Ken Schram: Occupy movement needs a success
SEATTLE -- The occupy movement needs a success.
It needs something more than an urban camping victory, and it needs something more than a philosophical point made regarding the imbalance of wealth.
Anti-Wall Street protesters up and down the West Coast think their best shot is to shut down some of the nation's busiest ports.
The thinking is that setting up picket lines that support truck drivers and Longshoremen they will be reaching out with a new form of organized labor that benefits all American workers.
Here's the rub: Union leaders have thrown them the cold shoulder.
The unions have publicly stated that they are not supporting the shutdown and they are not participating in it.
Occupy protestors may believe they are speaking out on behalf of exploited union workers, but the union's rank and file indicate they want no part of the protestors so-called support.
And so what is planned for ports in Oakland, Portland, Tacoma and Seattle may turn out to be another futile attempt to add momentum to a movement that seems stalled.
If the occupy movement can't get the support of those it claims to represent, how can it expect to sway those who only vaguely understand what it hopes to accomplish?
Have something to say to Ken? Login or signup below to post a comment. Just be sure to read the rules and keep things civil. You can also e-mail him at kenschram@komo4news.com. You can also hook up with Ken on Facebook.
It needs something more than an urban camping victory, and it needs something more than a philosophical point made regarding the imbalance of wealth.
Anti-Wall Street protesters up and down the West Coast think their best shot is to shut down some of the nation's busiest ports.
The thinking is that setting up picket lines that support truck drivers and Longshoremen they will be reaching out with a new form of organized labor that benefits all American workers.
Here's the rub: Union leaders have thrown them the cold shoulder.
The unions have publicly stated that they are not supporting the shutdown and they are not participating in it.
Occupy protestors may believe they are speaking out on behalf of exploited union workers, but the union's rank and file indicate they want no part of the protestors so-called support.
And so what is planned for ports in Oakland, Portland, Tacoma and Seattle may turn out to be another futile attempt to add momentum to a movement that seems stalled.
If the occupy movement can't get the support of those it claims to represent, how can it expect to sway those who only vaguely understand what it hopes to accomplish?
Have something to say to Ken? Login or signup below to post a comment. Just be sure to read the rules and keep things civil. You can also e-mail him at kenschram@komo4news.com. You can also hook up with Ken on Facebook.
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