Comments on: Andy Stern’s On The Trail http://www.brunoandtheprofessor.com/2007/01/andy_sterns_on_the_trail.php Bruno and the Professor is a progressive, liberal weekly talk radio podcast covering issues from Seattle, the United States, and the World Sat, 28 Jan 2012 01:48:19 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Progressive Radio: Bruno and the Professor » Blog Archive » Stern’s Methods Begin to Yield Fruit http://www.brunoandtheprofessor.com/2007/01/andy_sterns_on_the_trail.php/comment-page-1#comment-581 Progressive Radio: Bruno and the Professor » Blog Archive » Stern’s Methods Begin to Yield Fruit Wed, 07 Feb 2007 18:33:56 +0000 http://www.brunoandtheprofessor.com/2007/01/andy_sterns_on_the_trail.php#comment-581 [...] we last left SEIU boss Andy Stern, he was working toward a health care plan that would de-emphasize the role of employers, rather than try to extract [...] [...] we last left SEIU boss Andy Stern, he was working toward a health care plan that would de-emphasize the role of employers, rather than try to extract [...]

]]> By: Matski http://www.brunoandtheprofessor.com/2007/01/andy_sterns_on_the_trail.php/comment-page-1#comment-566 Matski Wed, 31 Jan 2007 23:43:47 +0000 http://www.brunoandtheprofessor.com/2007/01/andy_sterns_on_the_trail.php#comment-566 Another important difference is that aside from a few major international retailers (i.e., Wal-Mart), most employers of SEIU labor are significantly smaller and have far more job sites than, say, a General Motors. So it's really no point going after the employers -- they're pockets just aren't deep enough to provide something like GM-style pensions. Stern and SEIU are smart to realize this. Also, the nature of many service jobs is such that many (most?) of them are extremely transitory in nature. While most GM workers were happy to have their "job for life," I can't imagine that even the happiest maid really wants to keep cleaning hotel rooms forever. This limits the leverage a union has on the employer. Again, Stern is very smart to recognize this, and go after the people who can help -- politicians. Another important difference is that aside from a few major international retailers (i.e., Wal-Mart), most employers of SEIU labor are significantly smaller and have far more job sites than, say, a General Motors. So it’s really no point going after the employers — they’re pockets just aren’t deep enough to provide something like GM-style pensions. Stern and SEIU are smart to realize this.

Also, the nature of many service jobs is such that many (most?) of them are extremely transitory in nature. While most GM workers were happy to have their “job for life,” I can’t imagine that even the happiest maid really wants to keep cleaning hotel rooms forever. This limits the leverage a union has on the employer. Again, Stern is very smart to recognize this, and go after the people who can help — politicians.

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