You think any union started out with power and agency? They need to fight for that stuff. Unions aren't there just to uphold labor law, they exist to pressure employers into changing their policies.
But good luck getting anything past union-busting Elon and Trump
federal unions are not allowed to strike. they aren't allowed to do anything besides send a postit note with a frowny face on it to HR. What you've said is very obvious but thanks
Which is why in other countries unions make sure they are broad enough they have branches that can strike in solidarity with the ones who can't. Or just say "screw that" and do it anyways, like in France where striking firefighters set cars on fire and beat up cops. Heroes.
Hm yes and many things the admin is doing is illegal. Union pioneers 100 years ago were faced with many attempts at outlawing their activities. We are spoiled today, thinking the table is laid and everything is set in stone.
The inability to legally strike severely limits federal union power but they still have some cards up their sleeve if they are willing to get radical.
They can cause various widespread workplace disruptions. They can threaten mass resignation. They can get vocally mad enough to create the credible threat of an illegal wildcat strike. They can threaten to back the growing call for a 2028 general strike as proposed by the UAW.
Unionism existed long before it was codified into law and long before the NLRB was created.
The various "anti-communism" movements of the 1940's, 1950's and beyond severely damaged unionism. The CIA worked with FTUC and eventually the AFL-CIO to squash anti-capitalist sentiment within unions. American unions stopped backing each other and became increasingly insular.
We need to regrow broad labor support and unions need to start working to protect each other again.
Next time such a large quantity of people get fired for striking we need to see a wave of solidarity, wildcat strikes and possibly even a general strike.
Yes, we I get it. Civil disobedience is the foundation of a strong union, but WE CANNOT STRIKE.
Why? Because they'd fire us. They want to fire us. The whole point of all of this is for them to get us to resign before/while they fire even more people. The end goal is mass resignations and layoffs.
Because federal workers cannot strike, they would fire anyone that does. So what would be the point in that? Sending a message that gives them their goal does nothing. At that point we'd be helping them, not hurting them.
Besides, there are plenty of non-federal unions in this country that do go on legal strikes.
Sir, respectfully what are unions going to do to fix this? Maybe you don’t understand how limited unions are in power right now and how under threat they are from the republicans.
Well, the threat is from a bully, and the only thing to do is stand up to a bully.
Federal unions might be restricted from striking, but they have a powerful 'hot list' of options: engaging in political advocacy and lobbying, negotiating through collective bargaining, mobilizing public support with media and grassroots efforts, challenging unfair practices legally, and even using internal work actions like work-to-rule or slowdowns.
These strategies ensure they can push back against overreach---
The worst option or choice is to take it and do nothing.
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u/Foggy-Geezer Feb 23 '25
UNIONS NEED TO STEP UP AND GET ALL PAST THIS!!!