Out of Many, One: The Evolution of Solidarity in the Ocean State

The future of organized labor in Rhode Island depends on its ability to adapt to the changing labor landscape and evolve to meet the critical socio-political needs of a new workforce-generation. Economic inequality today rivals the disparity seen in the age of robber barons, and the working poor need the power of organization now more than ever. Rhode Island’s working families cannot afford to continue on an economic downward spiral by sacrificing the fiscal autonomy, mastery and purpose — the very power of the middle class — promoted and preserved by the right to collective bargaining.

“Republicans have been very successful,” former SEIU president Andy Stern told Ezra Klein in a 2011 interview for the Washington Post. “There are three things Americans don’t like: big unions, big government and big corporations. So Republicans go after big government and big unions, and only talk about small businesses.” Yet, according to a 2013 report by the Small Business Association, in Rhode Island, a state with 96,166 small businesses, only 23,012 — less than 24% — are small businesses with employees. In fact, 45% of Rhode Island’s workforce is made up of large businesses with 500 or more employees.

Stern is a somewhat controversial character within organized labor, because of his dealings with large corporations. But his stance on an evolving model for organized labor rings true in Rhode Island, a state in which labor still holds significant influence. Framing the union model as community first and protection second, Rhode Island’s organized labor leads in a much more welcoming way. Rather than promoting the last place aversion paradox of resentment of those lucky enough to be part of a union, the new model treats workers’ rights as civil rights. As the union message evolves, those who are truly lucky are those fortunate enough never to need to exercise those rights.

Unfortunately, Rhode Island has seen a persistent need for workers’ rights. According to a report from the Economic Progress Institute, a nonpartisan research and policy organization dedicated to improving the economic well-being of low- and modest-income Rhode Islanders, “More than 145,000 Rhode Islanders – one in seven — lived in poverty in 2014.” Rhode Island has the highest percentage of people living in poverty in New England — 14.3%. Additionally, median household income continues on a downward trend. The report continues, “The state’s median annual income, when adjusted for inflation, was $54,891 a year, significantly less than (inflation adjusted) pre-recession median household income of $61,159, and down from its recent peak of $62,870, in 2003.” In 2003, according to data from the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training’s division of Labor Market Information, the state’s union membership was at a 20-year high, with over 19% of the workforce unionized. On the other hand, 2014 showed the lowest numbers in two decades, with only 15.1% of the workforce being union members.

Confronted by those opposed to fair circulation of wealth, collective bargaining unit membership in Rhode Island has declined steadily even as the economy rebounded. The opposition argues that Rhode Island businesses cannot afford the demands of union negotiations. When looking at the data, however, how can Rhode Island’s working families afford not to organize?

Unions in Rhode Island have progressed to champion workers rights as civil rights and to uphold the integrity of unions that must match the integrity of the mission around which they organize. Labor has stood up for civil rights and defended disenfranchised citizens. After all, organized labor exemplifies e pluribus unum: Out of many, one.

In Rhode Island, many unions stood up in favor of passing marriage equality. Rhode Island unions joined with coalitions to promote tax equity. Rhode Island unions stood with women’s rights groups to implement Temporary Caregivers’ Insurance, allowing paid leave for parents to bond with children or care for ill family members. Rhode Island unions resolved to continue and increase support for the United Way of Rhode Island and their efforts to serve the most vulnerable of Rhode Island’s citizens. Rhode Island unions stood up against predatory payday loan companies that gouge working families to the tune of up to 260% APR. These are just some of the community-based initiatives organized, funded and actively taken by Rhode Island’s unions to act as the people’s lobby. All the while, organized labor still negotiates, advocates and rallies to support the fair, safe and equitable treatment and compensation of members.

All too often, one hears echoes of, “We do not need unions anymore,” or “They are just special interest groups. They are only out to serve themselves,” or “They’re corrupt,” or “Unions are irrelevant.” With economic inequality reaching levels not seen since Marble House was a summer cottage, we still need unions. And if economically disadvantaged, racially and civilly oppressed working citizens are special interests, then these are special interests worth supporting, provided unions continue to evolve with the changing world around them.