When I was organizing Unions in the past, I always explained it like this:

When the U.S. economy was booming with production jobs in the Steel Mills, Auto Industry, etc. - our Unions were strong and had a say in Working Conditions, Wages, Benefits and Politics.

When those jobs absconded from this Country to areas where Labor was cheaper to boost the profits of the company owners American Workers were:

(A) Left unemployed and

(B) When they did find work it was usually without representation.

The economy today is service-based, not production-based.

There are very few production jobs left in this Country and if it they are "secure" well-paying jobs with representation, I'll guarantee they've diminished in Wages and Benefits over the last 20 years.

The Unions themselves are having a hard time surviving in a world where Organized Labor has lost its power.

It's necessary for employees of companies which are thriving with record profits in this service-based economy to finally start to understand the big picture.

The media and politicians love to tote the fact that we are in a recession and sacrifice is necessary and costs must be cut - but the only cuts that are made are at the Employee level.

Banks that have been bailed out and the Auto Industry has been bailed out.

Both of which - I remind you - have rebounded exponentially since their bail-outs. D
are I mention the bonuses to company execs post bail-out?

The Boston Tea Party occurred for the exact same reason as what has transpired countless times over the last 50 years.

The only way to combat this nauseating trend is to Organize.

We - as Americans - seem to have a very short memory.

As a whole - we forget, whether consciously or subconsciously, to hold a grudge in regards to how we are/were treated.

Just because there is new electronic item on the market or there is a lesser interest rate on mortgages it does not mean we have to lessen the fight for a Decent Living, Health Care and Retirement Security.

Until Employees of companies that provide a service for profit, from Cable/Internet Providers to Hospitals to Fast-Food Workers, start to understand their rights and the absolute power of Organizing - then all of our lives will remain the status quo.

In my opinion there's a great picture here.

If a Mother or Father or combination of the two cannot ADEQUATELY provide for their family, then society as a whole will continue on this ever inclusive downward spiral.

If parents are working two to four jobs per household, not making ends meet, it will only lead to more divorces, more substance abuse, more teenage pregnancy and ultimately more failures in cultivating educated and responsible productive adults and subsequently sealing our fate and making us all lambs to the corporate world.

I encourage all who are Members of Organized Labor to get involved, be educated, stay educated and for your own sake promote Solidarity.

Our children's futures are a shadow of what they once were no matter how far technology has come.

The sky should be the limit in this country, but it's not because no one can afford to live a healthy and happy lifestyle - let alone plan a future for themselves or their children.


Jeff Abbott