The Civil Wars in U.S. Labor: Birth of a New Workers' Movement or Death Throes of the Old? (Ultimate Series)

BETWEEN 2008 AND 2010, the progressive wing of the U.S. labor movement tore itself apart in a series of internecine struggles. More than $140 million was expended, by all sides, on organizing conflicts that tarnished union reputations and undermined the campaign for real health care and labor law reform. Campus and community allies, along with many rank-and-file union members, were left angered and dismayed. In this incisive new book, labor journalist Steve Early draws on scores of interviews and on his own union organizing experience to explain why and how these labor civil wars occurred. He examines the bitter disputes about union structure, membership rights, organizing strategy, and contract standards that enveloped SEIU, UNITE HERE, the California Nurses Association, and independent organizations like the Federación de Maestros de Puerto Rico and the new National Union of Healthcare Workers in California. Along the way, we meet rank-and-file activists, local union officers, national leaders, and concerned friends of labor who were drawn into the fray. Praise Title Page Dedication Preface and Acknowledgments Organizations and Abbreviations Introduction Chapter 1 - The Quest for Union Renewal Bankrolling the Left Lessons of the UFW “Union of Their Dreams” Becomes a Nightmare A New School of Hard Knocks Chapter 2 - Taking the High Road to Growth? Management’s Anti-Union Campaign Lessons of the MMC Defeat Taking the High Road Instead Bargaining to Organize The Partnership Approach Growth versus Standards at CHW and Tenet A Nursing Home Alliance Internal Criticism Grows Taking the Low Road in Santa Rosa A Different Approach Respecting the “Just Rights” of Workers? Chapter 3 - A Scramble for New Members A History of Union Competition A Jump Start from ACORN An Organizing Boost from Blago The Price of “Pay to Play” SEIU versus AFSCME in California At War with the Nurses “A Butt-Whipping They Will Never Forget” Chapter 4 - Dial 1-800-MY-UNION? Getting Away from Grievance Handling An Import from Australia A Teletype Model of Representation Mobilizing for Power with Stewards “Our Call Center Is a Little Different” Nothing But Positive Feedback? Some California Complaining The Membership Backlash Against MRCs Megalocal Disengagement A Resource Center Reassessment? Chapter 5 - Who Rules SEIU (and Who Doesn’t) SEIU Mergers and Consolidations Resenting Democracy Andy Stern’s Management Team The Abuse of Trusteeships Upward Mobility in Other Unions Not the Best and Brightest A Charmed Existence More Problems in L.A. Hurricane Jane Hits Nevada More Election Misconduct in San Diego Tallying Up the Damage A Megalocal Success Story? The Price of Dissent in Boston Chapter 6 - The Mother of All Trusteeships Rhode Island Rebellion An Old-Time Union Bully? From Private to Public Criticism The Anti-Trusteeship Campaign UHW Takeover or Dismemberment? The Ray Marshall Show A Chance for Compromise? Martial Law in Oakland Nurses to the Rescue (but Not for Long) A Different Kind of Union NUHW on Trial Chapter 7 - Ivy League Amigos No More Labor’s War of the Roses A Laundry Worker’s Story Up Against “Big Purple” Making Sense of the Craziness The Food Service Fight A Pink-Sheeting Controversy One Casualty of War An April Fools’ Day Deposition Chapter 8 - The Progressive Quandary Labor’s Academic Alliance—in Happier Days Presenting a “Left Narrative”—Online and over Lunch A Dialogue Derailed Independent Scholarship or Work for Hire? Chapter 9 - How EFCA Died for Obamacare Doubts During the Transition The First Hundred Days A Health Care Summit The Role of Specter and Baucus “Don’t Tax Our Benefits!” A Member-Driven Process? A “Working Class Revolt” The Death of EFCA Chapter 10 - Labor Day: The Sequel The Cost of Civil War A Struggle for Succession Healing Together at Kaiser? Kaiser Stewards versus the Staff Help from a Management Partner Old Enemies Organize Together The Achilles Heel of Home Care Unionism A Union Divorce Gets Settled The Hard Slog of SEIU Reform A Purple Parting of Ways with ACORN A Puerto Rican Lesson Conclusion Notes Index Also from Haymarket Books About Haymarket Books About the Author Copyright Page front.png “Should be required reading for all workers'rights advocates.” —Bernie SandersBetween 2008 and 2010, the progressive wing of the US labor movement tore itself apart in a series of internecine struggles. More than $140 million was expended, by all sides, on organizing conflicts that tarnished union reputations and undermined the campaign for real health care and labor law reform. Campus and community allies, along with many rank-and-file union members, were left angered and dismayed.In this incisive book, labor journalist Steve Early draws on scores of interviews and on his own union organizing experience to explain why and how these labor civil wars occurred. He examines the bitter disputes about union structure, membership rights, organizing strategy, and contract standards that enveloped SEIU, UNITE HERE, the California Nurses Association, and independent organizations like the Federación de Maestros de Puerto Rico and the new National Union of Healthcare Workers in California. Along the way, we meet rank-and-file activists, local union officers, national leaders, and concerned friends of labor who were drawn into the fray, as Early considers the quest to stem the tide of the labor movement's long decline. Trade Union Leader And Journalist Steve Early Discusses How To Reverse American Labour's Current Decline. Introduction : From The Sixties To San Juan -- The Quest For Union Renewal -- Taking The High Road To Growth -- A Scramble For New Members -- Dial 1-800-my-union? -- Who Rules Seiu (and Who Doesn't) -- The Mother Of All Trusteeships -- Ivy League Amigos No More -- The Progressive Quandary -- How Efca Died For Obamacare -- Labor Day, The Sequel -- Conclusion : Signs Of A New Workers' Movement?. Steve Early. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Preface and Acknowledgments Organizations and Abbreviations From the Sixties to San Juan The Quest for Union Renewal Taking the High Road to Growth? A Scramble for New Members Dial 1-800-MY-UNION? Who Rules SEIU (and Who Doesn't) The Mother of All Trusteeships Ivy League Amigos No More The Progressive Quandary How EFCA Died for Obamacare Labor Day: The Sequel Signs of a New Workers' Movement? Notes Index Longtime trade union leader and journalist Steve Early examines labor's civil wars, offering strategies for turning back labor's thirty-year decline.