Good synopsis, Jen! We need to look to groups who have lead the fight against the Oligarchs before. These are trying times and they will get more trying. Everyone pay attention - tRump has overreached and resistance will really aggravate and hopefully, destabilize him.
Block the road now. Too much is at risk to wait! Mobilize Blue state National Guards when threatened. Wait until then. The invasion of one state by another is a call to state Governors to mobilize their National Guards to resist an UNLAWFUL assault. The U.S. military should not accept UNLAWFUL orders. The sooner we get this over with, the better. This confrontation is coming. It is coming! We are stronger now than we will be tomorrow. The confrontation is not a battle or a war. It is a standoff at State borders. One state would be trying to invade another. One is the offender. The other, the defender. We know TACO.
Also, the gerrymander fight is on. There is a new playbook. The old rules have been struck down by the Supreme Court. We need to change the gears here as fast as possible for deadly PREEMPTIVE strikes. Newsom has moved out on this already. Who is next? Hochul. Where are you? NO EXCUSE! Change your state Constitution. Pritzker. What are you doing?
Both my husband and myself belonged to unions (teachers, airline pilots).
It's always struck me that our current "shareholders' profits are the primary goal of all businesses, by law" model misses some very important realities.
It is the workers who ultimately generate the products and services that provide PROFITS for the shareholders. Workers pay, benefits, and living standards were made a priority by the unions who represent them to balance the power and the profits between capital and labor.
Over the last 40 years or so, our national (Republican) creed of "profits for shareholders are the most important thing" has produced the nightmare plutocracy and severe income inequality we are experiencing now, where the billionaires don't even have to pretend to care about the masses anymore.
It's time to rebalance the scales again. A country without a thriving middle class is a third-world country at constant risk of revolution.
Robert Reich has written about this extensively. The stakeholders have been forsaken in the push to maximize shareholder value. This includes whole communities as well as individual workers. Remember “company towns”?
Thanks for the reminder of these historic leaders. I’m writing a narrative nonfiction book about 8 female union activists from our labor history. They are an inspiration.
It is a wonderful change to read of humanity's best. All 3 are giants, both as human beings and as achievers. I saw PBS documentaries on Addams and Huerta. Spectacular, simply spectacular. Our plant truly shines through such people.
I was in Austin at the capitol a couple of weekends ago for a rally against Texas Republicans. Delores Huerta spoke. She is 95 years old. She was fantastic! I did not know she had 11 children.
Organizers, please remember that many of those who attend these protests are alumni/ae of the protests of the '60's and '70's. Meaning, our eyes are older and might not lend themselves to night driving. (And in many areas, public transportation is a myth.) If we need to drive home after dark, this may be a problem; in my time zone sunset is at 7:30 nowadays. At the other recent events I've attended, senior citizens were in the majority. Schedule accordingly, please and thank you.
I wish for leaders again who believe in the American worker. I read constantly about men who do not feel a part of our society of great opportunity. Lots of reasons, I'm sure, but no matter what party we belong to, we must address this issue. Without it, we won't make the progress we must make to give DEI a chance to make us a GREAT strong country. The American worker is where we must focus our attention. Trump and oligarchy be damned. I am reading a memoir of an American who worked in the Border Patrol; we are talking about people who only want a better future like so many of us homegrowns! We are not talking about criminals. Trump be damned.
There was a time back in the fifties that unions were out of line with their negotiations as they yielded radical demands that were unrealistic.
Jim Hoffa was an example. He held the trucking industry in his hands. He knew it. He had Trump qualities.
It wasn’t until the seventies that unions made the decision to have intelligent qualified professionals do the bargaining for them. Since that time the playing field changed and the results are win - win for the union and the company.
We do need to remember that at some point union leaders began to feel they were entitled to the kind of perks business execs had: cars and chauffeurs, first-class travel, envelopes sometimes exorbitant salaries. They too built their lives on the sweat of workers. Not all but very many union leaders of the seventies (maybe earlier, definitely later) became as corrupt as the corporate titans they ostensibly opposed. The same thing happened in academia. University presidents, deans, even professors wanted the big homes on campus, the bonuses, the level of salaries that drove tuitions through the roof. Power wielded on behalf of the oppressed is still power, and needs to be watched and kept in check.
