[Jewelry making - Article 01199] - Re: [Orchid] Should Goldsmiths Unionize/Organize

[David L. Huffman]

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>         Speaking as an x-organizer, community organizer, (alinsky
>     style) I can say that the real barrier to unionization of
>     goldsmiths is a strategic and tactical one.

Hello Richard;

    I was going to sit back and see if some fur went flying on this
    thread, but your post hit the nail on the head, and it's what I've
    been thinking about since I first posted on this topic in response to
    Gustavo. And I think your observations are right on target. However,
    suppose the "enemy" weren't the one we were expecting, the big, bad,
    exploitive employer? Suppose the enemy were something more abstract,
    like a ruthless economic model, supported by bad legislation?
    Suppose, in fact, we set a goal for an entirely new model of a union?
    The leverage of collective bargaining has always been the threat of a
    strike. Not very useful against a one-jeweler mom-and-pop store, and
    if there are any large manufacturing situations left, they don't
    exactly have a skilled workforce like the old days, so go ahead and
    strike, the workforce is replaceable. Even if it isn't, management
    thinks it is. Look at the airlines now. They think they can easily
    replace all their mechanics. I'm not going up in a plane for a while

    So, if jewelers are going to have any reason to unionize, it's going
    to call for a sort of "soft" union at first. That would be one who's
    initial goal is not to take on management directly, but rather, to
    build a membership that can clearly demonstrate that a union jeweler
    is a preferable choice. Certify skill levels, screen for drug
    problems, offer incentives for hiring union jewelers,develop networks
    to provide marketing help, tax help, whatever can help strengthen the
    manufacturing and retail industry in this country while improving the
    workforce. Then, when you've got the membership and loyalty and can
    possibly lobby the legislature, start to take on the issues of
    overseas manufacturing's working conditions and wages. Level the
    playing field. 

    It would take years, maybe decades, but it's all we have to look
    forward to other than the demise of this trade as we know it. We
    can't present a union that doesn't address the age old concerns
    (realistic or not) that employers have that the union is going to
    force economic hardship on them or the concerns that hard working
    jewelers have that the union is going to protect bad workers at their
    expense. From what I've seen of the cheaply made products that are
    probably the results of exploitive manufacturing, there's the
    potential for a competitive edge with a "union label" product that,
    while costing more, guarantees both quality and the support of the
    producer. We're already seeing two worlds of jewelry.. one is "real"
    jewelry, the other is "junk". One can hope. 

David L. Huffman

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