Vote YES! Unions are still important for workers

I think it has become clearer and clearer that the current crisis of capitalism is a direct result of the expanding economic inequality. The different aspects of this crisis: credit, mortgages and unemployment have all resulted from the growing weakness in the ability of workers to defend themselves from avaricious bosses. The ongoing capitalist war against the primary institutions of workers' protection - unions - has been a key element of the growing inequality in wealth and income. Unions are obviously neither the only or the final answer to the problem of inequality, but, at least in the short run, they are essential to the workers' fight. Public perceptions are also a key element of our fight against this growing inequality. So, in the interest of changing the current anti-union public perceptions I am helping to spread the word about this looney poll in Parade Magazine. The following was recently forwarded to me.

Can you take a minute to stand up for workers?
This Sunday's PARADE Magazine promotes an online poll asking: "Does America still need labor unions?"
Please VOTE YES right now and pass this along to your friends and family.
I think you'd agree that it's a pretty absurd question from PARADE. With the gap between the rich and the poor wider than it's been since 1928, and with working families bearing the brunt of the economic downturn, it's clear we need unions more than ever.
That's why we're fighting so hard for the Employee Free Choice Act. Workers deserve to be able to negotiate for better wages and benefits, but the deck is stacked against them.
Chances are good you saw the poll in yesterday's paper too. PARADE calls itself America's most widely-read magazine, reaching more than 70 million readers. Please be sure your voice gets heard in this poll! Tell PARADE America needs unions!
And with anti-union special interests waging a well-funded campaign of misinformation about the Employee Free Choice Act, you can be sure our opponents will be sending this poll around.
Let's make sure they don't skew the results. Vote YES today – America still needs unions!
Thanks so much – and don't forget to pass this along to everyone you know!
Sincerely,
Liz Cattaneo
American Rights at Work
www.AmericanRightsatWork.org