I’m trying to remember from the election, wasn’t that the Teamsters who failed to endorse Harris? I know it was some big union. I wonder what they’re thinking about that failure to endorse now.
You are correct. The national Teamsters refused to endorse her. Local Teamsters groups, such as in Michigan, did endorse her, but they had to work without the national resources that a national endorsement would have unlocked for their effort on her behalf.
The Teamsters were largely responsible for unions getting a negative images in the minds of many people, due to their ties to organized crime and tactics that included violence and intimidation.
And the teamsters are striking against Republic which is the trash company that picks up in my town in Massachusetts. I usually support unions in this endeavor, because they seem to just be asking to be paid with every other garbage company pays their workers. But it’s always a suspicious thing when you see the teamsters because of the reasons you site, their history is not impressive as to corruption.
It’s important to remember and keep in the public eye the struggles of the past. This I think is critical as Trump and crew work to erase anything that reflects a non white male.
Good synopsis, Jen! We need to look to groups who have lead the fight against the Oligarchs before. These are trying times and they will get more trying. Everyone pay attention - tRump has overreached and resistance will really aggravate and hopefully, destabilize him.
Block the road now. Too much is at risk to wait! Mobilize Blue state National Guards when threatened. Wait until then. The invasion of one state by another is a call to state Governors to mobilize their National Guards to resist an UNLAWFUL assault. The U.S. military should not accept UNLAWFUL orders. The sooner we get this over with, the better. This confrontation is coming. It is coming! We are stronger now than we will be tomorrow. The confrontation is not a battle or a war. It is a standoff at State borders. One state would be trying to invade another. One is the offender. The other, the defender. We know TACO.
Also, the gerrymander fight is on. There is a new playbook. The old rules have been struck down by the Supreme Court. We need to change the gears here as fast as possible for deadly PREEMPTIVE strikes. Newsom has moved out on this already. Who is next? Hochul. Where are you? NO EXCUSE! Change your state Constitution. Pritzker. What are you doing?
https://hotbuttons.substack.com/p/gerrymander-fight?r=3m1bs
Both my husband and myself belonged to unions (teachers, airline pilots).
It's always struck me that our current "shareholders' profits are the primary goal of all businesses, by law" model misses some very important realities.
It is the workers who ultimately generate the products and services that provide PROFITS for the shareholders. Workers pay, benefits, and living standards were made a priority by the unions who represent them to balance the power and the profits between capital and labor.
Over the last 40 years or so, our national (Republican) creed of "profits for shareholders are the most important thing" has produced the nightmare plutocracy and severe income inequality we are experiencing now, where the billionaires don't even have to pretend to care about the masses anymore.
It's time to rebalance the scales again. A country without a thriving middle class is a third-world country at constant risk of revolution.
I second the truth that "it is the workers who ultimately generate the products and services that provide PROFITS for the shareholders."
Robert Reich has written about this extensively. The stakeholders have been forsaken in the push to maximize shareholder value. This includes whole communities as well as individual workers. Remember “company towns”?
It's nice to have this overview, but we need leaders now, not in history. Alive and most definitely KICKING, and taking to the streets.
General strike.
See you in September in DC.
https://removalcoalition.org/
Congress returns. There are many issues we can use to convince a few Congressional Republicans. Brian Fitzpatrick is a case study.
Pressure them directly, their donors, families, social friends etc. Picket. Sit in.
Proportionally 4 x more crime in MAGA Mike's home town than in DC. Memphis is the most crimeridden city in the US. Jackson, Mississippi! Bessemer, AL!
Interview the National Guardsmen. Odds are more crime at home.
Labor Day 2025, Workers Over Billionaires https://maydaystrong.org/
true, but we can be inspired by history...sons of liberty et. al.
Thanks for the reminder of these historic leaders. I’m writing a narrative nonfiction book about 8 female union activists from our labor history. They are an inspiration.
It is a wonderful change to read of humanity's best. All 3 are giants, both as human beings and as achievers. I saw PBS documentaries on Addams and Huerta. Spectacular, simply spectacular. Our plant truly shines through such people.
