ORGANIZED LABOUR Barbara Cape, now president of the Service Employees International Union, knows the difficulty of standing up to employers for workers rights — and the importance of having a support system at your back.
ontemplating the relevance of unions reminds me of a young worker, in the midst of an organizing drive, who was abruptly terminated for questionable reason. It should surprise no one that they were a lead supporter of the organizing campaign.
So what are unions doing today?
They are fighting for legislation requiring workplaces to be healthy and safe; they’re ensuring constitutional rights that protect all workers are respected. And, they’re striving to achieve a living wage for all working people.
Unions are adapting to our rapidly changing world. As we embrace new means of communication, more technologically advanced than a bulletin board, we are also facing new and rising attacks on working people. If it is it okay for businesses to make a profit, why is it not okay for workers to make a fair wage?
Let’s appreciate the fundamentals of what unions are about — people. People coming together to help each other when times are tough. People standing up for each other and demanding to be treated fairly by employers. People joining together in unions leads to improved health and prosperity for all working people, their families, and their communities.