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If police unions aren't "unions," why are some of them part of the AFL-CIO, the largest collection of unions in the nation? Police unions are unions--according
by snowwrestler 6y ago
If police unions aren't "unions," why are some of them part of the AFL-CIO, the largest collection of unions in the nation?
Police unions are unions--according to other unions.
I think it would be more intellectually honest of Cory to admit that unions are not automatically or inherently contributors to social progress, but rather are forms of organization that must be available in order to create the potential for social progress.
Put another way, objecting to what police unions do is not proof of a flaw with unionization in general. It's just disagreement with what those specific union leaders choose to do with the power afforded to them by the union form.
Progressives are plenty comfortable making this kind of argument about nonprofit organizations. It's perfectly consistent to like the ACLU and dislike the NRA, for example, even though they're both nonprofits.
- klyrs 6y ago> If police unions aren't "unions," why are some of them part of the AFL-CIO, the largest collection of unions in the nation? Doctorow is calling for AFL-CIO to eject police unions. Police unions do not show solidarity with other unions, except when it benefits them. It's fine to call them a union, but it's high time for other unions to sever ties because solidarity is a two-way street.
- joshribakoff 6y agoYou left out “in the traditional sense”. Police unions are in fact unions, they’re just unlike the other unions, was what I perceived the argument to be, and it feels like you’re digging into a straw man by taking it intentionally very literally
- jhbadger 6y agoCory is known to be a big fan of the alternative to the AFL-CIO known as the IWW (or "Wobblies"), that attracted more radical unions. While they were far more relevant in the early 20th century, they still technically exist in a tiny sense today and have organized some Starbucks locations.
- SOLAR_FIELDS 6y agoWow, I remember reading about the “Wobblies” in my high school history book. I had no idea they were still around.
- devwastaken 6y agoThose with a license to kill and imprison cannot also be given special protections if we ever hope to maintain a balance of checks. No doubt police unions are unions, but they're not progressive. They're a side effect of unintentional long term consequences.
- ihumanable 6y agoThe call-to-action at the end of the thread is a call for the AFL-CIO to sever its ties with Police Unions. Basically the entire thread is "Here are all the reasons, AFL-CIO, that you shouldn't associate with these unions anymore." Using the fact that the AFL-CIO does support them is a bit of a tautological dead-end, because of course they do, otherwise this thread attempting to persuade them not to wouldn't exist. Just in case anyone didn't get to the end of the twitter thread, the last tweet is as follows: https://twitter.com/doctorow/status/1288130980650205184?s=20 https://twitter.com/doctorow/status/1288130980650205184?s=20 Fixing policing is a long road, but it must start. We can begin by getting the @AFLCIO to sever all ties with police "unions." eof/
- snowwrestler 6y agoI just don't think anyone will get a sympathetic ear at the AFL-CIO if the lead is "I'm going to tell you what unions really are." The AFL-CIO undoubtedly thinks they are qualified to make that determination for themselves. Honestly I doubt the AFL-CIO leadership will listen to anyone on this topic unless there is pressure from their membership, like if other unions start threatening to disaffiliate over policing issues.
- washadjeffmad 6y agoIt puts the members who side with a Police lobby-as-union on notice to others and to the public. It's the start of a movement to reform or quit.