The U.S. trade union movement finds itself today on a global battlefield filled with landmines and littered with the bodies of various social movements and struggles. Candid, incisive, and accessible, Solidarity Divided is a critical examination of labor's current crisis and a plan for a bold new way forward into the twenty-first century. Bill Fletcher and Fernando Gapasin, two longtime union insiders whose experiences as activists of color grant them a unique vantage on the problems now facing U.S. labor, offer a remarkable mix of vivid history and probing analysis. They chart changes in U.S. manufacturing, examine the onslaught of globalization, consider the influence of the environment on labor, and provide the first broad analysis of the fallout from the 2000 and 2004 elections on the U.S. labor movement. Ultimately calling for a wide-ranging reexamination of the ideological and structural underpinnings of today's labor movement, this is essential reading for understanding how the battle for social justice can be fought and won.
Solidarity Divided
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Review
"You must read Solidarity Divided."--Black Commentator
"The book is necessary reading for all students of US labor history and the Left."--Socialism And Democracy
From the Inside Flap
"Anyone concerned with the struggles of America's working people is going to be fascinated by this rare, insiders' look at the external forces and internal fumblings that have so drastically weakened the labor movement. Both in its sweeping analysis and priceless reportage, Solidarity Divided is a deeply illuminating book and a solid argument for why our unions need to reclaim their historic heritage as a militant, grassroots movement."--Barbara Ehrenreich, author of Nickel and Dimed
"Bill Fletcher and Fernando Gapasin have put together a hard-hitting analysis of the crisis facing organized labor. But this is not just something for people involved in unions. If we are to build a movement for social justice then we must confront the issues that they are raising."--Danny Glover
"This is an extraordinarily important and provocative reflection on the limitations of self-reform and reinvention within the American labor movement. The authors provide readers with a unique first-hand view of internal debates, personalities, and decision-making processes but also use their intimate knowledge of union culture and carefully narrated case studies to transcend mere stone-throwing. This book is unlikely to be matched by any other journalistic account or memoir.... A landmark in all debates about 'what next' for labor."--Mike Davis, author of Prisoners of the American Dream
"There are few writers and activists whom I would rather read on the recent past, the present and the future of the labor movement than Fernando Gapasin and William Fletcher. This is an especially accessible and balanced exploration of recent efforts at community unionism, international solidarity, coalition with nonunion workers and empowerment of immigrants. Above all this is far and away the best argument for the importance of central labor unions that I have read."--David R. Roediger, author of Working Toward Whiteness
"This is a very valuable work, well-written and useful to union activists and students of working-class life and history alike. Fletcher and Gapasin have performed a public service of high quality by bringing into the national conversation an enlightened focus on labor and its relation to other sectors of the population, seeking to reinvigorate and enlarge our democracy. This book is 'a star to steer by' as we move through troubled waters in a dark time, confident that in our substantive unity of purpose, we can and shall overcome."--Jack O'Dell, former associate editor, Freedomways magazine
"Bill Fletcher and Fernando Gapasin have put together a hard-hitting analysis of the crisis facing organized labor. But this is not just something for people involved in unions. If we are to build a movement for social justice then we must confront the issues that they are raising."--Danny Glover
"This is an extraordinarily important and provocative reflection on the limitations of self-reform and reinvention within the American labor movement. The authors provide readers with a unique first-hand view of internal debates, personalities, and decision-making processes but also use their intimate knowledge of union culture and carefully narrated case studies to transcend mere stone-throwing. This book is unlikely to be matched by any other journalistic account or memoir.... A landmark in all debates about 'what next' for labor."--Mike Davis, author of Prisoners of the American Dream
"There are few writers and activists whom I would rather read on the recent past, the present and the future of the labor movement than Fernando Gapasin and William Fletcher. This is an especially accessible and balanced exploration of recent efforts at community unionism, international solidarity, coalition with nonunion workers and empowerment of immigrants. Above all this is far and away the best argument for the importance of central labor unions that I have read."--David R. Roediger, author of Working Toward Whiteness
"This is a very valuable work, well-written and useful to union activists and students of working-class life and history alike. Fletcher and Gapasin have performed a public service of high quality by bringing into the national conversation an enlightened focus on labor and its relation to other sectors of the population, seeking to reinvigorate and enlarge our democracy. This book is 'a star to steer by' as we move through troubled waters in a dark time, confident that in our substantive unity of purpose, we can and shall overcome."--Jack O'Dell, former associate editor, Freedomways magazine
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Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By John M. Repp
Format:Hardcover
When Fletcher and Gapasin wrote Solidarity Divided, the worldwide financial panic was just on the horizon but not yet visible to working people. With the panic and the now increasing unemployment, homelessness, cutbacks in hours, home foreclosures, dwindling savings and bankruptcies, is this book outdated? No! Exactly the opposite!
