Trades versus ‘bottom feeders’
2016Bill Onasch 2016-11Read it in the scan (PDF at ETOL), page 7 →
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Along with multiple other crucial issues at stake in the struggle at Split Rock Reservation, reported elsewhere in this paper, is a growing polarization over climate and environmental is sues in organized labor. Some important nation al unions have condemned the brutality against peaceful protesters and also oppose the con struction of the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL).
These include the Amalgamated Transit Union; American Postal Workers; Communications Workers; National Nurses United; National Writ ers Union division of the UAW; Service Employ ees International Union; and the United Elec trical, Radio & Machine Workers (UE). So have “constituency groups” like the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists; Coalition of Labor Union Wom en; and Pride at Work, representing interests of LGBT workers.
The NNU sent volunteer RNs from their Emer gency Response Network to treat injured pro testers at Standing Rock. Most of these groups are part of the Labor Network for Sustainability (LNS) and/or Trade Unions for Energy Democ racy (TUED).
But literally on the other side of the line drawn at Standing Rock, cheering on the rag-tag compa ny rent-a-cops, police and National Guard units from five states violently attacking and arresting peaceful demonstrators and journalists, is the AFL-CIO—the dominant union federation in the USA.
This reflects the clout of the recently formed North American Building Trades Union (NAB TU). This body collaborates with the capitalist American Petroleum Institute, and they’ve never seen a pipeline they didn’t like. Four of their af filiates—Laborers International Union; Operat ing Engineers; Pipefitters; Teamsters—are espe cially grateful for the offer of some dues-paying temporary jobs building DAPL.
None of these union bureaucrats are more outspoken than Laborers head honcho Terry O’Sullivan. In a letter to all of his members sent after the riot of the forces of “law and order,” he said, “The facts are on our side, yet in the past month, we have witnessed vocal opposition from groups, including some self-righteous unions, who know little about the project and have no job equity in it. ... These unions have sided with THUGS against trade unionists. They are a group of bottom-feeding organizations that are once again trying to destroy our members’ jobs.”
Since the topic was not aquariums, the bottom feeder reference was clearly a slur directed at low-wage workers. That wouldn’t apply to the NNU, whose members are all well-paid healthcare professionals. It was probably aimed at SEIU, which is devoting major resources to orga nizing the working poor around 15 Dollars and a Union.
While none of the “self-righteous” unions have “job equity” in digging ditches and laying pipe, they know all about the disastrous effects of the DAPL project. That’s why they stand with the Na tive Americans he calls “THUGS.” They are mo tivated by principles and solidarity—attributes unfamiliar to brother O’Sullivan.
Neither the Native people nor their solidar ity allies are indifferent to job losses in the con struction trades. The LNS and TUED advocate programs based on the principle of Just Transi tion that would guarantee generations of work for the crafts during the necessary economic restructuring to replace climate-wrecking fossil fuels with clean, renewable energy such as solar and wind.
The struggles for class and climate justice have become inseparable. They received little atten tion during the recent election campaign. But they are beginning to be played out in the only class-based mass organizations of American workers—the trade unions. n MINNEAPOLIS — Close to 1500 people protested on Friday, Oct. 28, outside Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek’s office. The protesters were angered by the use of Hennepin County deputies and equipment brutalizing Indigenous people and their allies at Standing Rock.
Sheriff’s departments from across the Midwest have been sending public resources to aid private corporations in removing water protectors from their own land, so that the pipeline can be built. Citizens from these areas are rising up to protest the use of our tax dollars to attack Native sovereignty in the name of insatiable capitalist greed. Sheriff’s deputies from Madison returned home after successful protests in that city, but deputies and equipment from Minneapolis and surrounding areas remain.
— KAREN SCHRAUFNAGEL Thousands in Toronto march in solidarity A river of humanity poured down University Avenue, from the Ontario Legislature, past the U.S. Consulate, then into City Hall Square on Nov. 5. It was an evocative demonstration of solidarity with indigenous people re sisting the construction of Dakota Access Pipe Line. Many held signs: “You can’t drink oil. Keep it in the ground” and “We stand with the Standing Rock Sioux”.
The demonstration swelled to well over 3000. At City Hall the mostly young protesters linked arms, and to the sound of drums, moved rhythmically in concentric circles. Sponsors included Occupy Canada, Idle No More Toronto, No One is Illegal, CUPE Locals 3903 (York U) and 3902 (U of Toronto), Hamilton .350, and others — BARRY WEISLEDER SOCIALIST ACTION NOVEMBER 2016 7