Rothschild Calls Out Organized Labor

The mood in Wisconsin is dejected.

After a string of defeats, first losing the state supreme court race against David Prosser, then losing the decision at the state supreme court on the anti-collective bargaining law, and finally losing the vote on Walker’s hideous budget in the state legislature, people are down.

People see that Walker won everything big that he asked for, and despite all the great activism, we don’t have anything to show for it — at least not yet. As a result, lots of people are going to suffer.
~ from Wisconsin Demoralized, Demobilized by Matthew Rothschild ~

Rothschild, editor of The Progressive, really takes the state's AFL-CIO to task. I think he correctly points out that the big union's "timidity" is as much to blame as is the Walker administration.

With all the demonstrations that took place in the Wisconsin capitol, I could well understand if some people are perplexed with Rothschild's critique. But, as he aptly points out, "The [union] leadership never called for boycotts, never called for a general strike or any workplace actions whatsoever, never called for civil disobedience."

And folks, these are the kinds of strategies that are needed! The corporate-infused government can easily withstand loud, but toothless, protests and demonstrations. They simply need to weather the bad press and then, once the cameras traipse off to the next "big story," go about their business as usual. Which is precisely what took place in Wisconsin!

If we genuinely want to get the oligarch's attention, we have to hit them in the one place where it will hurt -- the wallet. It is only when we can impede their ability to earn profits that they will take notice.

Don't think for a minute that I am blithely suggesting that a mass boycott or general strike will cause the corporate interests to come to the bargaining table with their tails tucked between their knees. Oh no! They will try to smash whatever we undertake with the iron boot of the state. Just take a look at American labor history from about 1880 - 1940 or so. That will give you a general idea of what these folks are capable of.

I'm not suggesting it would be easy...or pretty. That said, these time-honored strategies are what I believe is needed at this juncture.