We need more than ever to debate the ideas in this truth-telling book about the labor movement because we need more than ever a reinvigorated worker's movement that can challenge the injustices of our political and economic system, here and around the world. A few honest economists are telling us that until millions of working people have more economic security and actual, not borrowed, money in their pockets (in their words, until economic demand increases), recovery is impossible. If we want a recovery, we need to work for justice. Despite what the new President has been told and the corporate media echo, it is going to take more than confidence to start a robust recovery. Confidence, as in confidence game, is what got us to where we are.
Fletcher and Gapasin have between them several lifetimes of experience in the labor movement. They wrote Solidarity Divided after the split in 2005 when the Change to Win federation formed after several unions walked away from the AFL-CIO. This split came after the AFL-CIO elected John Sweeney and other reformers to leadership in 1995. At that time, their election was greeted with great hope. However, organized labor has continued to decline in numbers and political relevance. There have been a few bright spots like our King County Labor Council's role in the WTO in 1999, but too many of the stories in the book are of missed opportunities. The problem is bigger than failed leadership and loss of union membership. The structure and the culture of the unions is the problem. While financial capital is driving a reorganization of the world economy, the labor movement has been slow to react. Taking the initiative, which is needed for real change, has been out of the question. Fletcher and Gapasin have many ideas about how to trigger the change workers need and they are asking for the help of union leaders, union members and others on the left. The financial panic and the deepening economic crisis should give their proposals more traction.
We need more than ever to debate the ideas in this truth-telling book about the labor movement because we need more than ever a reinvigorated worker's movement that can challenge the injustices of our political and economic system, here and around the world. A few honest economists are telling us that until millions of working people have more economic security and actual, not borrowed, money in their pockets (in their words, until economic demand increases), recovery is impossible. If we want a recovery, we need to work for justice. Despite what the new President has been told and the corporate media echo, it is going to take more than confidence to start a robust recovery. Confidence, as in confidence game, is what got us to where we are.
Fletcher and Gapasin have between them several lifetimes of experience in the labor movement. They wrote Solidarity Divided after the split in 2005 when the Change to Win federation formed after several unions walked away from the AFL-CIO. This split came after the AFL-CIO elected John Sweeney and other reformers to leadership in 1995. At that time, their election was greeted with great hope. However, organized labor has continued to decline in numbers and political relevance. There have been a few bright spots like our King County Labor Council's role in the WTO in 1999, but too many of the stories in the book are of missed opportunities. The problem is bigger than failed leadership and loss of union membership. The structure and the culture of the unions is the problem. While financial capital is driving a reorganization of the world economy, the labor movement has been slow to react. Taking the initiative, which is needed for real change, has been out of the question. Fletcher and Gapasin have many ideas about how to trigger the change workers need and they are asking for the help of union leaders, union members and others on the left. The financial panic and the deepening economic crisis should give their proposals more traction.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.7 out of 5 stars
3 reviews
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Welcome Return to Class Politics
July 30 2009
By Susan Rosenthal
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
What is the purpose of a union? How should unions respond to the oppression of Blacks, women, immigrants and gays? How should unions relate to the rest of the working class, the employer, and the State? Should existing unions be reformed, or is more fundamental change required?
Solidarity Divided insists that we need new answers to these questions if we hope to reverse "the crisis facing organized labor - indeed the crisis facing the entire US working class." This crisis is marked by declining unionization, inter-union conflict, falling living standards, rising unemployment, growing poverty and deepening oppression.
