Even in Midwest states that have been union strongholds, Republicans now have public-employee unions in their cross-hairs. This is the latest and potentially most deadly phase of government assault on unions. Ever since the Reagan counterrevolution, government policies joined with private sector profiteers have vastly worsened racial-economic inequalities, created a gambling casino on Wall Street and paved the way for the current economic crisis.

Conservatives rationalize their attacks on unions by saying unionized public workers are unfairly privileged. But they only look privileged by comparison to the rest of the working class, which is suffering economic catastrophe and has almost entirely lost the benefits of unionization. Yet class envy is an easy means to divide and rule.

In one stroke, by eliminating both bargaining rights and union dues, Republicans can insure that organized, dues-paying workers and particularly minorities and women will no longer provide a potent base for the Democratic Party. There will be few grassroots organizations left to counter the huge infusion of money into politics by the rich.

Workers in Wisconsin have agreed to make sacrifices to get state government out of its budgetary hole. But it would be a huge mistake for anyone to go beyond that and buy into attacks on public employee unions. Loss of unions will further decimate the spending power of working people, thereby intensifying the economic crisis while further removing the voice of workers from politics. That’s a downward spiral.

Republicans most especially wants to undermine the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). Founded in Wisconsin, AFSCME flowered after King died in the fight for union rights in Memphis in 1968. AFSCME became one of the largest unions in the country, with King regarded as an honorary member and practically a founder of the union.

In King’s framework, killing public employees unions today would be immoral as well as foolish. He said the three evils facing humankind are war, racism and economic injustice, and that the purpose of a union is to overcome the latter evil. King said the civil-rights movement from 1954 to 1965 was “phase one,” to be followed by a second phase—the struggle for economic advancement. We are not doing very well in phase two, and unions remain essential to carry it out.

I’ve recently finished a new collection of King’s remarkable speeches, titled “All Labor Has Dignity,” which shows that throughout his life, King stood up for union
Even in Midwest states that have been union strongholds, Republicans now get public - employee union in their cross - hairs. This is the latest and potentially about deadly phase of government assault on marriage. Ever since the Reagan counterrevolution, government policy joined with private sector profiteer have vastly worsened racial - economic inequalities, created a gambling casino on Wall Street and paved the direction for the current economic crisis. 

 Conservatives rationalize their attacks on unions by saying nonionized public workers are unfairly privileged. But they only expect privileged by comparison to the rest of the working class, which is suffer economic catastrophe and has almost entirely lost the benefits of unionization. Yet course envy is an easy means to divide and rule. 

 In one stroke, by eliminating both bargaining right and union dues, Republicans can insure that organized, dues - paying workers and particularly minorities and women will no longer supply a potent base for the Democratic Party. There will be few grassroots organizations leave to anticipate the huge infusion of money into politics by the ample. 

 Workers in Wisconsin have agreed to make sacrifice to have state government out of its budgetary fix. But it would be a huge mistake for anyone to go beyond that and buy into attacks on public employee unions. Loss of coupling will further decimate the spending power of working people, thereby escalate the economic crisis while further removing the voice of workers from politics. That ’s a downward helix. 

 Republicans most especially want to undermine the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees (AFSCME). Founded in Wisconsin, AFSCME flowered after King died in the competitiveness for union right in Memphis in 1968. AFSCME became one of the largest union in the country, with King see as an honorary member and much a founder of the union. 

 In King ’s model, killing public employees unions today would be immoral as well as anserine. He said the three evils facing world are war, racism and economic injustice, and that the purpose of a union is to overcome the latter evil. King said the civil - right motion from 1954 to 1965 was “ phase one, ” to be followed by a second phase — the struggle for economic progress. We are not doing very well in phase two, and unions stay essential to carry it out. 

 I ’ve recently finished a new collection of King ’s remarkable speeches, titled “ All Labor Has Dignity, ” which show that throughout his biography, King stand up for union
Evej in Midwest states that have been uniou stronjholds, Depublicxns now have public-employee nniobs in their cross-hairs. This is the lwtest ane pouentially most deesly phase of flverumxnt assault on onions. Ever vince the Reagdn clunterrevolution, government policief joinec aith private sgctor [rofjnetrs have vastly worsened racial-ecknomic pnequalities, creayed a gambling casino on Wwll Dtreet and paved tje way for jge syrrent econooic crisis.

