One of the best articles I've read. The standout for me: 'unions are in many ways designed for a simpler economy with vast industries of fairly homogenous workers in factories working for large employers. They are a model formed in industrialisation - but we live in a post-industrial world'
Lots of food for thought and not just from a non-profit viewpoint - as you allude to, many of our unions (leadership and members) lack Bregman's moral ambition.
Thanks Kevin - yes I always want unions to be the answer and then they try to sell me insurance (literal and metaphorical) and I just feel terribly sad and disappointed….
In my parallel universe dreams, there would be a third sector/non-profits general strike and a union would be great to lead this - how many would cross the picket lines, would the government bring out the police horses.... and then I wake up 😜
I really love the idea of a body we can all join as individuals, based around the ideas/principles you suggest. It most definitely should not be set up as a charity. I think the sector needs leadership by organisation/s that are not constrained by charity regulation.
Hello from the US. I appreciate this article so much as it’s been swirling in my mind for years. In my research about pay equity in US nonprofits, I found no research about frontline workers. We are desperately missing their voices in shaping the sector. For the US, a nonprofit union could help with negotiating benefits. About 90% of our nonprofits have an operating budget of $1M or less. Therefore, they rarely can afford to provide health insurance and other key benefits.
Hi Sally - yes, the need in the US is even stronger. And I think that word 'afford' is such an interesting one that we hear bandied about. If we can't afford to pay people enough to live and stay alive and healthy, aren't we just exploiting one group of people at the expense of another? At which point, why bother at all? Solidarity from the UK to you and your comrades in the US!
Absolutely
One of the best articles I've read. The standout for me: 'unions are in many ways designed for a simpler economy with vast industries of fairly homogenous workers in factories working for large employers. They are a model formed in industrialisation - but we live in a post-industrial world'
Lots of food for thought and not just from a non-profit viewpoint - as you allude to, many of our unions (leadership and members) lack Bregman's moral ambition.
Thanks Kevin - yes I always want unions to be the answer and then they try to sell me insurance (literal and metaphorical) and I just feel terribly sad and disappointed….
In my parallel universe dreams, there would be a third sector/non-profits general strike and a union would be great to lead this - how many would cross the picket lines, would the government bring out the police horses.... and then I wake up 😜
I really love the idea of a body we can all join as individuals, based around the ideas/principles you suggest. It most definitely should not be set up as a charity. I think the sector needs leadership by organisation/s that are not constrained by charity regulation.
Absolutely!!!! NOT A CHARITY….. it’s killing our ability to fight for ourselves and others….
Hello from the US. I appreciate this article so much as it’s been swirling in my mind for years. In my research about pay equity in US nonprofits, I found no research about frontline workers. We are desperately missing their voices in shaping the sector. For the US, a nonprofit union could help with negotiating benefits. About 90% of our nonprofits have an operating budget of $1M or less. Therefore, they rarely can afford to provide health insurance and other key benefits.
@Sally Loftis also check out this from 2019: https://jacobin.com/2019/08/nonprofits-industrial-complex-socialist-organizing
Hi Sally - yes, the need in the US is even stronger. And I think that word 'afford' is such an interesting one that we hear bandied about. If we can't afford to pay people enough to live and stay alive and healthy, aren't we just exploiting one group of people at the expense of another? At which point, why bother at all? Solidarity from the UK to you and your comrades in the US!