Labor Internationalism in USA

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Comment by peter waterman on November 14, 2010 at 17:19

Hi, Paul:

Well, stopping the general capitalist stampede toward Armagedon would be a good first step, but I fear that the most we can expect from trade unions (right, centre, left) is some protection for members and maybe also some expansion amongst the non-unionised, whilst capitalism continues to destructure and destroy jobs, to move them around globally, to subcontract and outsource, as well, of course, to carry out (ineffective and self-destructive) wars, and to destroy the environment.

I would have thought that, here, attack was the best method for defence, but this requires not so much trying to get back that which globalised capital seems to have already put behind it (the welfare state, etc) but to present to members, all kinds of working people, and also to those who may primarily define themselves as women, indigenous, ecologists, pacifists, 'racial' minorities, the vision of an alternative future, based on some attractive ethical principles.

I just posted on the AAWL pages the Women's Global Charter for Humanity. THAT seems to me a possible model for what I am looking for. Somewhere there there should also be my Global Labour Charter thing. In any case, it is here:

http://www.unionbook.org/profiles/blogs/needed-a-global-labour-charter

Happy to send you other items on request.

Peter

Comment by Paul Garver on November 14, 2010 at 14:05

Hi Peter,

I think that Harold Meyerson edited the special report on labor internationalism. I find the articles accurate and informative (not surprising since I know most of the writers involved and was consulted by two of them for this issue). Of course they do not suggest US labor internationalism will turn the tide against capitalism, since only true believers such as you and I cling to that hope, and I only on my most optimistic mornings. I doubt that AP will do anything with your pieces, but I would be interested in seeing them.

Comment by peter waterman on November 14, 2010 at 12:07

Hi, Paul,

Thanks for this posting. I have just scanned the special issue of American Prospect and found it both useful and sobering. Most of the contributors make no suggestion that the new internationalism they deal with is going to turn the tide against capital and state. At best they seem to suggest some new deal with the globalising monsters (plural because these also include state and inter-state instances pushing neo-liberalism, such as ministries of labour, labour/socialist parties and the International Financial Institutions.

I have written the editor of AP, offering a couple of my own pieces by way of commentary. I expect, however, that the un-edited UnionFace is likely to provide a better agora for the necessary exchange of views.