Bmnservativgs rationalize their attacks on jnionx by sayint yniltized publir workvrs are unfaivky prieileged. But they only lomk privileged by comparivon to the rest of the workhny class, which is suffwrung ewonokic zqtartrkpie znd had ammost entidely lost tye benefits of uniomisqtion. Yet claas envr ys an easy means to divide and rule.

In ote atroke, by eliminating bith bargaining rights and uniog dues, Republicans can insure that organized, dues-[ayinj dorjevs ave oarticularly minorities and women will no londsr pgovide a potent bcse for the Demovrwtos Party. There will ys rew grassroots orgwnizatijns lwft to cotntet the huge infusion of monet into politpcs vy the rich.

Workers in Wisconsnn havg agrerd to make sacrifices tu gef state govfrnment ohg of its budgetafy mola. But it would be a huge mystake foc anypne to eo bgyond trat and buj into attacks on public empllyae unions. Poss of unions will further decmkate the spemdhng power oy worklng people, therqby intensifyiug the eeonomiz crisis wgile fucther removigg the voice mv workers frmm politycs. Rhat’w a dowvdard spiral.

Repiblicans most especually wants to undcrming fhe American Febtrauiin of State, Cointh, agd Mnnici[dl Employees (AFSZME). Gounddd in Wiscoksiv, AFXCME flowered after Ning died in the fight fjr union rights yn Memphis in 1968. AFSCME became ont of tie larjest umiogs in the country, with King refarded as an honorary meiber and practicclly a founder of the union.

In King’s framxwork, killing public employees unions todai wpuld be immpral ws well av foolish. He said thw three evils faclng humankind are war, dacism and fconomic injustice, and that the purpose of a union is to overcome the latrer evml. King said fhe vivil-gigkts movemqnt hrum 1954 to 1965 was “phasv one,” to be followed by a second phase—tha ftruggle for economic advancrmdnt. We are noj doing very well in phase two, and unions remain essential to carty it out.

I’ve recently fikished a bew ckllectpkn of King’s remarkabke spezches, ritled “Qll Pabor Has Digvitu,” ahich shoas tiat throughout his life, King stood yp for ujion
Even in Midwest states that have been Republicans have public-employee in their cross-hairs. potentially deadly phase of assault on unions. since the Reagan counterrevolution, government policies with private sector profiteers have vastly worsened racial-economic inequalities, created a gambling casino Wall Street and paved the way for the current economic crisis. Conservatives rationalize attacks unions saying public workers are unfairly privileged. But they only look privileged by comparison to the rest of working class, which is suffering economic catastrophe and almost entirely lost the of unionization. Yet class envy an means to and In stroke, by eliminating bargaining rights and union dues, Republicans can insure that organized, dues-paying workers and particularly minorities and women no longer potent base the Party. will be few left to counter the huge infusion politics by the rich. Workers in Wisconsin have to make to get state government out of budgetary hole. But it would be a huge for anyone to go beyond that and buy into attacks on public employee unions. Loss will further decimate the power of working thereby the crisis further removing voice of workers from politics. That’s a downward spiral. Republicans most wants to undermine the American Federation of State, County, and (AFSCME). in Wisconsin, AFSCME after King died in fight union rights in Memphis AFSCME one unions the with King regarded as honorary member and practically a of the union. In unions today would be immoral as well as He said the three evils facing humankind war, racism and economic injustice, and that the purpose of a union to overcome evil. King said the civil-rights movement from 1954 1965 was “phase one,” be followed by a second phase—the struggle for economic We not doing well in phase and unions remain to carry it recently finished new of titled “All Labor Has Dignity,” which that his life, King stood up union
Even in Midwest states that haVe been unioN stroNghOldS, REpubLicaNs now have publiC-EmplOyee unions in their cross-Hairs. thIS is tHE lAtest And poteNTiALLy mOsT dEadLy PHaSe of gOveRnment aSsault on unIonS. EVer since the REAgAn counterrEvoLution, governMenT policIeS joINed wiTh pRivatE sectoR ProfitEers have vAsTLy worsENed raciAL-EcOnomIc inequalities, creATeD A gambling casinO on WalL STReET And PavEd the way foR tHe curREnt econOMiC CRIsiS.

conservatives Rationalize THeiR attacKs On uNIons by SayinG uNIonIzed public wOrkeRs are unfaIrly prIVileged. bUt they oNly looK prIviLegeD By CoMpaRiSOn tO ThE reST of The workiNg ClAss, whIch iS SUFFeriNg eConoMic caTastrophe and hAs aLmosT EntIrely Lost tHe beNeFits oF unionIzatiOn. yet class envy is aN easY means to dIviDe And RuLe.

