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Labor Day

August 31, 2008

We don't work today to honor the struggles of workers who have fought for us, those we fight alongside today, and those we fight for in the future.

Labor is prior to, and independent of, capital. Capital is only the fruit of labor, and could never have existed if labor had not first existed. Labor is the superior of capital, and deserves much the higher consideration.

-Abe Lincoln

If capitalism is fair then unionism must be. If men have a right to capitalize their ideas and the resources of their country, then that implies the right of men to capitalize their labor.

-Frank Lloyd Wright

My friends, it is solidarity of labor we want. We do not want to find fault with each other, but to solidify our forces and say to each other: "We must be together; our masters are joined together and we must do the same thing.

-Mother Jones

Ten thousand times has the labor movement stumbled and bruised itself. We have been enjoined by the courts, assaulted by thugs, charged by the militia, traduced by the press, frowned upon in public opinion, and deceived by politicians. 'But notwithstanding all this and all these, labor is today the most vital and potential power this planet has ever known, and its historic mission is as certain of ultimate realization as is the setting of the sun.

-Eugene Debs

What does labor want? We want more schoolhouses and less jails; more books and less arsenals; more learning and less vice; more leisure and less greed; more justice and less revenge; in fact, more of the opportunities to cultivate our better natures, to make manhood more noble, womanhood more beautiful, and childhood more happy and bright.

-Samuel Gompers

We insist that labor is entitled to as much respect as property. But our workers with hand and brain deserve more than respect for their labor. They deserve practical protection in the opportunity to use their labor at a return adequate to support them at a decent and constantly rising standard of living, and to accumulate a margin of security against the inevitable vicissitudes of life.

-Franklin Delano Roosevelt

We could go on with more quotations extolling the virtues and victories of the labor movement. Instead, a song...

"There Is Power In the Union" - Billy Bragg

posted by Peter

Saturday's AFT Higher Ed Solidarity Action

August 25, 2008

This Saturday, higher ed unionists from around AFT-Wisconsin came together for a joint action as part of our 2008 political program. Member-activists from the TAA joined with our brothers and sisters from AFT-Wisconsin higher ed locals for a political action around this year's elections.

For a more full round-up of what happened and some context for our political program, be sure to check out a full posting on the TAA Politics blog!

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posted by Peter

Join the Organizing Blitz

August 19, 2008

The Blitz is on! TAA organizers have drafted an ambitious and exciting plan to talk to every member of the TAA during the first three weeks of the semester. These conversations will not only evaluate membership priorities, but they will also help us identify fellow graduate employees who will stand up and fight to win domestic partner benefits and competitive wages. We cannot expect to win that which we do not work for.

If you'd like to win domestic partner benefits and better wages, your help is needed. During the Blitz, you'd be teamed with an experienced organizer, and you'd visit offices of fellow graduate employees a few hours a week (trust me, it's actually fun).

Training sessions for door-to-door organizers will be held on the evening of August 21st from 6-8 at the TAA office, and from 10-2 on August 24th in the Math Lounge, on the top floor of Van Vleck Hall.

In the meantime, get in touch if you're interested. Email the TAA office at taa@taa-madison.org, and let us know you're willing to work a couple hours a week to win domestic partner benefits and competitive wages.

posted by Tim Frandy

 

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