unions

The process of democratizing the endorsement process, though, carries with it the need for unions to act not just as workplace negotiators, but as schools—for unions to take seriously the task of saying to members, “We have studied these issues, we have met with politicians, we have lobbied in Washington, and here is our power analysis, and here are our friends and enemies, and here is why, and here is the path forward.” Unions need political discussion groups. Unions need book clubs. Unions need labor colleges. Unions need to embody the practice of small-d democracy, to become the natural place that their members turn to when it is time to study politics and debate politics and participate in politics. Unions need to, in essence, become their own form of civil society. Lazy, institutional, top-down unions that do not constantly work to engage members will see their members drift away and, sometimes, drift into the welcoming arms of Donald Trump (or another bullshit artist like him).

I think this is so, so important.