Summary
A federal judge temporarily blocked Elon Musk from accessing sensitive Labor Department data, a major win for unions concerned about worker privacy.
The lawsuit, filed by federal employee unions, argued that DOGE’s demands posed a threat to labor rights.
Union leaders praised the decision as a safeguard against government overreach.
DOGE has also faced restrictions on Treasury Department access and has taken control of USAID and the Office of Personnel Management, sparking high-profile resignations.
Unions are why we have labor rights.
Also, remember that legal, regulated unions with a union steward empowered to negotiate are the compromise. The alternative was rioting mobs of factory workers.
In 1812 the forces of General Ludd attacked a mill near Manchester, which was defended by British soldiers and literal cannons. The reason why we have unions today is that dealing with unions was a more palatable option for the bosses than dealing with an angry mob.
Also, strikes are the more peaceful, more acceptable option that was a compromise vs. simply wrecking the machines.
All this time fighting against unions has meant the alternative to unions simply becomes more likely, and if the business owners think they hate unions, imagine how they’ll like angry mobs.
Protests (often incredibly violent ones) are why we have unions.
*Note an accurate explanation of how we got our rights isn’t directly advocating for how to keep them or as advocacy for violence in any form, because that’s what unacceptable about this situation
And songs like “Which Side Are You On?” make it clear that it wasn’t easy.
I’ve seen Dylan live, but I didn’t know he made an original till right now…
I immediately thought of the Dead Prez version from a decade ago and wasn’t sure what was going on lol
Pete Seeger was the first to record it. I cannot recall who the original songwriter was but her husband was a miner and not a scab for JH Blair. I strongly suggest finding one if the live versions from the earlier days if you can. It’s a great song to hear thousands singing in unison especially when you know most were unionized
Was just coming to fix that lol.
I searched it and saw a B Dolan version from like a dozen years ago and got mixed up.
Pete is the guy Bob wanted to be as a kid