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"They're Bankrupting Us!": And 20 Other Myths about Unions
From Wisconsin to Washington, DC, the claims are made: unions are responsible for budget deficits, and their members are overpaid and enjoy cushy benefits. The only way to save the American economy, pundits claim, is to weaken the labor movement, strip workers of collective bargaining rights, and champion private industry. In"They're Bankrupting Us!": And 20 Other Myths ab...more
Paperback, 224 pages
Published
August 28th 2012
by Beacon Press
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This book provides a comprehensive overview of the history of the union movement in the United States, with a critical look at organized labor's traditional support for the status quo, including the Democratic Party (as opposed to a labor party). Though Fletcher's book is not a panacea for the widespread abrogation of workers' rights, it does send a message that resonates; organized labor needs to focus on a) solidarity between unions, as well as unions with other social movements b) recruitment...more
I received his book through a First Reads giveaway.
When I was growing up, my stepfather spent more time on strike than he spent working. This distorted my opinions on unions, and when I joined one in my early 20s, I was scared. His book really pit many of my fears to rest! So much of what people think is common, really isn't. We all seem to take the exception and make it he norm without even realizing it. This book definitely cleared up a lot for me.
I would recommend this to anyone joining a uni...more
When I was growing up, my stepfather spent more time on strike than he spent working. This distorted my opinions on unions, and when I joined one in my early 20s, I was scared. His book really pit many of my fears to rest! So much of what people think is common, really isn't. We all seem to take the exception and make it he norm without even realizing it. This book definitely cleared up a lot for me.
I would recommend this to anyone joining a uni...more
In the spirit of full disclosure I received this book as part of Goodreads First Reads. This has not influenced my review in any way.
Being a resident of a state where unions have become a focus for folks far and wide I really wanted to read this book so I could have some good solid facts that I could use when discussing unions with others. It certainly does have a lot of great information in it, but there are some things I think could have been done better. Although, I do acknowledge that the c...more
Being a resident of a state where unions have become a focus for folks far and wide I really wanted to read this book so I could have some good solid facts that I could use when discussing unions with others. It certainly does have a lot of great information in it, but there are some things I think could have been done better. Although, I do acknowledge that the c...more
I received a free copy of this book from Goodreads
I always have been interested in the role that unions have played in our working history. I also had a great history teacher who was a big union supporter. I live next to a state that has watched their governor cuts their collective bargaining rights and the uproar that’s caused. As well as a long and drawn out strike in our state that seems will never end with Crystal Sugar.
The book is filled with a lot of great information and facts that I hadn...more
I always have been interested in the role that unions have played in our working history. I also had a great history teacher who was a big union supporter. I live next to a state that has watched their governor cuts their collective bargaining rights and the uproar that’s caused. As well as a long and drawn out strike in our state that seems will never end with Crystal Sugar.
The book is filled with a lot of great information and facts that I hadn...more
I'm not a union guy. Mainly because I'd heard several of the "myths" presented in this book growing up, and because unions that I've been compelled to join throughout my life have been particularly ineffectual.
But this book is really good. It successfully tears down a lot of the untruths that are out there, and additionally points out that some of the beliefs about unions (such as corruption) do exist on some level (and that is intolerable.)
This book would be recommendable for you (or someone yo...more
But this book is really good. It successfully tears down a lot of the untruths that are out there, and additionally points out that some of the beliefs about unions (such as corruption) do exist on some level (and that is intolerable.)
This book would be recommendable for you (or someone yo...more
Why do people love myths more than facts? It's strange. This is a great read.
A lot about which to think. Definitely worth a read.
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Bill Fletcher, Jr., is the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the International Labor Rights Forum, Executive Editor of The Black Commentator and founder of the Center for Labor Renewal. A longtime labor, racial justice and international activist, he is the immediate past president of TransAfrica Forum, a national non-profit organization organizing, educating and advocating for policies in fav...more
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