A Union GIrl

Last night while talking to my friend I was listening to her talk about how today she would be on the picket lines. It would be hot, and miserable but she would be there. She works for the county and the union she works for will be on striking to keep their healthcare benefits. 8000 people will be using already maxed out valley med if they do not manage to keep their benefits as part of their compensation package. She tells about people she works with who have cancer and just starting their second round of treatment, the friend who is disabled and dependent on the good medical coverage previously provided. She knows how difficult their lives will be if they have to change their service and the costs they will incur if they no longer have the kind of coverage they need. I can hear her hurt and worry as she discusses how frustrated she is with management for being unwilling to put the needs of their employees before their desire for the almighty dollar. I listen and hold her hand as she talks about how having no pay until the strike is over will effect her family. Nothing she says is new to me. I grew up a union girl.

My dad belonged to a union, AFL-CIO. I remember him going to the meetings to vote on labor relations. I remember my parents hushed tones and the stress and worry in their voices when they discussed striking and how we would not have any income. I remember my mom being worried when he went to picket. She was afraid that a fight would break out between the scabs and the union workers.  I also remember how hard the union worked to make sure that my dad was safe and our family got the things it deserved for his hard work. I remember how relieved we were to hear that they had compromised and found a balance that worked for both the workers and the bosses.

 I knew labor unions originated during the industrial revolution motivated by some of the worst working conditions yet known to man, woman and child. I also believed they were a good thing. But, I had never really thought about why we organized labor unions instead of labor parties like other democratic countries. Strayer addresses this briefly in our text book.  He says that the reasons we organized small labor unions  were that as a group we were adverse to large government and we were also a very diverse population with many different needs.  I think that labor unions are a demonstration of our desire as citizens of the United States to maintain a democratic system.  Unions are a result of our core value as a society of making sure that the power remains in the hands of the people. Which is why I will be bringing my picketing friend a nice cold cup of iced coffee and hanging out with her a bit while she walks the line. I will always be a Union Girl.