A union is a group of people collectively bargaining to improve their lives
Today is Labor Day in the United States, a federal holiday since Grover Cleveland signed it into law at the end of the 19th century. The suggestion for a laborers’ national holiday for “all wage workers, irrespective of sex, calling, or nationality” came from the American Federation of Labor, one of the largest unions of the time. Thanks to their efforts, most Americans enjoy this three-day holiday weekend marking the end of summer.
No person alive today remembers a time before Labor Day existed; it’s easy to take for granted the gains our ancestors made when they’ve become an integral part of our lives. It’s also easy to forget the gains that almost happened, but didn’t, like the 30-hour workweek that passed the US Senate in 1933, or Richard Nixon’s guaranteed income plan in 1969. Congress’ policy decisions have had long lasting impacts.
In 2021, Congress has made a policy decision to end three pandemic aid programs for Labor Day. More than 10 million individuals and their families will see their income fall today. Like most of Congress’ policy decisions these days — like allowing the eviction moratorium to expire before going on vacation— it is a policy of inaction.
What then, must we do to force Congress to act on behalf of those they represent? Traditionally, when things don’t go well, swing voters push the majority party out of power, giving the minority party control. After a few years, when things still aren’t going well, the swing voters repeat the process. In the last 30 years, the political pendulum has shifted total control of the House, Senate, and Oval Office five times.
Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting a different result. The American Union, a union of swing voters, is a better model for cooperative democracy. Rather than hoping Republicans or Democrats will do a good job on our behalf, we can represent ourselves by making specific legislative demands, offering up clean, crowdsourced legislation written outside of the Washington swamp.
Read more: How the American Union is Shaking up the Midterms
On Labor Day, it’s important to remember the labor unions that fought for shorter workweeks, safe working conditions, a minimum wage, and other benefits that shaped our society today. They sacrificed and collectively bargained to improve lives “irrespective of sex, calling, or nationality.”
Think of those 10 million people losing pandemic aid today. What if they agreed to vote together as a block? In a nation of 300 million Americans, they wouldn’t be enough to bring a third party to power. But in a closely divided country, it would be enough to seize the control of the political pendulum, and decide which way it swings in Washington. That could stop the insanity.
This is the power of the American Union; leveraging our power as deciders by threatening a general strike against the two-party system. As Dr. King wrote, “We must develop, from strength, a situation in which the government finds it wise and prudent to collaborate with us.” When 3.5% of Americans join the American union, we can collectively bargain for a better social contract, for ourselves and our posterity. In 2076, when our children and grandchildren celebrate America’s tricentennial, perhaps they will take for granted the societal improvements that a union of swing voters gained for them.
Want to join the moral crusade to end poverty, end mass incarceration, and end the endless wars? Sign up for the American Union at this link.
