Andy Stern Quotes

It is essential that there should be organization of labor. This is an era of organization. Capital organizes and therefore labor must organize.

The question is always 'What is the role of a labor movement?' How much is about collective bargaining, how much is about social change for all workers?

I'm a big believer in the value of labor unions and with what collective effort gets people.

The history of all countries shows that, by its own efforts, the working class can develop only a trade-union consciousness—that is, the realization of the need of getting together in unions in order to fight employers and to demand from the government the passing of laws necessary for the workers.

The labor movement was a reaction to capitalism.

I am a huge believer in organized labor. Period. Full stop.

The trade union movement represents the organized economic power of the workers... It is in reality the most potent and the most direct social insurance the workers can establish.

I believe in trade unionism, and I believe in democracy, in democratic trade unionism.

Less than 8 percent of private sector workers belonged to a union in 2004, and, overall, only 12.5 percent of American workers carry a union card - down from about one-third of workers in labor's heydays in the 1950s.

The strike of the miners in Arizona was one of the most remarkable strikes in the history of the American labor movement. Its peaceful character, its successful outcome, were due to that most remarkable character, Governor Hunt.

Working people are under the worst attack in 80 years. Never has there been a stronger need for a stronger union movement.

The Church fully supports the right of workers to form unions or other associations to secure their rights to fair wages and working conditions.

We have reached the point where we must advise the miners … to either continue working under these unjust and tyrannical conditions or counsel a strike.

It is essential that there be organization of labor…. Capital organizes and therefore labor must organize.

The New Deal Congress enacted the National Labor Relations Act which granted unrestricted sovereign power to the barons of union labor.

Power? Nine workers out of ten still unorganized, and union dues going to bribe middle class politicians. You call that power?

The labor movement has lifted more people out of poverty than all the programs in the country.

Unquestionably unions and their leaders are not always wise and fair any more than any other human beings. There are only two ways to bring about protection of the workers, however, legislation and unionization. So far the majority of the people in this country seem to favor unions as a more democratic and elastic method, though certain things must be dealt with by legislation.

The decline of the trade union is to some extent inevitable and irreversible.

The right to organize is a fundamental right for American workers.

Instead of focusing on attacking unions and the labor movement, we need to find ways to strengthen and empower workers so we can put more money in the pockets of middle class families.

T-Mobile U.S.A. is one company that uses fear and intimidation to scare workers away from union representation.

Workers organized and fought for worker rights and food safety, Social Security and Medicare - they fought to change government. And they won.

My parents were both union members, and I grew up hearing how important it was to empower workers and have fair labor practices.

And I think we understand we cannot make social change for all workers until we have enough strength, membership strength, and at the same time having membership strength and only making change for a limited group of workers is not what our country really needs for people that work.