There Is Power In A Union

I am loth to post anything about the legal difficulties in which former IMF chief and former French presidential hopeful Dominique Strauss-Kahn finds himself. I am conscious that pretty much everything we know about this case is being leaked or made available to influence the public and potential jurors by the police, public prosecutors, or sources close to Mr Strauss-Kahn himself. I was, however, struck by a piece in the Guardian by Dean Baker: Dominique Strauss-Kahn and the union maid. Mr Baker makes an interesting point – that Strauss-Kahn's accuser is a union member, and it is thanks to her membership of a union that she is able to make complaints against a powerful guest without having to fear arbitrary persecution by her employer.

Trade Unions are currently subject to considerable political and rhetorical attacks across a range of countries. This case reminds us of why workers continue to need the protection that trade union membership provides.

Note – the title of Dean Bakers' article references a Woody Guthrie song. The title of this short post references one by Billy Bragg.

From Hunting Monsters