The People's Union

Last edited Thu Dec 13, 2012, 04:48 PM - Edit history (1)

Let us consider using narrowly targeted, issue-oriented, boycotts to force changes in specific policies and specific corporations. The key is focus. One company, one issue at a time. The goal is to be able to make boycotting an effective tool in the fight against Right to Work and corporate exploitation of workers. With unions under siege, we need techniques to counter this trend.
- for example -
Imagine a well-publicized, synchronized, nationwide boycott of Walmart with the stated purpose of forcing the company to provide health care benefits to employees. Imagine one or two volunteer pickets at every single store to extend publicity, to answer questions, to help customers find what they need at another store.
Walmart changes the health care policy, we end the boycott.

In this way, participation in the boycott is an act of community solidarity, aimed directly at benefiting the workers.

'The People's Union' need not be a big organization, just a confederation that has the ability to agree on a demand and a start date.

Imagine that #Occupy, Labor Unions and other groups act in consort to achieve this. We need to stress to groups considering participation that one effective boycott would be a decisive victory against right-to-work and corporate greed and so the issue of which boycott to design and execute far less important than establishment of the capability to make it work. One success would breed many.

Any other DUers think this is worth developing?