Only six percent of private sector American workers are in unions. 

Worse, the percentage is steadily declining year after year.

Worse yet, there is neither a labor plan nor effort to reverse or retard decline. I wonder if there is the will.

I’ve been deeply disappointed by organized labor’s refusal to resist fascism and fight rising racism. I could hardly believe there wasn’t a union presence except for scattered unionists like me at the amazing, ground shaking Women’s March Jan. 21, 2016.

The AFLCIO had to work to avoid resistance to Trump as he and his train of racism and fascism has rolled over and across America leaving only cruelty, pain, and destruction. 

There are five things American labor must do to begin reacting to our survival crisis:

1) First, organized labor should immediately unite with young progressives calling for Bernie Sanders to be Secretary of Labor.  Young progressives and labor are a great and essential coalition with a constituency we need.  BERNIE IS OUR BEST ASSURANCE AN ECONOMIC JUSTICE AGENDA WILL BE A PRIORITY FOR THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.  Bernie will carry an economic agenda that meets needs of unions and workers who’ve never had a chance to be union.

2) With or without Bernie, the AFLCIO would be wise to once again look outward instead of focusing only internally.  Start by pushing an economic agenda to address not only unions’ needs but the needs of all American workers–$15 minimum wage, healthcare, workers’ rights, organizing rights, paid paternity leave, paid sick leave, and on and on. An economic agenda that addresses the entirety of America’s working class is the best road to unity.

3) Rebuild member mobilization capacity.   Our members in motion has always been labor’s only source of real power. 

4) Broaden the idea, concept and reality of the American labor movement.   Unions are steadily hemorrhaging members, and consequently, power.  Organizing only under unfair legal processes and protocol is not enough.  We must embrace and join with all organizations and movements of workers for economic justice.  Worker centers, women workers rights groups, independent unions, and other organizations of workers belong in a broader, bigger and more diverse labor movement.

5) Organizations of human beings have organic properties including the necessity of growth, adaptation to change, resources invested in a secure future.  All of labor must prioritize organizing across every sector of the economy, especially every element of new sustainable and green energy.  And we gotta fight like hell for every worker trapped in a dying industry.

We know how to reverse labor’s decline.  In 2007 and 2008 when I was Organizing Director of the AFLCIO we grew union membership for the first time in a generation, but it is hard work.  Hard work that must be done.

…