SEIU 1000 represents about 95,000 state workers in California, about half the state's workforce. The members overwhelmingly ratified the contract their leaders negotiated with the state last month. As is to be expected, they took major concessions.
Union leaders are jubilant of course, “I’m pleased that our members ratified an agreement that will provide some stability in these uncertain times,” said Yvonne Walker, the Union president.
Union officials are very adept at calling defeats victories. The contract forces the workers to take one day off a month, as opposed to two which was originally demanded. Workers also lose Columbus day and Lincoln's birthday which are replaced by two floating holidays. I remember when we lost a national holiday that was replaced by a floater that we could take "when we want". A guaranteed holiday when the company shut down replaced by a holiday when we wanted it as long as staffing allowed.
The fact that so many workers voted for the contract is only half the story. What alternative did they have? What, other than concessions were put on the table? The president of the Union says the defeat is a good one in bad economic times. This is said by Union leaders during boom times and bad. And who says it's uncertain times? The boss does and the Union leaders repeat it. Things are only uncertain when you have no plan or roadmap--they don't have to be uncertain.
Anyone that's been awake the past year must surely be aware that money is abundant for some sections of society. The employers play this game with the Union officials every contract time, not just during this present capitalist crisis. They make major concessionary demands on the Union, the Union leaders offer slightly less concessions, the bosses agree and the officials tout it as a victory and pray for the Employee Free Choice Act to pass so that they can hopefully get some more revenue in to the Union business without having to do anything.
Workers are offered a choice between bad and slightly less bad, no job or pay cuts. This has gone on for years.
The Union leadership capitulate without a fight to the demands of the employers.
The empolyers feel very confident in this climate and with the collaboration offered them by the Union officialdom. They are using the economy as an excuse to take back stuff they've wanted for years. And Obama and Schwarzenegger were patting each other on the back in Los Angeles the other day, congratulating each other on the great job they're doing.
Many workers draw the conclusion that as Union dues go up and wages and benefits down, they are a liability. Why pay them. Worse, the failure of the leadership to offer any strategy for fighting back, their failure to offer any explanation for the crisis other than that which the employers hand to them, leads to dissalusionment and despair among workers and the false idea that we are weak and the employers unchallengeable.
The SEIU and teachers, who are also under severe attack, could furlough close to half a million workers for a 24 hour state strike and let the employers know more is coming if they don't back off. Such a move would be very popular with people especially if demands are raised that would appeal to workes outisde these immediate workplaces, more jobs, increased spending on education and public services etc.
This would transform the mood as well as the Labor movement. This is why the labor leaders refuse to do it, they are terrified of their own members.
At some point this dam will burst though and the Union's rank and file will breach this obstacle of its own leadership.
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