Abstract
In his most recent book, Julius Getman has taken a series of divergent topics and incorporated them under the banner of restoring union power. He might have been better served by writing five books instead of one, each concentrating on a single topic in order to give more depth to these most important considerations.
Getman begins with a brief overview of how unions got to their current precarious state. He looks at the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees union (HERE), in its various incarnations, as a case study for how unions need to organize and operate. He is correct in that unions succeed when they are bottom up instead of top down, and he supports this contention by describing the organizing successes of Vince Sirabella, John Wilhelm, and their protégés. These organizers relied more on the organizing committees and the rank and file than on professional organizers, and this strategy led not only to a number of victories but also to a stronger and more capable union once the organizing campaign was completed. Getman also lauds the idea of the comprehensive campaign, whereby the organizing campaign is not limited to the actual workplace but also encompasses the community. In this regard, he is in accord with many current thinkers who look to expand the labor movement into a true workers’ movement.
Getman further discusses the failure of the traditional National Labor Relations Board election method, arguing that this method, while providing for elections and representation, does not provide the union with the support needed for bargaining an initial contract. He contends that this support can instead be garnered through mobilizing the community in a comprehensive campaign. He then devotes a section of the book to the idea of revitalizing the strike as a weapon in collective bargaining.
All of the topics that Getman raises are important for the labor movement and are worthy of consideration by all activists. Unfortunately, by reflecting on all in such a short work, he gives only a limited reflection on each. I look forward to a subsequent work in which Getman considers these issues in greater depth and breadth.