Solidarity Divided calls for a return to the class-struggle politics that originally built the unions. This call could not be more timely, as today's unions lack the political clarity required to advance their own limited demands, let alone to champion the rights of workers and the oppressed. The questions raised by the authors deserve serious consideration, widespread discussion and further development.
This book is essential reading.
To read my detailed response to this book, see [...]
Solidarity Divided insists that we need new answers to these questions if we hope to reverse "the crisis facing organized labor - indeed the crisis facing the entire US working class." This crisis is marked by declining unionization, inter-union conflict, falling living standards, rising unemployment, growing poverty and deepening oppression.
Solidarity Divided calls for a return to the class-struggle politics that originally built the unions. This call could not be more timely, as today's unions lack the political clarity required to advance their own limited demands, let alone to champion the rights of workers and the oppressed. The questions raised by the authors deserve serious consideration, widespread discussion and further development.
This book is essential reading.
To read my detailed response to this book, see [...]
7 of 9 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
History for Today's Force Majeur Economic Situation
Dec 12 2008
By Matt Verdu
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
Excellent history of general and specifically of-color dynamics in the labor movement.
Documents that organized socialist political groups were most effective, often the only effective, and sometimes the only non-traitors in the realm of labor unions, as far as building from the grassroots level with greater efficiency and in greater numbers, and having better policies for ALL members on issues such as inclusiveness to people of color and less-skilled and immigrants.
Issues and methods to build power for real people today. Global vision.
According to the book, labor has something to fear from a new government "czar" as mediator, nominally, or "czar", literally, between unions and the auto industry in context of bailout money and the political restructuring(see Naomi Klein re "jolt", electroshock, neolib, neocon, Milton Friedman, Chicago School, disaster capitalism, tabla rasa via shock). Read this book to see how labor leaders can get out of touch with rank and file, become yes-men for government when government(NLRB or new nlr-bailout-"czar" is yes-men for industry.
Also has a lot to teach about the current situation, with respect to new frontiers for labor organization, such as cab drivers and maid services, and whether illegal aliens have historically been enfranchised and are they now and whether it is good or bad for US citizen labor to exclude or include so-called illegal aliens.
Great read at any time. Check blackcommentator.com, democracynow.org for interviews with labor leaders and commentary
Documents that organized socialist political groups were most effective, often the only effective, and sometimes the only non-traitors in the realm of labor unions, as far as building from the grassroots level with greater efficiency and in greater numbers, and having better policies for ALL members on issues such as inclusiveness to people of color and less-skilled and immigrants.
Issues and methods to build power for real people today. Global vision.
According to the book, labor has something to fear from a new government "czar" as mediator, nominally, or "czar", literally, between unions and the auto industry in context of bailout money and the political restructuring(see Naomi Klein re "jolt", electroshock, neolib, neocon, Milton Friedman, Chicago School, disaster capitalism, tabla rasa via shock). Read this book to see how labor leaders can get out of touch with rank and file, become yes-men for government when government(NLRB or new nlr-bailout-"czar" is yes-men for industry.
Also has a lot to teach about the current situation, with respect to new frontiers for labor organization, such as cab drivers and maid services, and whether illegal aliens have historically been enfranchised and are they now and whether it is good or bad for US citizen labor to exclude or include so-called illegal aliens.
Great read at any time. Check blackcommentator.com, democracynow.org for interviews with labor leaders and commentary
3 of 6 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
No Longer Divided
May 2 2009
By Aaron Yahoo
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This is an excellent reading!
Those who are into any type of Labor Studies should definitely pick up this book!.
The front cover art-work is perfect and goes along very well in the point that the author is trying to make in the book.
start being social today, by buying this book and sharing it with your friends.
Those who are into any type of Labor Studies should definitely pick up this book!.
The front cover art-work is perfect and goes along very well in the point that the author is trying to make in the book.
start being social today, by buying this book and sharing it with your friends.
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 3 reviews
4.7 out of 5 stars
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