Solidarity for Sale: How Corruption Destroyed the Labor Movement and Undermined America's Promise

by Robert Fitch

Book Overview

American labor unions have been, it turns out, shot through with corruption from their very inception. They never really had a Golden Age. From "Big Jim" Colosimo, the patron saint of Chicago's Mafia,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 189162072X
• ISBN13: 9781891620720
• Release Date: January 2006
• Publisher: PublicAffairs
• Length: 412 Pages
• Weight: 1.66 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.9" x 9.4"

Customer Reviews

Reportorial rundown on labor's corruption problem

We believe that this gripping book will intrigue anyone who is interested in American politics, the labor movement, or social and economic reform. Robert Fitch catalogs trade unions' alleged crimes of corruption, while showing how their organizational structure makes corruption all but inevitable. If you think the U.S. labor movement had only noble origins, it is instructive to reflect on the thugs Fitch says loom so large in its early history. And, if you believe that union corruption belongs to the past, it is salutary to discover how profound and pervasive it is in today's unions, at least, according to this reporter. Fitch strongly explains why he feels union corruption is not just a labor issue, but is a disease that harms society-at-large in many ways, amply explored herein.

an excellent expose on American union corruption, flawed only by the limitations of the author`s pol

New York City-based labor reporter Robert Fitch`s new book, ``Solidarity For Sale, how corruption destroyed the labor movement and undermined America`s progress`` is a great expose of American union corruption. Unfortunately, Fitch`s ideas for curing the cancer of labor racketeering leave a lot to be desired. Fitch, a longtime investigative reporter, does a truly awesome job of exposing the high crimes and petty misdemeanors of America`s union bosses, past and present. His dogged research ferreted out all the ugly details - from the 1935 Service Employees International Union convention attended by ``Pretty Boy`` Floyd, ``Machine Gun`` Kelly and Al Capone underboss Frank Nitti to AFSCME District Council 37`s use of union funds to pay for hot sheets motels and prostitutes for lonely union bosses. Beyond exposing graft, Fitch also lays bare the patronage politics at the base of most of America`s union movement. And, he presents the true face of ``union reformers`` like SEIU President Andy Stern, former Teamsters head Ron Carey and the Teamsters for a Democratic Union caucus. In particular, ``Solidarity For Sale`` exposes the true agenda of ``progressive`` unions like UNITE HERE and the SEIU - corporate ``unions`` administered General Motors-style by American Management Association-trained executives who never pushed a broom or mopped a floor. In other words, Bob Fitch exposes the problem, in gut-churning detail... that alone makes this book a must-read. The problem is, Fitch doesn't really offer viable solutions to those problems. This is not due to any ill-will on Fitch`s part (he is a truly honorable, sincere and principled man, who sacrificed a potentially lucrative career as a union official to expose union corruption in the media). Instead, the problem is basically ideological - Fitch`s politics appear to be a cross between 18th century Jeffersonian democracy and 21th century anti authoritarian anarchism - and his political solutions to the problems of American unions reflect the limitations imposed by those ideologies. The book`s main weaknesses come from this political perspective. One glaring limitation is the almost complete absence of any discussion of White supremacism and sexism in the unions. Fitch does talk, at length, about the Teamsters Union`s incitement of a race riot in 1905 Chicago during the Montgomery Ward strike, that led to the death of 21 Black people. However, the more subtle day-to-day racism goes largely undiscussed by this work This is odd, considering that many US labor organizations openly practiced Jim Crow segregation well into the 1960`s Fitch laments about the political backwardsness of American unions as compared to their European counterparts - but leaves out the most logical explination... how do you fight for equality while simultaneously practicing White supremacism?? Discussion of union sexism is similarly neglected - even in Fitch`s very comprehensive and well researched section on the gar

Toward a New Labor Movement

Perhaps the most well-researched work on labor in recent years, SOLIDARITY FOR SALE provides compelling detail and analysis that will help us understand the basis for much of organized labor's spiralling decline. Hopefully, this book will help provide a foundation for reforming the labor movement. One may draw many conclusions from this book, but we cannot deny that Fitch has paid careful attention to facts, conducted excellent archival research and interviews with key leaders. Fitch lays bare the evidence that a highly-bureaucratic and insular union structure is damaging prospects for increasing the power of the working class in the US. Though this examination of labor leadership is disturbing to many of us, it is a necessary step to recognize and understand, so that remedial action may be taken by working people. While government and corporate opposition is crucial in understanding the decline of the labor movement, workers retain strong support for inclusive, radical, and democratic unions. Despite this support for unions from working people, many of those in leadership positions have betrayed members and non-members, intensifying the obvious institutional problems organized labor now faces. SOLIDARITY FOR SALE should be amunition for workers and, if accepted and heeded by those that lead unions, will surely benefit the labor movement. SOLIDARITY FOR SALE represents solid investigative reporting that we should all read as part of the effort to reform labor law, restructure unions, and mobilize workers striving to improve their collective conditions. Fitch writes from the perspective of workers--compassionately seeking a solution that will lead to more accountable and strong labor unions. Do not be fooled by those that disparage this book as anti-union. Written by a man that has devoted his life to organizing workers and a labor activist, Fitch calls for a return of greater membership control and participation. In a neoliberal, corporate-dominated economy, labor must get strong. SOLIDARITY FOR SALE is not so much an attack on unions as a clarion call for cleaning them up. Ultimately, a representative union movement is the worst nightmare for the upper-class and employers that seek to keep labor at bay through consorting with some of the most corrupt and unscrupulous leaders in unions. If taken seriously, this book will be indispensable for the unorganized and weak working class inside and outside of unions. SOLIDARITY FOR SALE is a must read for all those interested in advancing working-class power.

An Essential Book For Our Times

This book, Solidarity For Sale, is right on. Mr. Fitch has provided us with a great body of work, research and insights into the history and troubles of the labor movement. He has helped define and clarify some of the questions that have bothered me for years. From my personal experience as a reformer in a mob dominated union and as a member of the Laborers Union of North America (LIUNA) for over 30 years, the truths of this book rings forth on every page. Mr. Fitch has stepped forward with a passion and courage of thought to speak of the "Mokita" that we all know about but do not speak of. The corruption of the AFL-CIO and how it came to be. This is a book that should be read by every thinking member of organized labor, reformers and those who would like to join us. It deserves its place of prominence on the number 1 site for laborers. I endorse this book and I would like to thank Robert Fitch for spending the precious hours of his life writing it. Chris White Laborers.org

Excellent Book! Buy it ! Read it!

This is a book that the rank and file should read. The only book of its kind. I can't compete with the intellectuals trashing the book. I do know this book made me stop and think. In regards to the areas I have knowledge of Mr. Fitch is accurate. I have had the pleasure of hearing Robert Fitch speak on a number of occasions. Anyone that can take on a multibillion dollar organization with unlimited access to politicans and public relation dollars gets 5 stars from me.