Once upon a time, back when America had a strong middle class, it also had a strong union movement

[NNN0LHI]

http://mediamatters.org/research/201008050057

Union busting: Right-wing media relentlessly attack worker representation

August 05, 2010 6:59 pm ET — 9 Comments

Media conservatives have waged a relentless war against labor unions, blaming them for a wide variety of problems and smearing them as "communists" and "thugs," among other attacks. However, experts have credited unions for establishing many of the "most fundamental and valued features of today's society" and "paving the road to the middle class for many millions of working families." snip



Nobel laureate Krugman links "strong union movement" to "strong middle class. In a December 2007 New York Times column, Nobel prize-winning economist Paul Krugman wrote that America's "strong middle class" and "strong union movement" were "connected":

Once upon a time, back when America had a strong middle class, it also had a strong union movement.

These two facts were connected. Unions negotiated good wages and benefits for their workers, gains that often ended up being matched even by nonunion employers. They also provided an important counterbalance to the political influence of corporations and the economic elite.

[Dappleganger]

1. The union needs to return.

We desperately need it here in the South.

And democratic leaders need to stop paying lip-service and undermining what unions are doing and have done in the past!

[Rabrrrrrr]

2. Without the unions, we never would have had a middle class.

That's for damn sure.

So of course the corporatists want to destroy the unions and the entire movement.

And the ignorant middle-class are following the media lockstep in wanting to destroy the unions.

[ThomWV]

3. Unionization is the most basic tier of democracy

To fight men and women who come together for common purpose in the workplace is to fight the very basic building block of Democracy.

[burnsei sensei]

4. Historians see this connection clearly.

Politicians and the rest DO NOT.

[laughingliberal]

5. People who oppose unions oppose a middle class. There is no other way.

Anyone who thinks 'bidness' is just going to decide to do the right thing and pay decent wages with raises and benefits is dreaming. Only unions or the threat of unions produce that result for most workers.

[midnight]

6. K&R

[pinboy3niner]

7. K&R

Unions got a bad rap from episodes of union corruption. That's used as justification for throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

These days, we need unions as much as we did when they began.

[Brickbat]

8. What many forget, too, is that unions improve working conditions for ALL workers, not just union

members. Like that five-day, 40-hour week? Thank a union member.

[Donnachaidh]

9. people who oppose unions are ignorant -period.

Fox Fraudcasting viewers.

[lonestarnot]

10. Union yes!

[david13]

11. Yes, those were 'the good old days'. Now back to reality, and

the present. dc

[Touchdown]

12. Amen, Brother!

K&R.

[w8liftinglady]

13. and I have been endorsing unions in a right-to-work state-they ...

have been lied to by their politicians and the corporate owners/management...led to believe unions are bad...they're lazy...they waste money,lie,cheat.It is pathetic-and anyone who comes out FOR unions can expect to be ostracized.I still remember when the California nurses Association sent a rep to talk with any interested nurses.a manager of most of the hospitals sent out veiled threats to the staff...stating these would lead to poor patient care,harder work for the nurses...because of the strikes.It is sad...most of the people here have little or no insurance,savings.I hope unions come back.I just worry about how the esteemed leaders in these right-to-work states will react

[femmocrat]

14. K&R. Now they are trying to destroy the teachers' unions.

If you have a good union job, work to preserve it. Get active in your union!

[Blue_Tires]

15. kick