What is the Role of Unionism?
A recent leaflet, headlined “The Role of the Union,” distributed by the New Directions reform movement within the United Auto Workers union illustrates the need of those who seek to build better unions to first analyze the weakness that plagues the existing unions. The concept of the role of the labor union is central to the character of unionism and its effectiveness in protecting and advancing the interests of workers. Wrong concepts lead workers and unions into bankruptcy at best and catastrophe at worst. Workers must be clear on the mission of unionism if the unions they join are to be capable of defending and advancing their interests. There is today a sprinkling of reform groups inside and outside the existing unions that are struggling to redefine the “role” of unionism. In its leaflet on the role of unions, New Directions expresses sentiments commonly found among these groups. The leaflet takes the position, implicitly at times, that the existing unions have “sold out” the work
