What Labor unions have accomplished for everybody

[Thats my opinion]

“The fight is never about grapes or lettuce. It is always about people.” Caesar Chavez

“The labor movement is the last noble protest of the American people against the power of incorporated wealth.” Voices of Labor

There is a natural competitive antagonism between management and labor. Companies attempt to get the most they can from their workers at the lowest costs by controlling production expenses. This means more production from fewer workers. On the other hand, workers have long since banded together to secure decent wages and humane working conditions. The best of all worlds takes place when these two powers are in balance. The process that maintains this equilibrium is called “collective bargaining.” Congress guaranteed this system when it passed the Wagner Act in 1935. Ever since the enactment of this law, conservative political interests have waged a continual aggressive campaign against organized labor. Unions have fought back, but have been financially and politically outmaneuvered.

“Right to Work” laws in many States have substantially inhibited union organizing. In 1970 34% of America’s factory workers were members of unions. That figure is now less than 12% including public sector unions. Private sector unions are now well below 10%. Part of this loss has come through attacks by conservative political forces, part as the result of corporations sending manufacturing jobs overseas, and part because most corporations have adopted union or even better than union wages and working conditions.

The ultimate in union busting is to deny unions collective bargaining rights. Having throttled unions in the private sector, conservatives have turned their attention to the still powerful public service unions. Governor Walker’s attack on Wisconsin’s public service unions has little to do with budget control, and is really aimed at dismantling the power of organized labor. The unions agreed to the financial demands some weeks ago. But the issue became focused on collective bargaining.

Whether you are a fan of unions or you are not, all of us are far better off today because of the hard-fought victories they have won. Do you covet your right to work-free weekends? Then you must give organized labor the credit. American business did not agree to a forty-hour week out of a generous spirit. This right was the product of hard-fought organized power.

If you have ever worked for wages, then credit unions for seeing that you have had livable levels of income. Even in companies which have no unions doing the negotiating, few businesses can fail to pay attention to the standards union shops have produced.

The history of child labor in the United States is part of our national disgrace. Unions began to work on this issue in 1904. In 1914 the Arkansas State Federation of Labor placed an initiative on the ballot prohibiting child labor. The measure was adopted in a statewide vote. In 1938, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Fair Labor Standards Act, which, among other things, placed limits on many forms of child labor. The President faced vigorous opposition from private industry, but swung the Congress with the full support of organized labor.
Working conditions along with wages have been dramatically modified with the essential support of unions. Safe working conditions, paid vacations, family and medical leave, were all secured as late as a Congressional Act in 1993. OSHA (The Occupational Health and Safety Administration), authorized in 1970, was fought by conservative politicians, and only became national policy with the support of organized labor. Unions have fought for decent pensions, health care benefits, sick days, unemployment compensation and much more.
As weak as organized labor seems to be in our society, the union finger in the dike is about the only deterrence to the upward reallocation of America’s wealth. And all of us who are not part of the country’s economic elite ought to be thankful that unions still exist. If the effort to even further curtail their power is successful, that resource might be irreplaceable.
Before you join the chorus shouting insults at America’s unions, take a look at what organized labor has provided for you, your neighbors and most other Americans.

[Omaha Steve]

1. Welcome to the Labor Forum

Great stuff. K&R!