A Radical Stance: Future of the Union
"We stand for solidarity with all working-class people around the world as a movement without national boundaries and false patriotism, by standing against religious, racist, sexual, and military oppression. For too long have these things divided us a working-class. We believe the working-class can no longer be divided[1]."
About Future of the Union
Future of the Union is a socialist movement within the UAW that is committed to making changes in the UAW. Through educating this union's workers around the country about the current affairs of the UAW, it serves to forment a solidarity among its members. However, this organization extends far beyond mere education of the rank-in-file workers of the UAW. It is moreover taking an active role in trying to promote radical change withing the UAW. In challenging the rulings of the UAW leaders and voicing perhaps provocative, yet important, views to express that many are thinking but do not dare to say, Future of the Union seeks to keep those in positions of power in the UAW honest and to eliminate any corruption as soon as it is spotted. However, because of its radical views and constant attack on the the people in positions of power within the UAW, Future of the Union is seen as an "anti-union" by some UAW officers [2].
However, Future of the Union is not against the UAW - on the contrary, it is merely attempting to better this organization so it can truly represent the goals of and achieve justice for its current members and those members of future generations of the UAW. [3]
Values [4]
These are the goals that Future of the Union hopes to achieve, the dreams that they have for the UAW workers of today and tomorrow and for all working people in America.
- No cuts in public services: full funding for all community needs.
- A massive public spending increase in health, housing, education, childcare, leisure and community facilities paid for by taxes on the rich.
- Cancel the national debt with no payment to the big investors. Use the money to rebuild the inner cities and the infrastructure under union conditions and wages.
- Free, high quality public education for all, from preschool to college.
- Free, socialized medicine under democratic control.
- End pollution and environmental destruction with massive investment to clean up the environment.
- End discrimination and prejudice on the grounds of race, sex, ethnic background, sexuality and disability. Equal pay for equal work.
- Defend abortion rights; for the right of women to choose.
- Defend immigrant rights; papers for all.
- End police brutality and harassment through laborcommunity committees to control all aspects of public safety.
- Mass pickets and militant action to stop union busting, plant closures and layoffs.
- A minimum wage of $12.50/hour or $500 per week minimum guaranteed Income. The ultimate goal of abolishment of the entire wage system.
- No Workfare or prison labor, guaranteed training and a job for all.
- A 30 hour work week without loss of pay.
- Major investment in a cheap, accessible, integrated, safe, publiclyowned transportation system that meets the needs of people and the environment.
- Scrap antiunion laws. Trade unions to be democratically controlled by their members. Full time union officials should be elected and receive the wage of an average worker.
- Unions to break with the parties of the bosses and campaign to build a mass Workers’ Party.
- Solidarity with the struggles of workers in other countries; an injury to one is an injury to all.
- Take into public ownership, under democratic working class control and management, the top 500 corporations, banks, insurance and finance houses that dominate the economy. Compensation to be paid on the basis of proven need.
- An end to the rule of profit, for a socialist society to meet the needs of all.
