cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/5118586

Last month, major stoppages due to strikes resulted in 4.1 million missed work days, the highest monthly total since August 2000.

And that’s even without the auto workers union.

  • MeowZedong
    15·
    10 months ago

    Ignoring everything else the US needs, I’d love to see the US gain a public-facing union rep like Mick Lynch (UK). Someone who won’t put up with the media’s nonsense and is straightforward in their goals and methods for representing their union’s values.

    As much as hero worship can be a problem, I think such people help improve the class consciousness of the US working class and could help them realize, “Hey, we actually CAN do something to change and improve our government. Here’s how.”

    • AmarkuntheGatherer
      5·
      10 months ago

      People don’t join groups that are amorphous blobs in their minds. Putting a human face on union activities is vital to get people to join. Preferably that’d be their own co-workers, people they’ve already got an established relationship with, but in the absence of that someone to be a figure to just be seen is necessary.

      It’s a double edged blade though. Hero worship developing is a potential problem as you’ve said, and in shorter term the faces representing the unions will be marred by MSM as best they can. If the unions can’t keep on building goodwill these leaders will be a factor pushing people even after they’ve gone.

    • Tomatoes [they/them]
      5·
      10 months ago

      Adam Conover feels that way to me. Maybe he’s not an official rep, but he puts a very good face on strikes in general and SAG-AFTRA specifically

      • albigu
        5·
        10 months ago

        He’s a board member and part of the negotiating board for the contract, so he’s as official as it gets. It also helps his image that a large part of his career so far has been specifically about deconstructing historical propaganda or popular myths, so it fits like a glove. Other than that, they also have other very outspoken people in other unions like Chris Smalls and this Shawn Fain guy isn’t particularly charismatic but at least he doesn’t hold back.

        It’s actually a bit strange how SAG-AFTRA doesn’t have some big charismatic actor doing the representation AFAIK, but better that than having another Ronald Reagan.

    • PeeOnYou [he/him]
      12·
      9 months ago

      Will Lehman is that guy but the UAW had basically secret elections to ice him out