Did you know that Monarch butterflies migrate from Mexico to as far north as Canada? The small creatures on fragile wings hon-est-to-God succeed because they organize. No one butterfly achieves this alone on “the feeble strength of one.” Their union makes them strong.
The butterflies get to Canada because they start the journey and they just don’t stop no matter what. A butterfly that dies along the way knows that it died having advanced the movement for the next generation.
That’s why it is more than perfect that the newly-organized Natural History Museum & Tar Pits Workers Union (NHMTPWU) has chosen the butterfly as its symbol. A few weeks ago, I was thrilled to receive a “Dear Co-worker” email from the union organizers at my work-place. I signed a membership card and quickly received the reply “Welcome to Your Union.” Now I proudly wear the union butterfly on my work lanyard, and I am warmed by the beautiful smiles of union brothers and sisters when they recognize my button and know that they are not alone.
At the Fighting Oligarchy Rally on April 12, speaker after speaker spoke of the transformative power of solidarity. The one percent have used race and class to divide workers from each other, but solidarity says “No. An injury to one is an injury to all.” In our combined people power, workers can organize not just one job, but can transform work in America and win fair wages, safe working conditions, and a dignified retirement for today’s workers and for future generations.
If the current rules make that hard to do, then the rules need to be changed. To help that effort, Bernie Sanders has reintroduced the PRO (Protect the Right to Organize) Act. To get that and other good laws passed, all we have to do is to get the right kind of Democrats elected.
But how will we know the “right” kind? Let us apply the traditional labor test. Just ask the candidates who come to ask you for your vote “Which side are you on?” Are you on the side of the workers? Or are you on the side of the one percent? Should be an easy question. Right?
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez suggested another test. Support Democrats who fight.
Bernie Sanders put it this way, “Are you willing to fight for someone you don’t know as hard as you are willing to fight for yourself?”
Happy May Day, workers!