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symbioidljOK, so this is probably the best idea I've come up with for a website, and I think it would kick so much fucking ass.
We've already seen the power of the internet with sites such as MoveOn.org and Howard Dean's campaign, and also with the DNC ePatriots program(which allows you to donate to the democratic party online, easily and quickly)...
This is not to mention the rise of Indymedia 4 years ago or so...
There is a strike at a Tyson food plant right now in Jefferson, WI, and our local radio station(WORT) has carried coverage of the union struggle. I've wanted to help, but didn't know quite how. I saw a button at Rainbow Co-op the other day that if you donated a buck or more you could have... I saw it too late as I was walking out, and will probably go back to donate next paycheck.
BUT.......
The idea came to me. There's power of the people on the net. Why not create a site called something like strikefund.org.
This site would allow donations to various striking workers around the country. Some of the ideas I have:
1) Important to work with as many and as diverse as possible collection of unions. Everything from the big ones(UAW, AFL/CIO), to the smaller (SEIU and AFSCME), down to the small but still surviving (IWW)... There should be no union fighting, it should be a chance to bring all these unions together and support each other.
2) Have a database of current strikes, and allow people to view them by state, union, issues, company, etc... Encourage localism, so that people donate to strikes close to home if possible.
3) Each strike should have their own blog. The leadership can post updates on the struggle. Each worker should also be allowed their own blogspace, so not only the leadership, but rank and file have a voice... This also brings the struggle closer to home and allows the real personal side to be shown as well.
4) If there are special needs in a strike(requests for clothing or food items or whatever), there should be a place for that.
5) The news should be syndicated with RSS feeds, so people can get the latest info...
6) Show links to the union web-sites, and also post snail-mail addresses for both regular letter writing, and non-monetary donations(or for people who don't have cards, so they can send a check or something))
7) Each strike section will include info on the history of the current strike, and goals and as much info as possible from the union.
8) Encourage solidarity actions, and give dates and times for these actions so people can be informed of other ways they can help.
9) Fund-raising for new unions who are struggling to form. Help with that aspect as well.
10) Raise other work issues, even if not necessarily union-related.
11) Work with community groups and media to get the word out... Get sponsorship from them as well. Act as a voice and PR dissemination vehicle.
12) Give history and general information on the union movement(from all sides, so the UAW can give their version of the workers struggle, right next to the IWW, and see the militant history along with the more traditional big labor side of things)
13) Post organizing materials, tactical information, propaganda flyers, etc... Help workers to take matters in their own hands. Form a stronger union presence and allow people to really have a central site to find information on activities and how to support them, and also how they can be supported by unions.
It would take a shitload of work, but I think this could really take off. But where the FUCK do I begin? The site design would take a bit of work. A specialist in Database design would be required, as well people versed in organizational leadership...
Rosemary thinks it would be best to start locally, but have some standards in place. Somehow utilize the concept of federation, but have it centralized enough so that people can easily find what they need. Like we in Madison could start for the local unions, and expand to the county and the state. Then the region(great lakes) could unite, and federate with other regions... But the national unions would have to push for this as well. Local is important, but without support of the big guys, it would be difficult.
There will be a try to avoid pure politics as much as possible, though of course it would come up. There should be the "checklist" of politicians who support union rights, and how they voted on issues, but no politician should be advocated over another. That is up to each individual conscience.
Good idea? How hard would this be to implement?
We've already seen the power of the internet with sites such as MoveOn.org and Howard Dean's campaign, and also with the DNC ePatriots program(which allows you to donate to the democratic party online, easily and quickly)...
This is not to mention the rise of Indymedia 4 years ago or so...
There is a strike at a Tyson food plant right now in Jefferson, WI, and our local radio station(WORT) has carried coverage of the union struggle. I've wanted to help, but didn't know quite how. I saw a button at Rainbow Co-op the other day that if you donated a buck or more you could have... I saw it too late as I was walking out, and will probably go back to donate next paycheck.
BUT.......
The idea came to me. There's power of the people on the net. Why not create a site called something like strikefund.org.
This site would allow donations to various striking workers around the country. Some of the ideas I have:
1) Important to work with as many and as diverse as possible collection of unions. Everything from the big ones(UAW, AFL/CIO), to the smaller (SEIU and AFSCME), down to the small but still surviving (IWW)... There should be no union fighting, it should be a chance to bring all these unions together and support each other.
2) Have a database of current strikes, and allow people to view them by state, union, issues, company, etc... Encourage localism, so that people donate to strikes close to home if possible.
3) Each strike should have their own blog. The leadership can post updates on the struggle. Each worker should also be allowed their own blogspace, so not only the leadership, but rank and file have a voice... This also brings the struggle closer to home and allows the real personal side to be shown as well.
4) If there are special needs in a strike(requests for clothing or food items or whatever), there should be a place for that.
5) The news should be syndicated with RSS feeds, so people can get the latest info...
6) Show links to the union web-sites, and also post snail-mail addresses for both regular letter writing, and non-monetary donations(or for people who don't have cards, so they can send a check or something))
7) Each strike section will include info on the history of the current strike, and goals and as much info as possible from the union.
8) Encourage solidarity actions, and give dates and times for these actions so people can be informed of other ways they can help.
9) Fund-raising for new unions who are struggling to form. Help with that aspect as well.
10) Raise other work issues, even if not necessarily union-related.
11) Work with community groups and media to get the word out... Get sponsorship from them as well. Act as a voice and PR dissemination vehicle.
12) Give history and general information on the union movement(from all sides, so the UAW can give their version of the workers struggle, right next to the IWW, and see the militant history along with the more traditional big labor side of things)
13) Post organizing materials, tactical information, propaganda flyers, etc... Help workers to take matters in their own hands. Form a stronger union presence and allow people to really have a central site to find information on activities and how to support them, and also how they can be supported by unions.
It would take a shitload of work, but I think this could really take off. But where the FUCK do I begin? The site design would take a bit of work. A specialist in Database design would be required, as well people versed in organizational leadership...
Rosemary thinks it would be best to start locally, but have some standards in place. Somehow utilize the concept of federation, but have it centralized enough so that people can easily find what they need. Like we in Madison could start for the local unions, and expand to the county and the state. Then the region(great lakes) could unite, and federate with other regions... But the national unions would have to push for this as well. Local is important, but without support of the big guys, it would be difficult.
There will be a try to avoid pure politics as much as possible, though of course it would come up. There should be the "checklist" of politicians who support union rights, and how they voted on issues, but no politician should be advocated over another. That is up to each individual conscience.
Good idea? How hard would this be to implement?
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no subject
Date: 2003-07-08 07:32 pm (UTC)