Why Are Union Busters SO SCARED of us?
Recently, the union-busting firm IRI Consultants caught notice of our worker-led attempts for more aggressive worker-led organizing.
To market their services, they wrote a blog post about attempts to strengthen the UFCW. They say that the UFCW Executive Board has been “put on notice” that members expect more. They then proceeded to market their services to fight more aggressive unionization pushes.
Background
Before we go any further, a little bit of background is useful. Essential Workers for a Democratic UFCW was an early attempt by UFCW members and local officers to bring reforms such as one member one vote, more aggressive organizing, and coordinating bargaining to their union. We have folded these efforts into our organization, Essential Workers for Democracy, which aims to bring these and other reforms to all unions that do not have them.
IRI Consultants is a management consulting firm that helps businesses engage in union busting. They are not subtle about selling this service. They make their money, as their website proclaims: “decertifying existing unions”. Their media division, Projections Inc., boasts of their long record of preventing unionization.
IRI sees the potential of aggressive organizing. Why doesn’t UFCW?
It’s telling that IRI sees aggressive organizing efforts as a marketing opportunity. Their message to potential clients is that they had better bring in the big guns if they want to avoid unionization.
It begs the obvious question. Why isn't UFCW International doing more aggressive organizing campaigns that strike fear into corporations?
IRI says that UFCW’s industries are primed for organizing. But they also point out that instead of joining UFCW, some workers are either joining other unions or forming independent unions. When union busting firms point these direct examples of UFCW International’s weakness, it’s not only shameful but frankly…embarrassing. How can we expect UFCW’s International to go up against some of the biggest corporations in the world, if UFCW doesn’t invest big time in organizing?
Collective bargaining works!
IRI also recognizes the power of collective bargaining, noting the huge success that West Coast locals have had with this strategy, most recently UFCW Local 7’s very successful strike in Colorado. If the union busters understand that a winning strike strategy is good for workers, why doesn’t my union? Why is the UFCW so opposed to coordinated bargaining so we can get much better contracts?
The big question
Why are union busters so scared? Because they know that powerful, member-driven unions can't be lobbied or bullied into folding to big corporate greed.
They know that there is plenty of opportunity for unions to grow their membership and win more gains at the bargaining table. They recognize the discontent workers feel and see the collective worker power that could be harvested.
The question is, are UFCW and other unions prepared for this? Because corporations and their union busting consultants certainly are.