If you're not big enough to lose, you're not big enough to win.
Walter ReutherRead
There's a direct relationship between the ballot box and the bread box, and what the union fights for and wins at the bargaining table can be taken away in the legislative halls.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Political and economic power are interconnected, and gains achieved through union efforts can be lost through legislation.
This quote by Walter Reuther highlights the essential relationship between political influence and economic security. It suggests that while labor unions work hard at the bargaining table to secure rights and benefits for workers, those achievements can be vulnerable to changes in laws and legislation, emphasizing the need for continuous political engagement to protect what has been gained.
Themes
PoliticsUnionLegislationWorkers' RightsPower
In practice
Example use cases
During a discussion on labor rights at a community meeting.
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Labor is not fighting for a larger slice of the national pie-labor is fighting for a larger pie.
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