Reprinted from The Washington Post by Eli Rosenberg on April 6, 2021.
“In the 1930s and 40s, a big upswing in union organizing in the United States was marked by successful campaigns at high-profile companies like General Motors, Ford, US Steel and AT&T,” writes Eli Rosenberg in The Washington Post.
“Now, organizers are hoping that the union fight at Amazon could serve as a similar bellwether, particularly if it is successful — capitalizing on the most pro-labor climate in Washington in decades to inspire a wave of organizing around the country.
“The votes are still being tallied in Bessemer, Alabama, where workers have been organizing to form the first US-based union at an Amazon warehouse. …
The John Ford film proved just as inspirational, and true to the “This Land Is Your Land” philosophy of Guthrie. It is still considered one of the great works of art in international cinema.
The WGA … reached a June 30 agreement on a three-year TV/theatrical deal with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, topping off a triennial negotiating cycle like none in recent memory … with ballots due July 22.
There will forever be a need to do more work towards building a better union for the future. Those of us in leadership roles need to examine ourselves and be not just open but willing to embrace new ideas and new ways of doing things.