Articles by Rob Callahan

If you are working a union job and have Labor Day off, you should recognize that you owe your leisure to a long tradition of solidarity.

‘Swamp People’s’ post crew has taught us something new about the leverage we have in post.

The organizer’s tale goes like this: Several individuals come to the realization that they deserve better than what those in charge want to give them; they find the courage to stand up for themselves; they develop the compassion to stand up for each other; they find power in solidarity; after a fight, they win.

A pool of individuals of extraordinary talents that had generated great wealth for their employers had come to feel indebted and indentured to the very organizations for which they amassed extravagant profits.

Fremantle is a large enough player that its going union will help to raise the bar for other employers.

Keeping the Guild in the dark about whom they employ and otherwise thwarting communication amongst their employees are some of the more effective ways a non-union employer can prevent its employees from organizing.

Anti-union zealots attempt to arouse jealousy and to pit one group of employees against another.  It’s a distraction from the fact that we’re all in the same boat…and that boat is sinking. 

In such conflicts, we must make a choice:  Either stand together with our co-workers, or side with the employers out to undermine them. 

While this fight has proven difficult and remains incomplete, there are encouraging lessons to take away from this job action as well.