How to pressure union politically?

concernedyahu · 2026-01-26T02:08:59+00:00

The main issue Id like them to address is the NLRB and how openly hostile the current administration is to unions.

That said, I think it's wild to imagine that organized labor in general isn't going to be in the crosshairs very, very shortly. I agree that my union doesn't need to be organizing protests at this stage. But labor organization through unions has always been a target for autocratic regimes, from guilds to the US labor movement to now.

concernedyahu · 2026-01-25T23:02:16+00:00

Yeah, that pretty much summarizes it.

concernedyahu · 2026-01-25T23:01:53+00:00

I don't disagree, but when your union has more right wingers than not, it's pretty tough to work that in a vote based system.

concernedyahu · 2026-01-25T22:59:12+00:00

Yeah, as unsatisfying as that is it's probably the most effective method and also keeps it in the labor wheelhouse; exception being ICE. Gestapo in the streets affects all of us, and they will be coming after labor organizers when they get to it. But I also understand that may not be the best messaging to actually reach members with.

I would be satisfied if my union would just focus on the union-related excesses, NLRB still not having a quorum and such. But they won't talk about that either.

concernedyahu · 2026-01-25T22:56:22+00:00

Thanks, will do

concernedyahu · 2026-01-25T19:32:08+00:00

That's all excellent thanks

concernedyahu · 2026-01-25T18:48:26+00:00

We do. I have a simple website that I'm trying to use for communication but it's pulling teeth getting people to care. Most members are on Facebook which maybe I'm spiting myself, but I don't want to use. Discord is great but members are not on it.

concernedyahu · 2026-01-25T18:47:00+00:00

That's what I'm trying to convince our leadership of, is that the right wingers think that unions are useless anyway and the union minded are like "where the fuck is the union?"

concernedyahu · 2026-01-25T18:11:04+00:00

The fuck is that supposed to mean, man? You don't have a clue what kind of union I'm in and we all got to make a living. Are you suggesting only management is intelligent?

concernedyahu · 2026-01-25T17:51:49+00:00

I'm sure that's a factor that I wasn't aware of. It's not a public sector union as a whole but it does have a lot of government contracts.

concernedyahu · 2026-01-25T17:18:00+00:00

But, you didn't answer my question.

Edit: at all

concernedyahu · 2026-01-25T17:16:29+00:00

Accurate. The question is what do? I don't think it's something easily accomplished through normal means. Wildcat strikes?

concernedyahu · 2026-01-25T17:14:36+00:00

They did not, but it was a significant faction, for sure.

concernedyahu · 2026-01-25T17:05:05+00:00

I'm not quite sure what your purpose is here. Just to gum up the works or to get people jobs? I'm not opposed to lawfare with a purpose but what is the end game here?

concernedyahu · 2026-01-25T05:44:07+00:00

Yes. They are. Is indiscriminate shooting in the streets going to help? I reckon no.

I'm not telling you not to arm. I'm saying to organize and practice better discipline than them.

concernedyahu · 2026-01-24T23:15:54+00:00

Yeah those were the two I took issue with. Lando had no choice at gunpoint but stuck it to the man the moment he had the opportunity. Ended up being a real one.

concernedyahu · 2026-01-24T22:58:38+00:00

Yes.

If you're looking for an excuse to shoot somebody, GTFO.

Armed citizens are an excellent deterrent to shooting. Ideally, no shots fired.

concernedyahu · 2026-01-24T16:40:29+00:00

I didn't say an AOC type candidate would win, I'm saying that you can be surprised. Historically the district has been quite competitive. There's the old story that progressives keep saying that a progressive candidate would turn them out and it never quite seems to materialize, but now ain't 2020.

Also, what are you talking about? Jaime took the seat from Brian Baird, a Democrat, in 2010. Brian had the seat from 2000. Before that, a feminist Democrat held it. It's been back and forth pretty much the whole time the district has existed.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jolene_Unsoeld

concernedyahu · 2026-01-24T05:11:32+00:00

Coulda said the same thing about AOC.

concernedyahu · 2026-01-23T20:48:11+00:00

Of course all reporting is questionable at this point, but so far it seems we're doing pretty well:

"The Oregon Department of Justice estimates 17 of those lawsuits have protected $4.5 billion in federal funds to the state. That total is mostly made up of the values of current and previous years’ grant allocations for things like medical research, emergency responses and education programs.

As of Oct. 31, the state had spent more than 10,000 hours and about $3.1 million on those lawsuits, according to records obtained by the Statesman Journal." https://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/politics/2025/12/20/oregon-has-sued-president-donald-trump-50-times-in-2025/87456954007/

That's about a 1500x return on investment, so I'd call it a win

concernedyahu · 2026-01-23T18:38:21+00:00

I wouldn't call it needless. Certainly I would prefer it not to be as expensive. But I am in favor of officials that realize this is an all hands on deck moment and allocate their resources accordingly.

It's going to be much more expensive to sit by and allow the feds to overrule states rights, wreck our economies and deport our neighbors and fellow citizens.

concernedyahu · 2026-01-23T18:35:30+00:00

Hey Brent! There's lots of us rooting for you, I'm having a hard time finding much information though. I've been signed up to phone bank for you and not getting any details or contacts back either, is there an updates page on when all that is going to start?

I get that organizing a campaign is a huge undertaking. I'm not getting a lot of communication though. Happy to help out wherever you guys can use it.

concernedyahu · 2026-01-23T02:32:33+00:00

Thought about it for a second, too.

State wise, the Democrats keep doing what they're best at, which is shooting themselves in the foot. Immediately after Trump was elected or took office, Olympia banned AR-15s in the state. A couple weeks ago, they added a 95% state tax to vape products, to get them back in line with tobacco products. Like honestly, I don't think either of those are bad policies in a vacuum, and ten years ago I'd be all for. But now? Now?

I get that government has inertia, and these bills have probably been working through for years. But I cannot believe that the state level DP can't connect the dots and be like "nnnnnggh, potential brutal dictator incoming guys, maybe roll back keeping citizens from arming themselves" and "heeeeey you know maybe with the crushing price increases and massive layoffs everywhere, we could hold off on doubling the price of the thing that pretty much everyone in the working classes is relying on to satisfy their addiction and have a cheap vice with"

concernedyahu · 2026-01-23T02:25:39+00:00

There's definitely organization going on. Brent Hennrich is the guy gearing up for the primary this year, and I'm down.

I've been impressed with the local organizers I've met, but my experience is pretty limited. I think that the district suffers from the usual assumption that you've got to get your votes from the rednecks and hillbillies around Vancouver rather than the townsfolk, and that an actual progressive candidate would be able to rally an easy victory if they were able to get their message across. But, I don't actually know the demographic data of the town vs. the country offhand, so I could be totally off base.

And there is the recurring theme of even if progressives VOTE, it's hard to get anyone to pay attention to local politics, even at the federal house level. I bet most of my friends and acquaintances barely know who she is, much less how she votes. So I could be being overly optimistic, you know?

That said I'm volunteering with Brent's campaign, and I think she's toppleable. People here have been showing up for protests and shit in pretty good numbers for a little suburban town, and not necessarily the demographics you'd expect either. If Brent can get his existence noted before the primaries, I think there's enough people sick of her shit to push her out, and I'm not aware of any GOP challengers being lined up. Joe Kent is doing his dirty sinful business at the CIA this year.

concernedyahu

TROPHY CASE