Dear Millennials: I'm sorry we didn't stop them

[mopinko]

57. i joined the carpenters union in 78

i was the only woman, and there were only white ppl in my suburban local. when i moved to the city, there were a couple dozen women in the carpenters and cabinet builders unions.
what i saw was a weakening of the construction unions because they were blocking black, brown and women new members. there were systemic road blocks already. 1 woman sued to have her sewing classes in hs counted just like a shop class would.
then there was the sexual harassment…

those ppl who were blocked out accepted less money just to work. some were schlocks, but many were good.
union house builders became rare, and union remodelers unheard of.

affirmative action helped that a lot, til st ronnie shot a hole it in.
we WERE in the streets. in fact, several of us started a support org that celebrates it’s 40th year this year. sadly, we all wish we had worked ourselves out of a job.

if stupid wypipo ever figure out the shell game, we might just make it.
these days i have my doubts.