Last Friday, Amazon workers at the JFK8 warehouse in Staten Island shocked the world by pulling off one of the great labor victories in US history, becoming the first Amazon workforce in the country to vote to unionize. A thousand miles away, in the rural setting of Brookwood, Alabama, 1,100 coal miners on strike at Warrior Met Coal have just passed the one-year anniversary of the day they hit the picket line. Around the country, workers are rising up, demanding more, and winning important victories, even though the deck is stacked against them. The question is: Where will the reinforcements come from? How can the fight that workers are waging on the shop floor be supported and empowered by a broad progressive movement that is united around the cause of economic, political, and social justice?
In a recent piece published on CommonDreams, Professor Harvey J. Kaye, an expert on the New Deal and FDR, and Alan Minsky, the executive director of Progressive Democrats of America, call for progressives to rally behind the proposal for a “21st Century Economic Bill of Rights.” In this interview, TRNN Editor-in-Chief Maximillian Alvarez speaks with Professor Kaye and labor leader Sara Nelson about the state of the labor movement today and what it would mean if progressive forces within and beyond the labor movement united around a shared vision for “a platform of economic policies designed to enable Americans, all Americans, to secure the nation’s promise of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”
Sara Nelson is the International President of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA, AFL-CIO, representing around 50,000 flight attendants at 17 airlines. Harvey J. Kaye is Professor Emeritus of Democracy and Justice Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and the author of many books, including: The Fight for the Four Freedoms: What Made FDR and the Greatest Generation Truly Great; FDR on Democracy; and Take Hold of Our History: Make America Radical Again.
Pre-Production/Studio/Post-Production: Cameron Granadino
Read the transcript of this interview: https://therealnews.com/from-amazon-to-starbucks-workers-are-rising-up-and-progressives-need-to-support-them-at-all-costs
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** (Disclaimer: This video content is intended for educational and informational purposes only) **
Alas, it seems no tweets or toots about this excellent discussion; I should fix that
27:57 1944 FDR Second / Economic Bill of Rights – huge union support
I was just unfairly fired, not given a reason.
Sarah Nelson…Harvey J. Kaye…Max Alverez
There is something definitely wrong in the world when twerpish people (e.g. Bezos, Gates, Ma, Musk, Buffet, et al) are at the top. Most of humanity is living under a hellish system.
i say our republic government sucks what rights what stupid job slaveis all poorer and there is no hopeall in the dump debt. is our economy bank rule
"Archibus" is a software system used to "organize", Catalog & update the Physical property as it pertains to "Maintanence" requirements. This software helps "Digitize" "labor", intergarating the "Economy"(Services,Products) is a pioneering project now a days considering the potential this "BlocChain" Netwrok(s) (Encrypted DATA in "Smart Contracts")brings to World Wide Economy. A UNiversal Basic Income can also be created with Productive incentives, that way the Government can actually provide "Guidelines" for distribution of money. where's Andrew Yang?!?!?!?
There is nothing democratic about unions.
Labor unions are illegal and inmoral, and will make you all poor and slaves.
Blame it on the fake government, not on companies, it is the illegal government the one that is ripping you off and taking all of your money. You people are so dumb, the fake gov is playing you right into their trap.
The Capitalist Way
You know what really bothers me about the workers movement and the owners retaliation?? I feel it in my bones that those owners would be making more money if workers were happy. Owner stopped paying for marketing and PR and lobbying and do right by your people. Simple as that
Together we bargain along we beg… Old union slogan
Great to see you having Larry David on.
Just who are these "progressive " democrats?
Theoretically this may sound good, but unfortunately unions too often allow for lower work standards for those who lack self motivation and protects bad behavior, while increasing costs. Goods that are already increasing in price due to transportation costs, etc. will be going up and like slow service. I hope I am wrong but after working with enough unions, this is often the result. I am sure many will disagree but this is just what I have experienced through my interactions and by having a husband who is part of a union.
Economic bill of rights? Umm, yeah, that's already covered by the ACTUAL "Bill of Rights".
More folks trying to create confusion where none is needed.
Workers have the power, the capital. Nothing gets done without capital. Do you have the capacity? Workers are lucky to get 1/5 of what they produce, just like feudalism. Until common services are taken away from parasites, nothing will change.
"We just have to wake up to our power…" "The billionaires don't have power. They have money…"
~Sara Nelson
"For the last 40-45 years there was a class war…"
~Harvey J. Kaye
"We are many, they are few." If we say they should fk off…they'll have no choice but to do so. Like the French did in their revolution if they push, the same will happen to them. They're lucky we let them live. Its a fkt up thing to say, as its eliminationist, but its true.
THEY ARE FKN LUCKY, WE'VE LET THEM LIVE. THEY SHOULDN'T PUSH THEIR LUCK.
Good luck Amazon Workers,
Stay strong, humble and serve the people whom vote for you
I worked for AHSS karen fann now a senator I got hurt on the job twice by the same machine operator he was intoxicated I was not now I'm Disabled for life no benefits