one of the less-discussed aspects of privatization v the value of a large, union public sector is the immense financial power workers can have through institutional investment (and divestment)--w a robust union private sector, the potential is practically limitless. https://twitter.com/NYCComptroller/status/1353755522453934081

it can help all kinds of work: for eg, in the early 20th century, mutual aid and cooperative economic programs often looked for civil service workers to be initial members bc their jobs were better paid and more stable, which created a solid base for poorer workers to participate

mutual aid and benevolent societies therefore often developed up and out from labor formations for this very reason; organization in place with existing practices of solidarity and cooperation set a strong bedrock for community programs (this was partially the theory of the LRBW)