Why unions get trashed

Sometimes people express their frustrations at unions simply because they can. That's one of Laurel Brennan's theories about why unions seem to be the target of so many attacks. Brennan is New Jersey's highest-ranking female labor leader, holding the number two spot at the New Jersey State AFL-CIO.

"Sometimes it's easier to be angry at the union than at the employer," Brennan told me during our Executive Q&A interview published in Sunday's Philadelphia Inquirer. Brennan's title is secretary-treasurer.

"They would never yell at the employer because the boss could put the padlock on the door," she said. "But the union, whether the padlock was on the door or whether the company was going out of the business, the union was always going to represent them. The union wasn't going anywhere." 

"Not to sound patronizing, but it's like a kid. You ever notice kids in front of their parents? They act out, but if they are with a stranger or a babysitter, they don't do it."

Question: Have you noticed this in your career? You mentioned your work as a union organizer in the textile industry.

Answer: NAFTA... obviously decimated the garment industry. There were years that I was working that I felt just like the grim reaper, because one shop was closing after another and they would scream and yell in front of myself or the other union representatives. They would say, `Why can't you do something about it?' We couldn't, because unfortunately, it was legislated, even though we fought against it and opposed it.

Q: What about the future of unions? What are you doing to get young people involved?

A: We've been working with the young workers for about two to three years now. We're trying to bring more young workers into the labor movement, because if we don't, we're basically managing our own demise. We're bringing them around collectively to meet other young workers in unions, so we can build like we've done in the past. The difference is we now have social media.

Q: So everyone is already connected.

A: Already connected, but human contact is important in the labor movement, because a lot of our relationships are built on seeing each other, and working with each other and trusting each other. If you just do it on Facebook or texting, there's something missing. 

Q: When they do get involved, are they different?

A: Their priorities are obviously their jobs, their wages. Their personal time is important. A lot of them are young and have young families. They will prioritize their personal time other than what I did years ago, because when the union called, I was there. Their union is important to them, but they just prioritize differently. 

Source: Philly.com