Unions

The political discussions, repartee, fencing and More have certainly set a
major record for the Redbadbear list.  Personally, I stand in a kind of awe
that energy levels are so substantial -- not quite theological or
professorial in nature but certainly a far cry from a languid flow of the
Summer Creek.  On the other hand, I compliment everyone involved on his and
her gracious and thoughtful civility.

I did post my thoughts on ORGANIZING AND VOTER ED:   TOUGH, TEDIOUS,  AND
VITAL.  Hope they've been read.

I have three comments to make on unions:

1]  After I got out of the Army,  at the beginning of 1955  and still
extremely young, I have never worked anywhere without carrying at least one
union card.  If a collective bargaining contract [or a bona fide comparable
understanding] did not exist, I sowed my seeds and did my best to achieve
it.  Sometimes I was successful.

2]  Every union to me, including craft organizations, has some revolutionary
potential.  Of course, industrial unionism -- militant and democratic and
sensibly radical --  is My Thing.  But I have said countless times, that any
real union is better than none.  My youngest  daughter's [Josie] special
friend is an up and coming IBEW activist.  I'm impressed.

3]  I am not writing off appropriate political parties and political action
and litigation, but my basic faith lies in the working class -- organized,
unionized.

Yours, Hunter [Hunter Bear], UAW -- and United Association for Labor
Education [I came into UALE, the result of a merger,  via Workers Education
Local 189.  189 had broken away from AFT and gone independent].

HUNTER GRAY [HUNTER BEAR]
www.hunterbear.org

When you cut to the bone  and cut away the college degrees, academic and
other titles, published books and articles, ours is essentially a working
class and Indian family.  We consistently join unions  -- and we always
support them with the greatest vigor.

It's critical to always keep fighting -- and to always remember that, if one
lives with grace, he/she should be prepared to die with grace.




"[C]apital comes dripping from head to foot, from every pore, with blood and 
dirt."
--Marx, Capital, Vol. 1, Chapter 31

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