On March 11 Theda Skocpol and Lainey Newman of Harvard University spoke at Watershed Books on their book Rust Belt Union Blues: Why Working Class Voters Are Turning Away from the Democratic Party. The book began as a senior thesis project for Lainey Newman under her advisor, Theda Skocpol. Thirty minutes of the talk can be seen above.
We took over 90 minutes of the talk at Watershed Books but was only able to post 30 minutes of the talk and discussion. The day before they gave a talk at the Battle of Homestead Foundation. Pauline Greenlick filmed it in its entirety. The talk is presented above.
Firstly, Newman did her research as a senior thesis that her advisor thought should be made into a book. During the pandemic she did interviews of current and former union members in the area on their status. Her research was melded with Dr. Skocpol’s research in the area on right wing movements like the tea party. This led to the creation of the book Rust Belt Union Blues.
The authors said that Clinton betraying the unions by supporting the North American Free Trade Agreement or NAFTA and the World Trade Organization was a factor in the working classes being disillusioned with the Democrats. Also, the closing of the steel mills and coal mines destroyed unions in the 80s. Consequently, there was no model to replace the roles that unions provided in the community.
Accordingly, right wing demagogues like Pat Buchanan, Ross Perot, and Donald Trump were able to exploit this disillusionment with protectionist arguments and scapegoating immigrants. Currently, the challenge remains for Democrats and labor unions to regain the upper hand with the working class.
Hey Paul,
Thanks for posting the interview. Guess I could summarize by saying that I was not impressed. I have not read the book so there would have to be a sea change in direction for anything to change.
Why would anyone want to listen to anyone who talks union history and political consciousness but ignores the foundation of rich, radical and turbulent labor struggles of western PA?
As if everything started with Trump.
For example, you also would never know that the 1930’s – 1970’s were where the company towns were eliminated mainly because of the left organizing prior to and the CIO mass class conscious union organizing let by mainly the left and predominantly the Communists.
This was the foundation for the Dem / Labor link they lament.
Labor with its red baiting of the 1950’s (expulsions from the CIO) helped weaken all of labor’s fighting essence which was the main function of McCarthyism – replace militant class struggle unions with company oriented small business types led by careerists. The kind that predominantly mislead labor today.
The collapse of the basic industries in W. PA during the 1970’s -1 990’s was not fought at all by labor and therefore both them and the Dems helped to poison any class consciousness of the area’s workers and communities. It weakened the union identity as a organization that fought for the rank and file and created cynicism, apathy, disorientation and confusion. Almost all the industries that collapsed in the USA over the past decades were totally unionized
The real question is What Kind Of Union Do Workers Need Today? Class struggle or labor management cooperation oriented?
Both of these organizations are now drinking from the same cup of the weak tea they created – business unionism tied to right wing big business democrats. Trump 24/7 combined with identity politics to avoid the class struggle staring you in the eyes.
Both offer nothing to inspire since they stand for little. Workers have lost faith in them and almost all USA institutions, opening the door to demagogues.
For a clear foundation read The Great Depression 1929-1932, Philip S. Foner