential. We can, MUST be successful! Our fight is certainly for us, our families but also for whole communities, our bothers/sisters fighting to get out of this whole. Our fight is for us, but also for next generations, other workers, for a better, more just, world.