I was in Austin at the capitol a couple of weekends ago for a rally against Texas Republicans. Delores Huerta spoke. She is 95 years old. She was fantastic! I did not know she had 11 children.
I saw & met her in Napa, 8 years ago. Dynamic force with great spirit & a smile that lit up everyone’s heart!
Great reminder about labor leaders and why we should support unions. Labor Day is not a shopping holiday. Thank you.
Good to have this history. Protest Labor Day all over the US. Find one and make a sign and get out on the street.
Organizers, please remember that many of those who attend these protests are alumni/ae of the protests of the '60's and '70's. Meaning, our eyes are older and might not lend themselves to night driving. (And in many areas, public transportation is a myth.) If we need to drive home after dark, this may be a problem; in my time zone sunset is at 7:30 nowadays. At the other recent events I've attended, senior citizens were in the majority. Schedule accordingly, please and thank you.
It can clearly seen that labor unions have been fighting the exact same thing that we are now facing, for AT LEAST the last century, probably longer.
Money, power (generated by money) and greed (generated by both money and power).
When labor speaks, listen. They have been fighting this systemic evil long enough to know how to win.
I wish for leaders again who believe in the American worker. I read constantly about men who do not feel a part of our society of great opportunity. Lots of reasons, I'm sure, but no matter what party we belong to, we must address this issue. Without it, we won't make the progress we must make to give DEI a chance to make us a GREAT strong country. The American worker is where we must focus our attention. Trump and oligarchy be damned. I am reading a memoir of an American who worked in the Border Patrol; we are talking about people who only want a better future like so many of us homegrowns! We are not talking about criminals. Trump be damned.
Oh ya A. P. Randolph played a significant role in John Lewis' autobiography.
May the spirit of those two and others like them be with us not only this Labor Day but every day under the tyranny we are experiencing!
There was a time back in the fifties that unions were out of line with their negotiations as they yielded radical demands that were unrealistic.
Jim Hoffa was an example. He held the trucking industry in his hands. He knew it. He had Trump qualities.
It wasn’t until the seventies that unions made the decision to have intelligent qualified professionals do the bargaining for them. Since that time the playing field changed and the results are win - win for the union and the company.
Yes, for the most part unions are good.
Without unions we wouldn't have the 40 hour workweek, paid overtime, safety protection rules and a slew of other real benefits.
Hoffa is dead. We can always be on the watch for corrupt officials, and most of those people at this time are connected to the White House.
We do need to remember that at some point union leaders began to feel they were entitled to the kind of perks business execs had: cars and chauffeurs, first-class travel, envelopes sometimes exorbitant salaries. They too built their lives on the sweat of workers. Not all but very many union leaders of the seventies (maybe earlier, definitely later) became as corrupt as the corporate titans they ostensibly opposed. The same thing happened in academia. University presidents, deans, even professors wanted the big homes on campus, the bonuses, the level of salaries that drove tuitions through the roof. Power wielded on behalf of the oppressed is still power, and needs to be watched and kept in check.
I’m trying to remember from the election, wasn’t that the Teamsters who failed to endorse Harris? I know it was some big union. I wonder what they’re thinking about that failure to endorse now.
You are correct. The national Teamsters refused to endorse her. Local Teamsters groups, such as in Michigan, did endorse her, but they had to work without the national resources that a national endorsement would have unlocked for their effort on her behalf.
The Teamsters were largely responsible for unions getting a negative images in the minds of many people, due to their ties to organized crime and tactics that included violence and intimidation.
Ironically it was also the Teamsters who often got the best benefits for their members. I hope there's not a lesson there.
Hopefully, it was from solidarity.
I'm sure it was, but possibly with a little thuggery here and there. :)
Yes and I believe its president is still supporting Trump.
And the teamsters are striking against Republic which is the trash company that picks up in my town in Massachusetts. I usually support unions in this endeavor, because they seem to just be asking to be paid with every other garbage company pays their workers. But it’s always a suspicious thing when you see the teamsters because of the reasons you site, their history is not impressive as to corruption.
It’s important to remember and keep in the public eye the struggles of the past. This I think is critical as Trump and crew work to erase anything that reflects a non white male.
@jenniferrubin Great acknowledgements! Please correct typo in 2nd graf—AFL,not ALF 😏