‘Back to basics’ unionism

BY MICHAEL GOODWIN

The labor movement is at a crossroads. How can unions rebuild
from the current low-water-mark of about 15% of the entire work force?
Unions are best-known for bargaining contracts, lobbying for
legislation and participating in political campaigns. But when they were
founded more than a century ago, they served other functions that
continue to the present day. From the construction crafts to the maritime
industry to the performing arts, unions set standards for skilled work,
develop education and training programs to prepare workers to meet
these standards, refer skilled workers to employers with job openings,
and collaborate with employers to promote quality products and services.
Unions also pool their members’ purchasing power, often working
together with employers to offer benefits such as healthcare coverage
and retirement income that workers can take with them from job to job.

By assuming this stabilizing, service-oriented role in the nation’s
industries, unions can become essential partners to business, labor
and government and help them navigate a postrecession economy
that will be a whole lot leaner and much crueler than before the era of
BlackBerries and busted bubbles.

The Office and Professional Employees International Union has been
successful in attracting new members by offering workers benefits that
they want and need, at no additional cost, by paying benefits out of the
union’s general treasury. Using combined purchasing power, OPEIU
provides every member access to the PerksCard national discount
program, which offers discounts at major retailers, as well as union-
provided towing/service calls through Nation Safe Drivers. In several
selected cities, OPEIU members receive death benefits, disability
benefits and discounts for medical and dental care, equipment and other
purchases through Careington International. In Las Vegas, OPEIU and
United Steelworkers together represent more than 5,000 taxi drivers and
provide membership benefits to all union drivers.

In New York City, the Hotel Trades Council provides training and
credentialing for skilled positions in food preparation and food service,
as well as in computer skills, boiler repair, plumbing, electrical work,
air conditioning and refrigeration mechanics. In collaboration with the
industry, medical coverage and healthcare services are provided,
including a prescription drug plan, dental care, optical care, a pension
plan, life insurance and accidental death and dismemberment benefits.

Such programs offer security and stability for employers, as well
as employees. How often have employers complained that they can’t
find skilled workers? Or that they can’t afford the cost of healthcare
coverage for their employees? Or that they are afraid to invest in their
best workers for fear that they’ll go to work for their competitors? By
providing industrywide training and benefit programs, unions can help
quality companies to survive and thrive.

Because it draws on the best traditions of unions, guilds and worker
associations of all kinds, I call this brand of worker organization “back-
to-basics unionism.” It can help unions find their footing in the new
economy, facilitating employees and employers to work together in this
new reality.


Michael Goodwin is president of the Office and Professional
Employees International Union, AFL-CIO.