To Unionize Or Not To Unionize? THAT is the question.

[un_person]

Do you all think that all workers should form unions? I work in a dishroom right now and our "supervisors" are all really nice? Should I go ahead and try to start a union? How should I go about it?

[RED DAVE]

Do you all think that all workers should form unions? I work in a dishroom right now and our "supervisors" are all really nice? Should I go ahead and try to start a union? How should I go about it?(1) Yes, all workers should form unions. What would you do if, tomorrow, the 'nice" supes are replaced by a bunch of swine?

(2) Contact these people for help:

http://www.labornotes.org/

(3) What is a dishroom?

RED DAVE

[comradshaw]

Do you all think that all workers should form unions?

The short answer, as an anti-capitalist, is yes.


I work in a dishroom right now and our "supervisors" are all really nice?

Chances are your supervisors need a union too, assuming they're wage laborers whom are paid by an owner/owners of the business. I would advise separating your personal feelings about your "superiors" at work and consider your comrades in the dishroom. Just because bosses can be nice doesn't mean we should give capitalism any slack.





Should I go ahead and try to start a union?

This is where it gets tricky and subjective. Are you planning on spending a fair amount of time in the restaurant business? If not, do you plan on maintaining a relationship with the hypothetical union you plan to start? Does it make sense to try to organize at your place of employment? Some times trying to organize a small business can be futile, simply because the shop-owner may literally not be able to meet the demands of the union.

Now, if we're consistent here, we may say a strike is necessary anyways, and we have to consider the small capitalist our enemy too (it's not just the usual suspects like Walmart and Whole Foods; socialists are against any private ownership as far as I'm concerned). But what may happen if you attempt to do this in a small restaurant is that you may become marginalized quickly and find no one who is willing to rock the boat.

This could be an issue no matter where you are, so be prepared for people to treat you like shit; it's part of the work, I suppose. People are going to treat you like you're trying to take their job, and the boss is certainly going to have some antagonism.

If you're at a big chain restaurant, it may make sense for you to try to organize for an existing union. The IWW is always looking for new members. I'm in the process of trying to get a student union off of the ground at the moment, hopefully through the IWW. Since I'm only working a couple of nights a week now (I just started back to a full time masters program) for tips, primarily, I feel as though organizing efforts might be better spent on campus. We'll see what happens.

How should I go about it?
But back to your situation: I'd say there are a great deal of variables. Try to find people in your community with union-organizing backgrounds. While they may not be radicals or anything, oftentimes they'll be happy to talk to you, and their insight is usually invaluable. They can give you all kinds of advise to start the process. Good luck comrade.

By the way, saw that you're in KY as well. I'm in Louisville.