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Poor Workers' Unions: Rebuilding Labor from Below

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As the american people see their standard of living decline, as fewer and fewer of us have health care, as pensions crumble into dusts and the social safety net becomes a fond memory, we wonder: Why is this happening? Fifty six million people would join a Labor union tommorrow if it wouldn't cost them their job. The most serious problem facing the country is the decline of Labor unions, and Dr. Tait knows why. Unions became bureaucratized and inflexible and could not withstand the onslaught of government and institutional persecution. Out of this wreckage, Dr. Tait explains why and how some unions and organizations were able to succeed in a time of failure. She has an encyclopedic knowledge of recent economic and social history, she has a shrewd insight into politics and group dynamics and she writes clearly and lucidly. This book ought to be required reading for every working person in the country. With American workers under attack on virtually every front, the time to stand up is now and this book shows how and where.

A wonderful tour through movements for economic justice since the 1960s, covering decades of good organizing work by civil rights, feminist, immigrant and anti-poverty groups. Many of these worked outside the boundaries of the "official" labor movement, creating inventive local and sometimes national unions to fight for improved wages and working conditions along with issues like affordable housing, decent health care, and social and economic equality for women, immigrants and people of color. The author pays careful attention to the dynamics of race, ethnicity and gender within labor and community groups, and shows how diversity can be a great asset in building stronger movements. This important book should be read by anyone trying to understand labor's historical development and future direction. An enjoyable read!

As the american people see their standard of living decline, as fewer and fewer of us have health care, as pensions crumble into dusts and the social safety net becomes a fond memory, we wonder: Why is this happening? Fifty six million people would join a Labor union tommorrow if it wouldn't cost them their job. The most serious problem facing the country is the decline of Labor unions, and Dr. Tait knows why. Unions became bureaucratized and inflexible and could not withstand the onslaught of government and institutional persecution. Out of this wreckage, Dr. Tait explains why and how some unions and organizations were able to succeed in a time of failure. She has an encyclopedic knowledge of recent economic and social history, she has a shrewd insight into politics and group dynamics and she writes clearly and lucidly. This book ought to be required reading for every working person in the country. With American workers under attack on virtually every front, the time to stand up is now and this book shows how and where.