Labor Day at its best and at its worst

Why does "Labor Day" matter and who is it intended for?

If we go back and study the history of the labor movement and we see how hard it was for labor to be recognized for who they are, what they are, and what they are not, perhaps we might have more appreciation for this great holiday.

I would urge people to watch the movie "Matewan" which was about coal miners in WV and right across the border of Kentucky seeking to have a safe work environment, a voice in their working conditions, and the hours, pay and benefits that they felt they should earn from their Employer.

In 2024 labor and big business seem to forget the struggles it took in order to get where we are today. Why the idea that an average "blue-collar" worker could actually do more than simply be a work machine without a brain, some innovative ideas on how a job could be performed safer and more efficiently was ludicrous to their Employers. Yet, these men and women were more than simply laborers to their "Masters" and that's what aggravated Management so much that when just the mention of unionization was heard, it was snuffed out like an old cigarette. A worker discussing with others about unionizing would not only be fired, but black-balled from future employment as the "big bosses" weren't going to allow this and they would make examples out of those who tried in order to discourage future efforts.

In 2024 while unionization is at its lowest point ever, if these International Union's were to provide an accurate account of their dues-paying members, it seems as if we are reliving those days of past when unionization was something many dreamed about having. Not only now do we have employers trying to muzzle the mouths of their workers, the big "International Unions" are guilty of the very same thing. Many unionize on the campaign to organize a workplace that, "if you sign this card and vote the union in, YOU will have a voice in the workplace". I know this because I use to tell people this. Yet, in 2024, instead of the workers having a voice in the workplace, its the "big Union bosses" that take these voices and suppress them if the members don't agree with the "big Union bosses" and try to stand up to them.

So where does that leave the workers? They are being squeezed in the middle between their Employer and the Union's that are suppose to represent them, and their voices are either being muzzled or better yet, you can't even hear what they really want for them and their families. This is hypocrisy at its best working to deprive workers that are unionized from expressing their own desires in what goes in the Contracts that they work under, what goes into a Union Constitution and/or By-Laws of the Union, how they can or can't run for positions in their own local union and setting up road blocks after road blocks to ensure that the "Union Bosses" keep their jobs, work in their ivory towers, and buddy up with certain Management that benefits them far more than it does the members themselves. One may ask, how do I know this? I use to work for one of these and know their tactics and who they are truly out for and who ultimately pays the price.

How should it work then for the workers, whether they are blue-collared or white collared workers? That "VOICE" that they were promised way back when, should be allowed to express "THEIR CONCERNS" instead of big union's taking it away. It's the members who after all have to work for that Employer. It's the members who after all have to work under the terms of one of these contracts. It's the members who after all have to abide by these "Constitutions and By-Laws". Even these Union's won't comply with rulings handed down by the US Supreme Court when it comes to members rights but instead "side-step" their way around rulings to put the burden back on the local union's and then not back them when they get challenged.

Why all this talk about this on Labor Day in 2024? It's because such an injustice is being committed when the employee's, union members who work for the iconic U.S. Steel won't be allowed to have that "VOICE" in their future. Yes, that's right. Once again, its the big union bosses that won't let them talk but instead want to suppress their voices, their opinions, their rights, and insert their own "desires" over that of the workers and their families that work at these facilities. The communities have everything to either gain or lose based on what the big union bosses decide is right for them for as they believe that they know what's best for them, even when they obviously have no true idea because they won't listen to their members but instead hide away in their ivory tower in Pittsburgh, refusing to meet with a company that wants to offer them real, tangible things that no other company has or is willing to offer. They are making such high demands that it's quite possible that this company seeking to acquire them may actually walk away from what could be the "deal of the century".

What will happen if this happens? The members, their families and the communities will be left to accept whatever crumbs fall from "the Masters table" when they make a deal that is far inferior to what is being offered or that can be obtained if true genuine efforts were made to make it happen. It seems to me that I have heard of this Organization, (the National Labor Relations Board) that sets federal mandates on labor organizations to the extent that they have a "duty to fairly represent their members" in matters such as these. Yes, I'm quite certain of this Organization and the Act. So perhaps some of these members should reach out to this Organization if they should feel that they aren't getting "fair representation" in this matter. There is still time, but yet time is always of the essence.

You see, these members are not little chess pieces that can be moved about at the pleasure and discretion of the big, powerful union bosses or company bosses for that matter. They are real people, with real families, that live in real communities, that have schools and hospitals, and grocery stores, parks, etc., and all of this is at risk when big decisions are made that prove to be wrong. If that were to happen, would it impact certain BOD members of other company's that have an interest in this? Would it impact certain big union bosses, and/or CEO's of these companies? Not at all as their lives would move right along and they would continue to get paid, own homes, send their kids to college, pay their bills, etc., well, I'm sure you get the picture.

So on this Labor Day, 2024 why don't we try something different. Dave McCall, USW International President, think about what's best for those I've mentioned above. YOU can still recall where you came from. YOU, have not ascended too high in your newly appointed position to forget what it was like working in a steel mill up until 1986 and raising your family. Nippon Steel, get serious and put an offer on the table that is too good for the USW to "NOT" take back to its members and recommend, even though no vote is required. Cleveland-Cliffs, suck it up and quit acting like a child where somebody took the ball and won't let you play. Keep your nose out of it and let what's best happen for the employee's, their families, the communities where these plants are located. Move on Cliffs and Goncalves, take your massive ego and move on to other things. Get your own house in order before trying to disrupt others in how they operate. Pay your bills and taxes and fines and be a good corporate citizen since you're suppose to represent everything that is good and right.

Today is Labor Day. Who really knows what its about? Tim