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Harry Kelbers 70 Year Battle For The Rights Of Workers (See Here)
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See Harry Kelbers Biography (Click Here)
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See Here For Harry Kelbers Offical Website
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Labor's Voice for Change - The World of Labor (See Here)
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4 comments:
I wont live long enough to ever do 1/10th of what Kelber has done for organized labor,
That being said I have to ask if we really need another dinosaur in the AFL-CIO, At 91 can he handle the strenuous schedule. Right now Harry says he goes to bed at 2am and gets up when he is not tired anymore. Has this prepared him for a VP AFl_CIO job.All us old bulls get put out to pasture. Harry has a really good gig pumping out books on his view of Organized Labor. As a VP of the AFL-CIO will Harry have to give all that up or will he show us how to make great changes in Organized Labor which we can learn how to do by purchasing his next book.
Kelber has always fought for Organized Labor and the workers.He has led the way with progressive ideas way beyond the capacity of thought of the entrenched "Good old Boys "who have fought so hard to keep him out.However during all these year I see no established platform of Kelbers with the war cry of "All power to the Rank and File"Harry does not advocate doing away with the good ole boys but thinks he can force his ideas and solicit change by being a member of the "Good Ole Boys" Sad error in judgment on his part.
Union membership is going downhill faster than a run away train. Why. Because the system in place needs to be eliminated and replaced by more progressive and realistic minds. It needs to be replaced by members who REFUSE to do business like the "Good OLe Boys" The so called Good Old Boy Unionism is entrenched in organized labor and is the blight that will destroy it. Here we are in 2009 and we still cannot eliminate it. What kind of statement does it make that in 2009 if you cut off the head of a corrupt Union cronie there are 20 or 30 more corrupt scum bags waiting to take his place.
One perfect example of the blight on Unionism in recent years is the rise to power of Dougy McCaron. A man of questionable morals and shady character under investigation for fraud in the ULICO scandal,his seat on Perini and his work with Bloom to suck money out of the Carpenters Pension is elected President of the Carpenters. He immediately institutes rules that consolidates power and the cash flow so the "Good Old Boys" can rob the members at will. The results if in the Carpenters Union have been tragic and the record speaks for itself. McCaron has been a poster boy for the scum to follow like Andy Stern and Little Jim Hoffa
While ,many of us were yelling loudly "Danger Will Robinson!!! .Danger!! in regards to Stern and McCarron the rest remained silent and now we have Stern and McCaron crushing those that expose them and destroying Locals and Brothers and Sisters who are innocent victims in a crossfire over power. Both McCarron and Stern have proven that re more than willing to destroy the lives of Rank and File to make a point and retain their power, This is good old Boy Unionism at its finest.
Any freethinking rank and file member with an IQ can see that this blight must be destroyed and removed if we are to survive. Yet we here no cry form Harry Kelber to cut out this blight. Instead he wants to join it. He would have us all believe, as if we were naive school children, that once a part of it Kelber can change and mold it according to his progress ideals and finally put the rightmwrong.I find that rather DELUSIONAL.Once a member of the Good Ol d Boy club Kelber would just become an irritating bug they would eventually slap with a fly swatter . At 91 does Kelber have the fortitude or desire to ignite and maintian the fires of change those that believe in his persona are going to expect from him if is wins a spot at the AFL-CIO. Perhaps the truth is that the spark will fizzle and get pinched out between the fingers of the Young Guns people like McCarronn, Stern and many at the ASFL-CIO have surronded themselves with.Dinasours killers so to speak. So you will have to excuse me if the news of Kelber AFL-CIO run gets a finger Twirl and Whoope from me. I am sure we will all get to read what happens to Harry in his last book or on his Labourstart blog called Harry"s blabber where every other post is an announcement for an upcoming book release
Sorry for the double post.Dont know how it happened
There's a thin line between being inspired by Harry and being a little jealous.
Like you I am a little jealous of his capacity to outwork almost anybody that comes to mind even at the age of 95.
I agree with you about the place for more realistic and progressive minds. But I think Harry more than qualifies there.
One thing you missed, anyone can can find out all about Kelber's principles & platforms without spending a penny !
If you think Harry has such a "great gig pumping out books"... you might wanna' PAY him a visit. ( not a nickel... a visit !! ) See what it's like hanging out w/ a 95 year old whirlwind.
Harry has never ever said or hinted that he can save anybody or anything by himself.
I'm sure he definitely appreciates that there are union members like yourself who don't want to accept the way the dinosaur dictators operate. An inspiration and source of his strength, I'd say.
I'm sure he also understands that some take HIM for a dinosaur just because he has lived so long. With Harry, I would say endurance , experience and inspiration are qualities he still has in abundance. His many years are a gift.
Most important, unlike Stern & McCarron, Harry Kelber is not a pessimist. He believes working people can turn this around without depending on any dictators.
Call him a sea turtle, if you want. Call him an endangered species, maybe... one of the dwindling number of union members who hasn't given up hope, but the dinosaur label is a slip-up on your part. He isn't out of date , stagnant , or irrelevant by any measure.
Even though he sets a hell of a pace, more of us should try to run with him or at least tag along.
Goes w/o saying , though, if you want to keep up with Harry you need jogging shoes as well as blogging shoes!
- Good Luck , John A. Joslin , IBEW local # 58 Detroit )
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