Jim Hightower: Airlines Battle Workplace Democracy

via CommonDreams:



Published on Wednesday, June 9, 2010 by Creators Syndicate
Airlines Battle Workplace Democracy

by Jim Hightower


If you ever want to spook a smug, stuffed-shirt corporate CEO — I mean spook him so bad that he jumps clear out of his Guccis and screams louder than Little Richard — sneak up behind him and shout "union!"

They hate that.

Corporate chieftains get the heebie-jeebies at the mere mention of unionization for the exact same reason that millions of workers perk up at the idea: power. In today's plutocratic, corporate-controlled economy, the most direct and effective way for working folks to assert their interests and restore a measure of fairness to America's economic system is for them to unite in unions.

Indeed, while the corporate powers and their political apologists constantly insist that the union movement is passe — neither needed nor wanted in or modern, globalized workplace — more than 60 million Americans (over half of the workforce) say they would join a union if they could.

Well ... why can't they?

Because those at the very top (corporate executives, board members and financiers) personally profit by holding down everyone else, so they don't want the mass of working stiffs having any real say over such critical matters as offshoring, downsizing, wages, benefits and working conditions. .........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/06/09-3

He's just one of the best. Ever.