It’s been a dozen years since I wrote about the growing disconnect between unions, the left, and the workers they seek to represent. Today, those cracks have widened into a chasm, with Trump's Republicans now proclaimed in headlines as the "party of the working class".
Should we be so surprised that workers responded to a call to "fight, fight, fight" over a seemingly never-ending "organized march backwards" led by prevailing leadership?
Back then, I wrote a labour & community issues column for a U.S.-based news network and asked questions like this (that were never answered):
How is it that the strongest resistance to corporatist power and military-industrial complex came from Republicans like Ron Paul and the Christian libertarian right, not the organized left?
Why do labor bureaucracies, despite historical and recent evidence of betrayal by labor and social democratic parties, remain wed to these same political forces, even as they implement policies that harm workers?
Why is it that the Occupy movement was able to do more to educate, inspire and change the public discourse around social and economic inequality, the corporate agenda, the casino economy and threats to our democracy, in the first few months of its relatively unorganized and unfunded existence, than the entire labour movement, with its wealth, army of researchers and octopus-like communications apparatus, was able to do in a generation?
The labor movement's response has often been to purge such thoughts, doubts, and questions rather than engage with them. But problems ignored do not disappear—they deepen.
Today, this has left some workers disillusioned and others questioning whether unions can still fully uphold the values that make them vital: democracy, solidarity, and justice.
Unions have long been essential in fighting for a measure of democracy in the workplace, defending workers’ dignity, and advancing justice.
As Theodore Roosevelt, the Republican 26th President, reminded us:
"Capital organizes, and therefore labor must organize."
But when unions fail to cultivate civility by fostering genuine dialogue and engaging dissenting voices, or authentically representing workers, trust begins to erode and the labour movement's effectiveness wanes.
Solidarity cannot be ordered—it thrives on authentic participation and grassroots democratic engagement.
True civility—the foundation of thriving communities and workplaces—is not politeness, but the courage to seek truth and foster robust dialogue.
The labor movement’s struggles mirror a broader crisis in governance, where institutions risk losing touch with the people they serve.
True leadership—whether in unions, local government, or civic life—requires listening, transparency, and a commitment to both civility and the common good.
This isn’t about assigning blame—it’s about recognizing an opportunity.
The labor movement has a chance to lead with courage and vision by reconnecting with its roots, fostering civil dialogue, and prioritizing both workers and the public good.
By doing so, it can reclaim its rightful place as a force for justice and democracy.
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