I would like to report on a recent example of working class struggle where rank’n file workers stand up to their union bosses and corporate bosses. The "Future of the Union" website shows resistance in the class struggle through their uncompromising movement for radical change among autoworkers. They share a similar criticism of unions who continue to compromise against workers in favour of capitalist bosses. The following information is taken directly from their website www.futureoftheunion.com and I admire and commend them, as workers, who in their efforts stand up to their union leaders and to the car manufacturing industry.
I would like to report on a recent example of working class struggle where rank’n file workers stand up to their union bosses and corporate bosses. The "Future of the Union" website shows resistance in the class struggle through their uncompromising movement for radical change among autoworkers. They share a similar criticism of unions who continue to compromise against workers in favour of capitalist bosses. The following information is taken directly from their website www.futureoftheunion.com and I admire and commend them, as workers, who in their efforts stand up to their union leaders and to the car manufacturing industry.
Nancy LaPlante
"Our trade unions have been mired in the dead-end swamp of collaboration with the bosses – our class enemy – in the name of "teamwork" and "partnership." The facts speak for themselves: this "team" has a rotten, losing record and has landed us at the bottom of the standings." - Future of the Union
FUTURE OF THE UNION is a rank-n-file movement for radical change within the UAW. They believe there must be a new direction in the UAW and how it operates and they stand against union management cooperation and their joint activities programs. They stand for the abolishment of the capitalist system of exploitation and wage slavery, for solidarity with all working-class people around the world as a movement without national boundaries and false patriotism, by standing against religious, racist, sexual, and military oppression. They believe the working class should not be divided and among many other principled beliefs, they ‘act’, educate and agitate for a real democratic union and country. This movement is an excellent model for an inclusive working class movement with broad goals to end a ruthless, corrupt system, which places ‘capital’ as the priority over all life and quality of life.
As per Future of the Union website –
On January 8, 2006 between 600 to 700 rank-n-file members of the United Auto Workers in Michigan took to the streets of Detroit despite the lack of support from their union leadership. Average line workers, retirees, former presidents, ex-chairman, and dozens of active plant level union officials from Michigan came out to protest the GM-Delphi’s assault on the working-class.
Together they stood in solidarity on the freezing sidewalks of the North American International Auto Show outside the Cobo Conference Center. At the protest there was at least one worker from every UAW represented corporation in the State of Michigan. The majority being workers from Delphi whose very livelihoods lay on the brink of extinction while the UAW leadership remains idle. A large number of Ford and General Motors workers both active and retired were also present in solidarity due to recent concessions made from the international union leadership against them. The Michigan brothers and sisters were joined by dozens of UAW rank-n-file who traveled from as far away as Indiana, Ohio, New York, Alabama, Kentucky, Wisconsin and even California. There was not a single Delphi or GM plant in the Midwest that did not have delegates to the picket. At their side were many organizations that had sent delegates in support of GM-Delphi workers - members from the IWW, The Green Party, CAW, AFSCME, IBT, WSW, ISO, IWP, and others who believe in the class-struggle.
They were not surprised that the UAW bureaucracy and their businessmen posing as union leaders in the Solidarity House did not respond to their invitation or even attend, let alone support the protest. They do not believe in rank-n-file mobilization and are unable to comprehend real solidarity from the bottom.
Similar to the grassroots struggle of the Coordinating Committee and many other past, present and future working class struggles, The Future of the Union demonstrates through their actions and resistance that unionism is not a real container for working class struggle, as the unions have always maintained their position as negotiators and bargainers with the capitalists. The rank and file including future rank and file workers are not truly represented, cannot be represented by unions whose goal is to ‘compromise’ and make concessions with corporate bosses. The rank and file workers need to have unity that is anti-capitalist in nature in order that compromises to their interests are not made. The UAW as unions do, negotiates with the capitalists. The union itself without being anti-capitalist cannot truly represent workers. The rank and file are the only ones who can lead the way. At the heart and nature of each worker is the pure ideal of not wage-slaving for a salary. Who wants their life to be dictated by wages, and worse, who wants to continue in a world where our children are guaranteed to be wage-slaving too? At the heart of every worker is a world without capitalism where profits do not exist, and where the ability to contribute to the functioning of a just and equal society is meaningful and empowering.