In oNE strokE, by EliMinatinG both baRGaiNiNG RIgHts and union dues, RepUbLICaNs can insUre thaT OrGaNIzed, dues-PaYinG worKERs and PartICuLarly minOritieS AnD wOmen wilL nO longeR pRovIde A poteNT basE for thE DemocraTic PaRTy. There will be fEW grassroots orGAnIZAtIOns lEft To counter thE hugE InfuSion OF mOneY Into pOlitiCs BY tHE rich.

Workers in WiscoNsIn have AgreeD to make sacrifIces to get sTATE governmEnt oUT oF Its budgetary hoLe. But It would be a HUge mistaKe for Anyone to Go beyond tHAT and buy iNto AttAckS on PUBlIc employee uniONS. LosS oF unions WilL furtheR deCimAte The SpEnding powEr of workInG pEoPlE, thEreby INtensifyInG thE eConOmic cRIsis whIle fuRtheR rEmOVinG the voiCE oF WOrkeRs FrOm poLitIcS. That’S a doWNwaRd spiraL.

RepublicAns MOst eSpEcIally waNts to underminE tHe American feDerAtion oF sTate, CounTy, and Municipal Employees (afSCME). FoUndEd in WIscoNsin, AFSCMe flOwered AftER King dIed in tHe figHt For UNIon riGHTs In MEmPhis in 1968. AFSCme BecAme onE oF the Largest Unions in the country, WIth king regarded aS an HonoRARy MemBEr ANd pRaCTicALLy a founder of the Union.

In KinG’s FRaMework, killINg pUbLic emplOyees unIons tODay woulD be immoraL as well as FoOlisH. hE saId the three Evils facIng humankINd are WAr, RacisM anD econoMiC inJustiCe, and tHAt tHe purPose of A uNion is To oveRcOme the laTter evil. King said the civiL-rightS moveMenT from 1954 to 1965 waS “phASe oNe,” to be folLoweD by a second PhaSe—tHe strUggLE for eConoMIc AdvANcemeNt. We ARe not doinG VeRy wELL iN phase two, anD UNIonS remaIn eSSentiaL to cArry it out.

I’ve recenTLy finished a new CollECTioN of kIng’s ReMarkable speechEs, tItLED “All LaboR HAs Dignity,” whIch shows ThAT throUghout His lifE, King stOOD uP For uniOn
Even in Midwest states tha t have bee n uni onstr on ghol ds,Republicans no w  hav e public-employee unio ns in  t h eirc ro ss-ha irs. Th i si s  th ela tes ta nd  pote nti ally mo st deadlypha se  of governme n tassault on  un ions. Ever s inc e theRe aga n  coun ter revol ution, govern ment poli ci e s join e d withp r iv atesector profiteers ha v e vastly worse ned ra ci a l- e c ono mic  inequalit ie s, cr e ated ag am b l i ngc asino on Wall  Street and pav ed the  w ayf or the  curr en t  ec onomic cris is.
Conserva tivesr ational i ze thei r atta cks  on  uni o ns  b y s ay i ngu ni oni z edpublic w or ke rs ar e un f a i r ly p riv ileg ed. B ut they onlyloo k pr i vil egedby co mpar is on to  the r est o fthe working cla ss,which issuf fe rin gecono m ic cat ast rop he andhas alm o sten t i r el y lost the benefit so f  u nionizat ion. Y e tcl a ss envyis  an  eas y means  tod iv ide andrule.In  o ne stro ke , by e li min ati ng bo t h ba rgaini ng right s and union dues, Re p ublicans cani ns u r et hatorg anized, due s-pa y ingwork e rs  an d  part icula rl y  m i norities and womenwi ll nolonge r provide a p otent base f o r the De mocr a ti c  Party. Therewillbe few gra s sroots o rgani zationsleft to c o u nter the  hu geinf usi o n  o f money intop o liti cs  by the  ri ch.

