An old organizing vehicle, the union, has recently come on the scene in a new guise that promises to shake up the political process.  Specifically, it is a new union for the unemployed (and underemployed), known by its nickname, UCubed.

Long-time labor activist Harry Kelber wrote in the Feb 23, 2010 issue of his newsletter, Labor Talk:

It’s been only a month that a union for the unemployed has come into existence through an ingenious  grass-roots organizing campaign. In case you haven’t heard about it, the union’s name is “UR Union of the Unemployed” or  its nickname, “UCubed,” because of its unique method of organizing.

UCubed is the brain-child of the International  Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), whose leaders  feel that the millions of unemployed workers need a union of their own to join in the struggle for  massive jobs programs.

 The idea is that if millions of jobless join together and act as an organization, they are more likely to get Congress and the White House to provide the jobs that are urgently needed. They can also apply pressure for health insurance coverage, unemployment insurance and COBRA benefits and food stamps. An unemployed worker is virtually helpless if  he or she has to act alone.

Joining a Cube is as simple as it is important.  (Please check the union web site:  www.unionofunemployed.com) Six  people who live in the same zip code address can form a Ucube. Nine such UCubes make a neighborhood. Three neighborhood UCubes form a power block that contains 162 activists. Politicians cannot easily ignore a multitude of power blocks, nor can merchants avoid them.

The union is built from the ground up. Cube activists will select their own leadership in each cube, neighborhood, block and higher group as well.

The UR Union of Unemployed (or UCubed) already has members in over 300 zip code addresses and 43 states, reports  Rick Sloan, acting executive director of the union. Seventy-five cubes are up and running. For the first month, 19,998 people visited the site and viewed over 138,000 pages of content.

 The union’s Op-Ed  article appeared in 62 newspapers, ranging from the “Black News” to the “Mexican American Sun,” and from the “Las Vegas Tribune” to the “Senior Life of Northern Indiana.” Total circulation exceeded 12 million readers.

UCubed put out three press releases last month, informing politicians in Washington  that the union of unemployed will be watching—and reacting—to their vote on the latest job proposals of the Obama administration. 

The UCubed website has links to information about the extent of joblessness, relevant legislation, and commentary; a list of members; and the Cubes that are already forming, which can be found by state and zip code.

If you're unemployed or underemployed, get involved!  And pass this along to all your friends, neighbors, and relatives who are in a similar fix.