Unions Must Attract the Young and Hip—or Become Obsolete
Monday
November 16
6:12 pm

By Richard Greenwald

http://www.inthesetimes.com/working/entry/5176/the_changing_face_of_labor/

More importantly, support for unions has been declining in the public. Many young people do not see the value of unions, thinking of them as quaint but ineffective relics of the liberal past. Unions need to find ways to reach out to young Americans and connect with them if the movement is going to have a real chance at surviving into the 21st century.

There are many critical issues labor needs to deal with, but getting support from the youth of America must not be ignored. In recent years, business has learned the value of culture, hiring consultants to use social media and develop a cultural brand.

President Obama's election shows the power of mobilize twenty-somethings around an idea or brand. Imagine if organized labor could tap into youth culture, making unions hip the same way Obama’s handlers made him hip! Well, a man can dream.

http://www.greatdreams.com/political/ny-alleged-anarchists-82804.jpg

Hey BP,
Not sure what you mean. The crap I see in this article is that unionism has to become a brand and a social networking movement. Instead why don't we simply organize workers based on class? If the appeal of unions to young workers is based in anything other than class relationships, why bother?

Branding and selling and marketing are not neutral tools. They are the tools of the bosses and only work for them. They are forms of lying.

We want to break the stranglehold buying and selling have over our social relationships, not reinforce them.

President Obama's election shows the power of mobilize twenty-somethings around an idea or brand. Imagine if organized labor could tap into youth culture, making unions hip the same way Obama’s handlers made him hip! Well, a man can dream.


Not sure how broad the appeal of "anarchism" is even as a brand, but I see that BPs pic is from NY..but very similar to Pittsburgh except nobody burned Gumby/Spongebob in effigy while I was around :ambivalent face:

EDIT: and I think the appeal to young workers is going to be economic but hey, they come for the beat and stick around for the noise ;)

Not all of the young have bought into the bullshit. Those young anarchists in the photo have got a pretty good idea what's going on even if they're a bit loosey goosey. They are willing to act, I salute them. We need more like them and we need to work with them, bring them in and give them grounding. My post was addressed to the author of that repugnant suggestion.

I think you're right. There was a G-20 Summit, here in Cincinnati a few years ago, and the kids really impressed me, much more than the anti-war activists ever have. At least the kids see the big picture. The new SDS & IWW are self-proclaimed Anarchists, but not self-proclaimed Dems. More power to them. Now, I see you are addressing your comment of the author of the article. Sometimes I'm really dumb.

They're a mixed bag in many respects, but the overall front they present is pretty fucking lame

Not sure if I agree about the kids you guys are talking about or not..need to think it through carefully to explain my take on them..