Thursday, January 6, 2011

Make it 5 Stories to Follow in 2011

 4. Republican controlled state legislatures' anti-union efforts
From a recent New York Times Article:
"Republican lawmakers in Indiana, Maine, Missouri and seven other states plan to introduce legislation that would bar private sector unions from forcing workers they represent to pay dues or fees, reducing the flow of funds into union treasuries. In Ohio, the new Republican governor, following the precedent of many other states, wants to ban strikes by public school teachers.
Some new governors, most notably Scott Walker of Wisconsin, are even threatening to take away government workers’ right to form unions and bargain contracts."

 Thanks to Erica Berencsi for forwarding the article.


5.  Union use of blogs in organizing campaigns 
The Word on Employment Law linked to an interesting IBEW story about an anonymously carried out organizing drive that proved successful in a New York can plant. According to the IBEW story:
"Employees reached out to Local 363 last spring for support – but the fear of captive-audience meetings, harassment and other actions by the employer left many at the plant wary of how to press forward without management sidelining their efforts.
 So organizers got crafty and set up a special blog strictly for the 164 employees to debate, strategize, air concerns and ultimately come together for victory, all while avoiding many of the union-busting tactics so common in most campaigns. "
Will we see more of this type of blog-led campaign in 2011? With the rise of the smart phone and tablet, I would think so.

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