cross-posted from: https://piefed.social/c/historymemes@piefed.social/p/2182504/there-s-something-to-be-said-for-the-direct-approach
cross-posted from: https://piefed.social/c/historymemes@piefed.social/p/2182504/there-s-something-to-be-said-for-the-direct-approach
*business unions
The labor movement is old, and old movements are extremely complex. Business unions took hold during the second red scare and have dominated for decades. They act like a service to workers and don’t recognize the class war.
Class Struggle unions are still extremely militant. You want to know why SpaceX and Trader Joe’s are trying to ban the nlrb? Because Class Struggle Unionism is taking over again.
No, in this case business describes how the union functions. A business union like the NEA is prone to union busting their staff. With a business union, you go to a steward with an issue and they say that they’ll take care of it.
A class struggle union is typically lean on staff and the local is handled by volunteer members. Stewards work with the member when there’s a problem to try and find a solution collaboratively. It fuels the “injury to one, injury to all” mentality.
Trade union just defines a union within an industry. WGA is a trade union for the entertainment industry, IBEW is a trade union for electrical workers, NALC is the trade union for the post office, Teamsters is the trade union for truck drivers, etc.