Book Review for Bill Fletcher and Fernando Gapasins Book Solidarity Divided

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Start your review of Solidarity Divided: The Crisis in Organized Labor and a New Path toward Social Justice

Jul 06, 2008 Online-University of-the-Left rated it actually liked it

Recommends it for: Labor & other activists

Recommended to Online-Academy by: Writer

Z-Net Interview with the Author

Tin can yous tell ZNet, please, what Solidarity Divided is about? What is information technology trying to communicate?

"Solidarity Divided" is an attempt to provide a framework for activists who, in looking at the US trade union movement, are trying to figure out the origin and nature of the current crunch. Information technology is NOT an effort to examine every question relative to the development of the US working course, nor is information technology an exhaustive examination of each reform effort. It is particularly focuse

Z-Internet Interview with the Writer

Tin can you tell ZNet, delight, what Solidarity Divided is almost? What is it trying to communicate?

"Solidarity Divided" is an endeavor to provide a framework for activists who, in looking at the US merchandise union movement, are trying to figure out the origin and nature of the electric current crisis. It is Non an endeavor to examine every question relative to the development of the US working class, nor is information technology an exhaustive examination of each reform endeavour. It is particularly focused on efforts that began effectually 1995 with the coming to ability of the John Sweeney administration in the AFL-CIO.

The volume additionally attempts to situate the current crisis within the context of the failures of a sure approach to unionism that is grounded in the idea and exercise of Samuel Gompers, afterward amended with virulent anti-communism.

Can you tell ZNet something about writing the book? Where does the content come from? What went into making the book what information technology is?

The book is a joint project between me--Bill Fletcher, Jr.--and Fernando Gapasin. Both of us take extensive experience in organized labor, holding diverse positions, inside and outside the formal construction. Fernando and I tried drawing upon our experiences but we also examined the record of efforts, particularly start with the Sweeney run for the AFL-CIO Presidency, to alter the path of organized labor. Fernando and I took different chapters to focus upon.

What are your hopes for the volume? What practice you promise it will contribute or reach politically? Given the effort and aspirations you take for the book, what volition you lot deem to be a success? What would go out you happy about the whole undertaking? What would leave you wondering if it was worth all the time and effort?

Nosotros are hoping that the volume provokes a wide-ranging word and 18-carat contend concerning the future of the working class both hither in the United states of america and globally. We would be excited if, for example, the Resolution that was submitted to the AFL-CIO Convention in 2005 (see Appendix A of the book) was discussed within the movement and became an action item that unions, central labor councils, country federations of labor and the national AFL-CIO took up. We would hope that independent organizations, such every bit the emerging worker centers, would utilise the book to help think through how they tin influence organized labor, merely also retrieve through their own strategies toward the birth of a new labor movement in the USA.

In all of this we are upwardly confronting those who would wish to suppress debate and are more comfortable with audio-bites and rhetoric. Nevertheless, the initial responses we have received accept been very positive and insofar as a contend is advanced, we will be very pleased.

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May 14, 2009 Adam is currently reading it

A crude review: Practiced for background history on alot of the recent splits and cleft in the recent labor movement as well as some interesting political analysis. Just the book overall has some problematic assay for anyone who wants to approach the labor movement from a radical perspective. First, while the begining history is skilful on race and class formation in the U.s.a. that most labor history tends to side step, his presentation of the history of the labor move and the left is presented in A rough review: Skillful for background history on alot of the recent splits and scissure in the contempo labor motion every bit well equally some interesting political analysis. But the book overall has some problematic analysis for anyone who wants to approach the labor movement from a radical perspective. Outset, while the begining history is skilful on race and class formation in the U.s. that most labor history tends to side footstep, his presentation of the history of the labor movement and the left is presented in a manner that essentially writes out more than radical moments and efforts such as the Haymarket era, the radicalism of the WFM, the IWW. According to him, the history of the labor motion is the history of the AFL-CIO. Merely I would debate that much of the most interesting history of the labor move in the Us can be institute outside of rather than within the AFL. Side by side is his perspectives on some of the more recent conflicts, while making a off-white attempt to present multiple viewpoints, largely reflects Fletchers vantage signal equally a loftier level fellow member of the AFL-CIO bureacracy- which is interesting to hear but prevents a more critical perspective. Finally, the solutions he raises to reinvigorate the labor movement, such as revitalizing local labor councils and pointing to the LAMAP endeavor, seem fairly balmy and given numerous examples of the bureacratic, incompetent, conservative, and anti-class struggle charactor that permeates the ALF-CIO, exercise non seem to present much of an culling vision for labor. ...more

