Paul Krugman: Pro-Union, Pro-Labor, from the AFL-CIO

[amborin]

"Speaking on the topic, “Unions and Inequality,” Krugman noted the percentage of workers in unions declined from a high of 35 percent in the mid-1950s to today’s level of 12 percent. As a result, the United States has “lost something that’s essential to maintain a decent society.”

Krugman attributes the nation’s worsening economic inequality in large part to declining unionization and the erosion of legal protection of workers’ freedom to choose unions and bargain. He cited a finding that one-third of the difference in the rise in earnings inequality between the United States and Canada is attributable to the much faster rate of decline of unionization in this country. In fact, he says even this dramatic finding

almost certainly is a major underestimate.

Krugman explained that when a high percentage of workers are in unions and workers’ freedom to choose unions is protected, there is an “umbrella” effect in which all workers, union and nonunion, benefit. He cited work by economists Peter Temin and Frank Levy, who found that for a generation after World War II, the so-called “Treaty of Detroit” between the UAW and General Motors Corp. set standards for workers throughout the U.S. economy. (The Treaty of Detroit refers to the landmark contract the UAW negotiated after the war that has since been seen as the crowning achievement of the midcentury labor....

<http://blog.aflcio.org/2008/01/07/paul-krugman-strong-unions-create-a-strong-middle-class/>
<snip>

[Hello_Kitty]

1. Paul Krugman - In Praise of Cheap Labor

http://www.slate.com/id/1918

What good are unions when the jobs are gone?

[jwirr]

2. Actually he has a point. Even up here in Union country most of us

are working non-union jobs. We need to start including these jobs in the unions.

[amborin]

3. a smear, based on his thought piece on 3rd world labor --not pro-outsourcing

[Hello_Kitty]

4. OMG

Like those sweatshop jobs in the Third World were created in a vacuum. :eyes:

[Better Believe It]

5. A 12 year old article. Can't you find anything more current and relevant

that indicates Krugman is some sort of right-wing union hater?

If he was, the AFL-CIO would not support Krugman.

Perhaps you know a lot about Krugman that the AFL-CIO doesn't know?

Unlikely.

[Hello_Kitty]

6. He's never recanted his position on outsourcing. And I never said he was anti-union

I asked what the point of being pro-union was when you are also for shipping jobs out of the country.

[Romulox]

20. I heard him on NPR in late 2008 praising outsourcing...

I'll see if I can dig up the interview in the archive. I believe it was on "All Things Considered".

[AtomicKitten]

7. He's pro free trade and calls those opposed "protectionists."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jonathan-tasini/paul-krugman-gets-it-wron_b_48401.html

[amborin]

11. everyone is pro free trade, unless they're Myanmar/Burma; we get oil, gas, food, etc...thru trade

where do you think the U.S. gets oil from????????

or zillions of other items??????

[AtomicKitten]

15. If he's going to attack Obama vis a vis centrism, Krugman's got some 'splaining to do

of his own views (pro free trade, pro cheap labor, pro insurance mandates, etc.) penned in his own hand, your denial/rationalization of same notwithstanding.

[amborin]

22. your continuing smears are just an ad hominum attack

[AtomicKitten]

24. and your continued obfuscation of the truth is just ridiculous n/t

[Enrique]

8. the AFL-CIO is a troll

a Krugman apologist troll! :sarcasm:

[Baikonour]

9. I hope everyone here at DU is having a great Paul Krugman-day!

[MadBadger]

10. My Body's too Krugilicious for ya Babe

[amborin]

12. Krugman predicted this economic disaster: The Nation:

<http://www.thenation.com/doc/20090223/avishai?rel=hp_picks>

[ShortnFiery]

13. Paul Krugman: egotistical loose cannon - does not play well with others. n/t

[Better Believe It]

14. Nice smear and personal attack! Got anything else?

[QC]

18. No. n/t

[Zenlitened]

17. Hahahaha! Irony-meter... busted!

:rofl:

[Every Man A King]

16. yet it his own words:

"Realistically, however, labor standards won’t do all that much for American workers. No matter how free third-world workers are to organize, they’re still going to be paid very little, and trade will continue to place pressure on U.S. wages.

So what’s the answer? I don’t think there is one, as long as the discussion is restricted to trade policy: all-out protectionism isn’t acceptable, and labor standards in trade agreements will help only a little."

http://select.nytimes.com/2007/05/14/opinion/14krugman....

He has no solution. Therefore its a race to the bottom.

[Hello_Kitty]

19. Oh...but...but...he's for unions!

We may all be working at Starbucks but at least we can join a union!

:eyes:

[amborin]

23. Krugman's position is the exact opposite of the smears you try to pin on him

[democracy1st]

21. K & R

[GeorgeGist]

25. But most of all Krugman is Pro-Profit.

He's the reigning poster child for why economics isn't science ... of any kind.