The old trade unionism that began as a mass movement, a revolt really, by workers against working conditions and compensation is over and has been over for some time since the context has changed. Those strikes are now taking place in other parts of the world, such as China.
However, it would be a grave mistake to ignore history and not to learn from it, as well as to remember the sacrifices that changed that context.
At the same time, it is also good to realize that while the context has changed, different conditions now apply that involve many of the same issue. Now the trend is in the opposite direction, where hard won rights and benefits are being taken back by the owners to increase owner share. Thus, a similar response is required but it needs be framed in the present context rather than looking backward for solutions that worked then but may not be suitable now.
In order to balance the power of capital, labor needs the power of collective bargaining. That needs to be rebuilt without repeating the mistakes that brought the old "unionism" into disrepute, such as the leadership having been riddled with organized crime.
New Economic Perspectives
The 80th Anniversary of the Strike that Freed Minnesota from Tyranny
William Black
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