Sep xiii, 2020 Julesreads rated information technology it was amazing

Fletcher and Gapasin do a nifty thing with this volume. Using the 2005 split up betwixt the AFL-CIO and what would go the CTW, dividing into two lumbering matrimony federations, the authors nowadays the split every bit a case study and analogy in the failures of the spousal relationship movement. Rife with divisions especially since the radical purges during the Ruby Scare, Fletcher and Gapasin write a critical analysis of a movement that has struggled with race and gender (and past struggled, I mean information technology'due south been a racist a Fletcher and Gapasin do a keen thing with this book. Using the 2005 split between the AFL-CIO and what would become the CTW, dividing into two lumbering wedlock federations, the authors present the split every bit a case report and analogy in the failures of the wedlock motion. Rife with divisions especially since the radical purges during the Red Scare, Fletcher and Gapasin write a critical assay of a move that has struggled with race and gender (and by struggled, I hateful it's been a racist and sexist movement for too long), and with the fight between revolutionary ideology/militancy and a conservative unionism partnering with US business interests. I found that the authors stumbled a scrap, or at least I disagreed with them, in some of their remedies and conclusions. Only the bulk of the book is damn good, going as far as to have an internationalist/anti-US foreign policy take and making the bold merits that unions in the Us will die if they don't modify drastically and fast to find true solidarity with all of the working and poor class. Even if the answers they pose to these issues (like unions staying away from forming their own political party in favor of putting pressure level on, and pushing candidates through, the corrupt, capitalist, and hegemonic two-political party political system in place) are barking upward the wrong fucked upwards tree, they're barking for the adept of the labor motility. ...more than

Sep 21, 2014 Adam rated it actually liked it

This is a fine companion to Moody'southward U.S. Labor in Transition and Trouble. Fletcher Jr. and Gapasin trace the labor movement'due south decline, especially during the period just preceding and following the carve up of the motion betwixt the AFL-CIO and the Change to Win Coalition in 2005.

The authors forcefully argue for a framework of values to understand the crisis of the movement and to guide a left-wing way forward. Indeed, they fence that information technology was precisely the Cold War-era expulsion of leftist unionis

This is a fine companion to Moody'due south U.S. Labor in Transition and Trouble. Fletcher Jr. and Gapasin trace the labor motion's decline, especially during the period merely preceding and following the split of the movement between the AFL-CIO and the Change to Win Coalition in 2005.

The authors forcefully argue for a framework of values to understand the crisis of the movement and to guide a left-wing way forward. Indeed, they fence that it was precisely the Cold War-era expulsion of leftist unionists that facilitated the move towards conservative business unionism that increased the standard of living for the unionized section of the working form, but at the exclusion of the not-unionzed section of the class. The effect, of course, ultimately weakened both the union and the class as a whole.

They argue that it is not sufficient to organize new members: "Those who advocate organizing new members into existing unions equally the solution to the crisis of U.South. labor are essentially refilling a ho-hum-leaking tire" (165). Unions must too build political ability.

The authors very neatly lay out the desired political positions (inclusivity, militancy, internationalism) and practices (city-based organizing with centrolineal political blocs, ties with other move organizations). They too provide an appendix of "example studies" of local unions in social club to urge practical considerations for such a vision. Nonetheless, the job overwhelms, and the authors autumn curt of providing a hopeful programme for moving frontward. At its heart, this book argues for a value-based approach to the movement. Fletcher and Gapasin often write in phrases like "we must," "the move needs to," etc. That is, calls for action. The main section of the book lacks an acknowledgement and discussion of the very real tensions that arise between progressive union leaders and more conservative members. How is it that leaders can lead with this framework? Yes, political educational activity of the membership is paramount, just the reader is left without much insight as to how to navigate a socially and politically-fractured membership. Only in the appendices is in that location such a give-and-take. Its separation from the main give-and-take in book prevents it from delivering equally stiff a message as information technology could.

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Jan 08, 2011 Algernon rated it really liked information technology

This provides some good detail on organized labor in the U.S. from the twentieth century into the previous decade. Its history is a bit AFL-CIO centered, which is non entirely surprising since 1 of the authors (Fletcher) worked for the AFL-CIO.

