UAW Goes After Bloggers

Frank Williams
by Frank Williams

In a move somewhat akin to herding ADHD cats, the UAW is making a move to unionize bloggers. USA Today quotes Gerry Colby, president of the National Writers Union, a local of the United Auto Workers: "Bloggers are on our radar screen right now for approaching and recruiting into the union. We're trying to develop strategies to reach bloggers and encourage them to join." This might be a hard sell; most bloggers are independent, few are paid and even fewer make a living blogging. While some bloggers see union organization as a way to get health insurance discounts or conduct collective bargaining, others aren't that enthralled with the idea. Sounding almost like he's blogging for TTAC, Committee to Protect Bloggers' founder Curt Hopkins summed up many bloggers' feelings. "The reason I like blogging is that it's very anarchistic. I can do whatever I want whenever I want, and oh my God, you're not going to tell me what to do."

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  • Altair Altair on Aug 07, 2007

    All I found for agricultural workers was the Farm Labor Organizing Committee. FLOC But I think the point of the WP article is that the UAW leadership needs to either do something about the transplants or find another cause to help. I would think that the ag workers could use the help much more than bloggers. Have you ever worked a field? Not an easy high-paying job.

  • Robert Schwartz Robert Schwartz on Aug 07, 2007

    If bloggers go on strike, national productivity will increase 20%. More seriously, is the UAW that delusional? They are in more trouble than I thought they were. I guess they figure they have no chance of organizing the import brands US operations.

  • Jordan Tenenbaum Jordan Tenenbaum on Aug 07, 2007

    I think toasters are looking for someone to represent them.

  • Nick Nick on Aug 07, 2007

    TTAC needs some new editors. This article was obviously intended for April 1st.

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