Tapeworm in the Belly of the Working Class

Company unions were formally outlawed in the United States in 1935 with the National Labor Relations Act. But this is a legal formality, and today company unions are again a dominant force in oppressing the working class and preventing them from having their own, independent organizations. As long as this situation persists, workers cannot expect their lot to improve.

Ron Gettelfinger (head of the most important company union in the U.S. – if not the world) just spoke up after a long period of silence (UAW Sees Big 3 Saving $1,000 a Car). The silence was due to the nasty concession contract he forced upon autoworkers in the fall. The rank and file were riled up from that vote, so it was best to let that settle down before saying anything.

But time has passed, and Gettelfinger and the union brass have their loyalties. Now, he proudly brags about how he has single-handedly cut the standard of living for workers everywhere: "the union's new labor contract with Detroit's Big Three auto makers should save the trio about $1,000 a car built in the U.S." (Are car prices suddenly dropping by that much?) He is proud of having let GM cut its workforce, putting workers out of their jobs. And, of course, his "decent relationship" with Cerberus founder Stephen Feinberg means that workers at Chrysler can expect more attacks soon.

The large 'No' votes on the auto contracts didn't come out of nowhere. There are workers, including those who've already faced Delphi, willing to organize against the concessions. Statements like these from Gettelfinger make it clear that the struggle continues.