"But here's the issue that the Union must pay more attention to. From what I have heard from several Berkeley Bowl employees, the union needed a more visible role on the ground. For example, one progressive and politically experienced employee complained that when Berkeley Bowl raised the health insurance premiums that employees must pay, the union only filed a grievance.

For more visibility and effect, holding a protest rally would have been a good idea. More generally, these stores should have stewards who are actively in contact with the members, continually engaging them, asking what their concerns are and working with them to resolve the problems they have on their minds.

In short, it would be useful for unions to move from a model in which issues are too often handled within a legal framework, and frequently by experts, such as lawyers -- to a social movement model, in which union members are more vigorously encouraged to participate in shaping their day to day work lives."

NUHW has again bested SEIU and the employer with an impressive representation election victory (393-122). Randy Shaw's BeyondChron article has the details. The SEIU blamed management intimidation for its withdrawal from a 3 way election. Not only did NUHW win a lopsided victory, it was able to point to the fact it overcame the very employer hostility SEIU ran away from.

A federal court jury has ruled in favor of the SEIU and against 16 former officials who bolted from the SEIU and formed the National Union of Healthcare Workers (NUHW). The verdict awards a money judgment totaling almost $1.6 million dollars. Randy Shaw has a good analysis at BeyondChron.

Thats what Randy Shaw says at BeyondChron. The solution to stopping labors decline in membership is not political, it is based on investment in organizing. Randy's right, hard work and organizing are required. Quick political fixes are not happening.

Union density matters, that is. This BeyondChron piece dramatically exhibits the external pressure union activists can put on employers to encourage them to "cooperate" in the process of their employees "selecting" union representation in the major hotels in San Francisco. More after the jump
Street disturbances, lobby confrontations, both tactics are used by UNITE HERE in its efforts to build public support and pressure. Not so nearly as effective as the article implies in areas like New Orleans where external support evaporates due to a lack of substantial union density and for cultural reasons. More after the jump. New Orleans is a very conservative environment, guests would likely exhibit significant anger towards "outside agitators." And like another southern city, Houston, use the police authority to ensure against disturbances of the peace, thereby rendering the protest option far less effective. Also in the past we, in Louisiana, have seen high profile "industry organizing" attempts flop in healthcare, hospitality and the oil patch.