At that place are surprising exceptions to the above, however. NAFTA does non get as much attending every bit I would have expected -- this surely merited a chapter of its own, both in how it was marketed to labor and the bodily results. At that place is also little or no men

This provides some skillful detail on organized labor in the U.S. from the twentieth century into the previous decade. Its history is a bit AFL-CIO centered, which is not entirely surprising since one of the authors (Fletcher) worked for the AFL-CIO.

There are surprising exceptions to the higher up, however. NAFTA does not go as much attention as I would have expected -- this surely merited a chapter of its own, both in how it was marketed to labor and the actual results. There is also piffling or no mention of efforts to organize workers outside of the NLRA process, such as Starbucks Workers Union shepherded by the IWW.

They make a expert argument for what is here called "social justice unionism," openly acknowledging class struggle and organizing not for the do good of an organization and its members, merely for the working form every bit a whole.

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Nov 17, 2008 David rated it it was amazing

a wide-ranging radical view of the labor movement from ii
insiders...It has some fascinating details nearly the recent
split of the AFL-CIO.

Splendid. Hopefully it will provoke a democratic debate within the labor movement.

Mar 05, 2009 kevin rated it really liked it

If you're reading this right now, and you're thinking, "wow, I don't know much about the labor motion in 21st century America," you should pick this one upwards. Information technology'south an odd book at places, just it's well worth reading if you're at all interested in how unions organize and strategize. If you're reading this right at present, and y'all're thinking, "wow, I don't know much about the labor movement in 21st century America," you should pick this one upward. It's an odd book at places, simply it's well worth reading if you're at all interested in how unions organize and strategize. ...more

Feb 28, 2009 Antdugl rated it liked it

unfortunately, this is probably the all-time volume out there on the current ideological and businesslike divisions within labor. the volume sometimes presses a little hard on the marxist rhetoric, merely it'southward an important read for anyone who cares nigh labor and where we're headed ... unfortunately, this is probably the best volume out there on the current ideological and pragmatic divisions within labor. the book sometimes presses a little difficult on the marxist rhetoric, but it'southward an important read for anyone who cares nearly labor and where we're headed ... ...more

Jul 26, 2008 Steve rated it it was amazing

lots of incite and deep background on split of AFL-CIO and what is really needed instead.

Dec eleven, 2008 John rated it actually liked information technology

A useful and insightful discussion of the contempo AFL-CIO split.

A wonderful await at unions. Explains a lot about current events in the union to which I vest. Rough times ahead!

November 29, 2012 James Tracy rated it it was amazing

Pretty much the go-to text on how promising labor movements get sabotaged and destroyed under the wright of racism, conservatism and more than.

Mar 06, 2011 ben rated it liked information technology

Read the vast majority of this volume for class. A stiff critique that included a racial analysis just was still pro-union.

Feb 17, 2009 Fran rated it liked it

This book had several very valuable ideas and suggestions, but needed a much stronger editor and could take been much stronger as a long essay.

Pecker Fletcher, Jr., is the Chairman of the Board of Directors for the International Labor Rights Forum, Executive Editor of The Black Commentator and founder of the Center for Labor Renewal. A longtime labor, racial justice and international activist, he is the immediate past president of TransAfrica Forum, a national not-profit organisation organizing, educating and advocating for policies in fav Bill Fletcher, Jr., is the Chairman of the Lath of Directors for the International Labor Rights Forum, Executive Editor of The Black Commentator and founder of the Center for Labor Renewal. A longtime labor, racial justice and international activist, he is the immediate past president of TransAfrica Forum, a national not-turn a profit organization organizing, educating and advocating for policies in favor of the peoples of Africa, the Caribbean and Latin America. Fletcher is also a founder of the Black Radical Congress and is a Senior Scholar for the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington, DC.

Fletcher is the co-author (with Fernando Gapasin) of Solidarity Divided, The Crisis in Organized Labor and A New Path Toward Social Justice (University of California Printing). He was formerly the Vice President for International Trade Union Development Programs for the George Meany Centre of the AFL-CIO. Prior the George Meany Centre, Fletcher served equally Education Director and later Assistant to the President of the AFL-CIO.

Fletcher got his first in the labor movement every bit a rank and file member of the Industrial Union of Marine and Shipbuilding Workers of America. Combining labor and community piece of work, he was too involved in ongoing efforts to desegregate the Boston building trades. He later on served in leadership and staff positions in District 65-United Auto Workers, National Postal Mail Handlers Union and Service Employees International Union (SEIU).

Fletcher is a graduate of Harvard University and has authored numerous articles and speaks widely on domestic and international topics, racial justice and labor problems.

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