[van-discuss] Alternative Organizing Conference - Opening Remarks

[Pat S]

Might be of interest...

Staughton Lynds Opening Remarks at the Alternative Organizing Conference in 
New York
http://vancouver.iww.ca/news/20030701alternativeorganizing.htm

Hermanos y hermanas, companeros y companeras,
Lo siento que yo no puedo hablar espanol.
Yo estoy barbero: yo hablo solamente una lengua.
Entonces, debeo hablar ingles.

Brothers and sisters, comrades.
Forgive me, I do not speak Spanish.
I am a barbarian: I speak only one language.
Therefore I shall have to speak in English.

This is the fifth in a series of gatherings on alternative unionism, or as 
we sometimes say, "solidarity unionism." The first three were in Youngstown. 
The fourth sought to honor the coming together of students and workers in 
Seattle, Quebec City and Genoa, and was held at Kent State University. I 
grew up in New York City and I am very pleased that the fifth gathering is 
being held here. What do we mean by solidarity unionism? What is the core 
idea?

In the history of the United States, there have been two kinds of labor 
unions. First, there are traditional trade unions. Historically, they were 
often craft unions, because the skill of a carpenter or a roller in a steel 
mill gave those workers leverage with the employer. But -- very important -- 
they don't have to be craft unions. Today most traditional trade unions are 
industrial unions. The defining characteristic of traditional unions is that 
they seek to defend the short-term material interests of a particular group 
of workers, and to hell with everybody else. They don't try to change the 
capitalist system. They are part of it. They don't seek a more democratic 
society. National trade unions of the traditional sort are among the least 
democratic institutions in this society.

More at link here -----> 
http://vancouver.iww.ca/news/20030701alternativeorganizing.htm


------------------------------------------

Upcoming events:

Chris Chandler & Anne Feeney's Flying Poetry Circus & Wandering Minstrel 
Show

One Night Only! Tuesday, July 1st, 2003 WISE Hall, 1882 Adanac St., 
Vancouver
(behind the Vancouver East Cultural Centre) Doors 7:30 pm, performance
8:00 pm Donation at the door $2-$20 Nobody turned away for lack of funds
Sponsored by the IWW Vancouver-Coast Salish Territory. Proceeds go to the
workers on strike at Modern Auto Plating.

Where: 2003 WISE Hall, 1882 Adanac St., Vancouver (behind the Vancouver East 
Cultural Centre)
When: Tuesday, 1st of July 2003 from 8:00 PM until approximately 11:00 PM
Cost: $2-20 Nobody turned away for lack of funds.

For more information
IWW Vancouver/Coast Salish
gmb-van at iww.ca
(604) 682-3269 ext. 8493
http://vancouver.iww.ca

This event is being organised by IWW Vancouver/Coast Salish Territory

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