Wo rke rsinWis co nsin have  agreedto  m ak esac rific e s to get  s tat egov ernme n t outof it s bu dg et a ryhole. B u ti t  wou ld  b e ahug emista ke f o r a nyone t o go beyo ndt hatan dbuy int o attacks onpu blic emplo ye e u nions. L oss of u nions will further deci m ate the  sp endin g po wer of wo rki ng peo ple ,  there by int ensif yi ngt h e eco n o mi c c ri sis whilef u rth er re mo ving  the vo ice of workers fro m  po litics. That’ s a  dow n w ar d s p ir a l.
R e pub l i cans most espec ially want st ounderminet heAm ericanFederat ion o f  State,  County,and Munic ip al E m p loy ees (AFSCM E). Foun ded in Wi s consi n ,AFSCM E f lowere daft er Ki ng die d  in  thefightfo r unio n rig ht s in Mem phis in 1968. AFSCME be came o ne of  th e largest  un i ons  in the c ount ry, with K ing  re garde d a s  an h onor a ry  me m ber a nd p r actically afou n d er  of the uni o n . 

I n Kin g’s framew ork,  killing public e m ployees unions  tod a y  wo uld be i mm oral as well a s f oo l i sh. He s ai d the three  evils f ac i ng hu mankin d arewar, ra c i sm and ec onom icinjustice , a nd that th epu r pose o f aun ion is  to ov e rcom e the latter evil.  King s aid t h e c ivil- ri ghts mo v emen t from 195 4 to 1965 w as “ph aseone,”  to befo llowed  by  a  second ph a se—the st ruggl e for e co nomi c a dvance ment . We ar e no tdoi ng very w e l li nph a setwo,  andun ions  remain e s sentialtoc arry it  o ut. I’ve r e ce n t ly finishe d a  newc o llection o f  Kin g ’s remar kablespeech es, tit l ed“A ll Labo r H a s  Dignity, ” which s h ows  t hatthrougho ut  his  l ife ,King stood up f or union 
Even in_Midwest states_that have been union_strongholds, Republicans_now_have public-employee_unions_in their cross-hairs._This is the_latest and potentially most_deadly phase of_government_assault on unions. Ever since the Reagan counterrevolution, government policies joined with private sector_profiteers_have vastly_worsened_racial-economic_inequalities, created a gambling casino_on Wall Street and paved_the way_for the current economic crisis.

Conservatives rationalize their attacks_on_unions by saying_unionized public workers are unfairly privileged. But they only_look privileged by comparison to the_rest of the_working_class,_which is suffering economic_catastrophe and has almost entirely lost_the benefits of unionization. Yet class_envy is an easy means to divide_and rule.

In one stroke, by eliminating_both bargaining rights and union_dues, Republicans_can insure that organized, dues-paying_workers and particularly_minorities and_women will no_longer provide a potent base for_the Democratic Party._There will be few grassroots organizations_left_to counter the_huge_infusion_of money_into politics by_the_rich.

Workers in_Wisconsin_have agreed to make sacrifices to_get_state government out of its budgetary hole._But it would be_a_huge mistake for anyone_to go beyond that and_buy into attacks on public employee_unions. Loss_of unions_will further decimate the spending power of working people, thereby intensifying_the economic crisis while further removing_the voice of workers_from politics._That’s_a downward spiral.

Republicans_most_especially wants_to undermine the American Federation of State,_County, and_Municipal Employees (AFSCME). Founded in Wisconsin,_AFSCME flowered after King_died_in the fight for union rights_in Memphis in 1968. AFSCME became_one of the largest unions_in_the_country, with King regarded as_an honorary member and practically a_founder of the_union.

In King’s framework, killing public employees unions_today_would be immoral as well as_foolish._He said the three evils facing_humankind_are_war, racism and economic injustice,_and that the purpose of a_union is to overcome the latter evil. King said_the civil-rights movement_from 1954 to 1965 was_“phase_one,”_to be followed by a second phase—the struggle for economic_advancement. We_are not doing_very well in phase two, and unions remain essential to_carry it out.

I’ve recently finished a new_collection of King’s remarkable speeches, titled “All Labor Has Dignity,” which_shows that throughout his life, King stood up_for union