The Betrayal of Local 14 by Julius Getman

Julius Getman a professor out of Austin Texas is a well respected labor law specialist. There is not doubt where this man comes down on the issue clearly siding with organized labor.

In conversations with friends in our " solving all the worlds problems lunches" in talking about the Reagan legacy I have often said the domestically perhaps the most long lasting policy he pursued was when he fired the Air Traffic Controllers. This was the beginning of a long steep decline in organized labor and it's influence.

In 1987 International Paper was sending signals that the upcoming negotiations with UPIU Local 14 in Jay, Maine were going to be contentious. It became soon apparent that the plan was to break the union or to gain concessions so deep that the effect would be the same.

This book tells the story of the year and half long strike. It tells the tale of a small Maine mill town torn apart. We learn about strikebreakers, the politics of a strike, the different parts to play and sometimes different agenda's of the international union and the local union leadership.

At different times in our lives we may feel differently about situations which we come across. I remember as a man in my early twenties during this strike and struggling to get on my feet not understanding why these men were striking. Of course I had a strong memory of my Dad and his position on such matters.

At this time in my life having long ago since come to the conclusion that 99.9 percent of for profit companies in this country have no morals and no soul I would never consider scabbing.

In the book Getman while he sides with the strikers is for the most part sympathetic to the replacement workers. Understanding that many of them are pawns in something bigger than they are that they cannot comprehend is something he does well.

When I say I would never scab I believe it but I also learned long ago one should never say never as one never knows until one walks in ones shoes.

The one thing that is clear to me is there is one evil in this story. That evil is International Paper.

They are not alone, search a website for who has fair and moral labor policies. The list will be short.

This book probably will not appeal to those on one side of the spectrum but with an open mind it is a book they should read.

An eye opening book. You will feel like you know the people we hear about. If you look hard enough around you you might know someone just like them.