Extra Credit

AFL-CIO: Young Workers Unite!

By The Nation

By Alana Levinson

At a noontime rally on September 22, the newly elected leadership of the AFL-CIO gathered on Wall Street to confront the briefcase-and-blackberry set with promises to "demand more accountability from our financial system." Richard Trumka, who was chosen to replace John Sweeney as president of the labor union federation at its recent convention in Pittsburgh, was joined on stage by new top officers Liz Shuler and Arlene Holt Baker, where they let the corporate elite know that Main Street no longer works for Wall Street.

The rally was part of whistle stop tour that also brought the new AFL-CIO leadership to Ohio, Georgia and Pennsylvania and marked the beginning of a fight to rebuild the economy amidst the current recession. But perhaps another motive in these rallies, in addition to invigorating the existing base, is to draw others, especially young people, out to support the labor union's cause. As shown during the last election, mobilizing a younger base can be extremely effective, and in the case of the AFL-CIO, it might be what they need in order maintain relevancy to coming generations.

Of the AFL-CIO's 11.5 million members, only one-quarter is under 47 years old. This means that many young people are putting in hours without the much-needed benefits that a union promises. The AFL-CIO acknowledges the sagging wages and moral of the young worker, having recently released a 44-page report entitled, "Young Workers: A Lost Decade" on just that. When the numbers in this study are compared to that of the same one done in 1999, the results are even more shocking. Currently, only 31% say that they can afford to pay their bills (down 22 percent from '99) and 31 percent are uninsured (7 percent more than '99). Even more disheartening, is that only 53 percent of young workers say they are optimistic about their economic future (a 22 point drop from the '99 statistic). This should be of concern not just to young workers like me, but to the entire country, which has always depended on both the mind-power and physical strength of its youth to fuel the economy.

Liz Shuler, the youngest AFL-CIO vice-president to ever be elected, showed her support for young workers despite their some-what lacking presence at the rally."The younger generation is supposed to be doing better than their parents, we owe that to them!" she shouted to the crowd. The next step will be continuing an even greater conversation with young Americans themselves, even if that means re-branding what being a "union worker" means. In an interview with the Associated Press, Shuler noted, in a hark back to Obama during the campaign, that one of the main things blocking the AFL-CIO from reaching a younger base is a barrier in communication:

They speak a different language and I think the labor movement has been a bit behind in how they communicate with those young workers. Even the term "worker" may be something that younger people may not identify with as much.

But everyone, especially young people with student loans looming overhead, can identify with the need for, in Trumka's words, "an America that rewards work as well as investment." If educated on how being part of a labor union would benefit them, I'm sure the youth would be quick to wildly support Trumka's proposed plans of action: a small global tax on stock transactions to curb reckless trading, increased financial regulations at both the state and federal level, and the public option. I hope that in addition to these goals, Shuler and the other top officers reach out to young Americans in the workforce whether they be coal miners or freelance writers. This will ease the pockets and minds of stressed young workers, diversify the scope of the labor union, and finally, help restore the economy's health.

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September 30, 2009

Activists Build on Historic Israel Divestment Victory

By The Nation

Andrea D'Cruz

Hampshire College, Massachusetts were years ahead of the activist curve even in 1977 when they became the first American institution of higher education to divest from South Africa. Some three decades later Hampshire Students for Justice in Palestine (HSJP) launched a campaign to press their university to divest from companies involved in Israeli occupation and violence against civilians. In doing so they called upon the legacy of that historic anti-Apartheid move, which Ilana Rossoff, a HSJP activist, explains was "a huge motivator behind why divestment was such an imperative and that it was possible." After two years of mobilizing popular support--their petition gathered 800 signatures, from students, faculty and alumni, quite a number for a school of 1,350--that possibility was finally realized and Hampshire made history (and controversy) again as the first college to divest from Israeli occupation--an injustice whose architecture many have compared to that of apartheid.

Alan Dershowitz was so incensed by the news that he took it upon himself to call up HSJP members individually with the threat, "I'm starting a boycott of Hampshire College and of you personally." A creepy experience to be sure. Still, if you manage to rile up Dershowitz enough for him to personally get on your case (Against Israel) then you know you're doing the right thing, and well.

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September 25, 2009

Five Ways to Show Support for Healthcare Reform

By The Nation

By Kristina Rizga

Even before last November's election, young adults listed healthcare among their top three issues. That compelled a gathering of over 40 youth groups convened by Generational Alliance in November of 2008 to put healthcare at the top of their collective agenda. Now, Generational Alliance members plan to host 16 events in 8 different states to raise the volume of youth voices.

Despite this enthusiasm, as non-profit youth groups tried to get funding to channel the youth energy inspired by the Obama campaign into healthcare reform, funding for many of them didn't come through. Young organizers blame some of the problem on the recession, but some of it they cite as an oversight by the foundation world. "It's a huge tactical mistake since this is the most supportive demographic for healthcare reform," Matt Singer, 26, CEO and founder of Forward Montana, a youth-based group in Missoula, explains referring to a recent poll by SurveyUSA.

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September 15, 2009