Inside SEIU

I found this article over at MRZine written by a young college graduate turned union organizer on his impressions about briefly working for SEIU 1199. The author writes what I think is a very important piece that's worth the read, especially by those who feel that SEIU is the "reform" wing of the labor movement. I'll readily add the caveat that my own union, AFT, certainly has its issues, but I think we come out smelling a lot better than what this kid observes. Funk definitely provides some insights into SEIU's model of organizing, which (as pattyjoe has mentioned before) seems to be throwing organizers at a campaign.

Also, take the time to read the accompanying comments for some interesting insights regarding the role of paid staff in unions. This comment - likely made by a Sternist true believer - in particular rankled my nerves:

Union organizers are not workers. We are not exploited. Members are not a boss. We get the privelage of being supported by the members in order to more effectively fight the boss as an organization.

If you look at organizing as a job then shame on you. Movement building is not a job. Movement building is politics in action.

I hope we're all sick of the tired old trope that unless you're willing to work for next-to-nothing, you're a sell-out. Movement building, contrary to the jackass quoted above, is a job, and it's a fucking hard job that requires massive amounts of time and energy. From my own experience as a local leader, it's difficult for members to do this massive amount of work on top of their paying jobs. That's why unions have paid staff in the first place. Now, the role and scope of paid staff is something that should be discussed and constantly reflected on - there does need to be a balance struck between the professionalism of the staff and union democracy. But to say that anyone who does work for the community, be it union or movement organizing, teaching, or childcare work, should do it for its intrinsic rewards is at best asinine, and at worst reeks of a solipsistic and indulgent leftism that has little to do with actual workers in the real world.