Building Strong Unions Starts with Democracy

 

This issue of The Highball is dedicated to rank-and-file democracy and the struggle to achieve it inside of our unions. Sadly, it is all too common to hear academics, union leaders and even rank-and-file union members decry the need for democracy. As with many people who are engaged in a struggle, a cause, there is a tendency to say to the ranks, “We are your leaders, and we are in struggle on your behalf, unite behind us and trust us, and we will win.” Don’t be tempted by this autocratic line of bullshit. 

Democracy is important. It is not just a pretty sounding idea that a bunch of old guys came up with a few centuries ago. Without democracy it is impossible to have effective unions. Period. Here’s why: 

First, if the members are involved, if their opinions and votes matter, if they are consulted about their views on issues, contracts, leadership, finances, etc., they will be more likely to be involved. Once they are involved, they will identify and take ownership of the union. They will now go to the wall for the union. They are part of it. On the other hand, if they are excluded, denied access, have no right to an opinion or to dissent, then they will sit the whole thing out on the sidelines. And no union has power without its membership. 

Second, if there is a failure of democracy in the union, the leadership will invariably stray from the wishes of the membership. They have no way of knowing what the members want without democracy. And they will have little interest in properly representing their members if they are not held accountable at every turn. 

Third, without democratic accountability, the union leadership will invariably come to see the world more from the view of the employer rather than that of the membership. Union leaders spend a lot of time in the company of politicians, lawyers, and worst of all, the employers. They come to identity and see them selves as “equals” with these suit-and-ties. Being “responsible” partners, seeing things from “the company’s point of view”, and striking deals and compromises all become more important than forcefully representing their membership. Without rank-and-file pressure – democracy – even the best leader can quickly degenerate into this roll of “labor statesman”. 

Finally, if not reined in, union leaders can fall victim to the lure of their all-too-often cushy jobs. They no longer work in their old craft: they don’t have to work weekends, nights or holidays; they have more flexible schedules; they no longer work under the contracts they negotiate; they make more money than the members they represent; and in most cases, once they have climbed to the level of international labor leader, they know they are no longer going to ever work again in their old craft, effectively insulating them against rank-and-file pressure. Us rank-and-file union members need to consider reforms -- salary caps, limits on perks, mandates to rotate back into the craft every so often or even term limits, as necessary and democratic constitutional provisions to keep our union leaders accountable to us. 

When union leaders know they will be held accountable by educated, informed and active members; when they know they will have no special perks and privileges; and when they know they will have to rotate back into the craft to work and live under the contracts that their regime negotiates with the employer, only then will we have more effective and honest union leaders. Only the best will rise to the top then, not the opportunists and careerists who wish to escape from the ranks. As Eugene V. Debs once said, “When I rise it will be with the ranks, and not from the ranks!” Democracy is central to the struggle for effective unions, good contracts and all the rest. We have a lot of work to do. Let’s get started!

 

 

 

Attachment	Size
Winter 2010 Regular Section FINAL.pdf	99.3 KB
Winter 2010 Insert FINAL.pdf	153.63 KB