Unions, Labor and Strikes.

[jaF0]

Instead of continuing to derail the other thread.

No strike should seriously inconvenience the public at large. I don't care if a business has to close for a few days or longer. I don't care about the writers' and actors' strikes. They can stay out as long as they feel the need to. That one is not causing a general problem for the economy. Other local businesses and workers and hurting because of the loss of income, but not the greater public.

There is an auto strike looming. You might not get the vehicle you ordered as soon as you'd like. Some fleet customers might suffer.

Even the now averted UPS strike ... would have been bad, but there are other options for package delivery.

But essential industries like rail and dock workers, that's on a completely different level and should not be allowed.

 

[RandyRebecca]

Left-wingers (real ones, that is) support workers' strikes and struggles when bosses are treating them badly. Strikes are supposed to be inconvenient otherwise they wouldn't be strikes. True left-wing politicians would do all in their power to ensure that the workers' demands are met so that services can be provided at the highest level going forward. A happy, well paid workforce is the best workforce. Democrats are fake "lefts" who support the profiteering bosses and the military-industrial complex who waste our federal taxes on wars like Ukraine, Iraq, Afghanistan etc. They are so bad with this that they have enabled Donald Trump to pose as an "anti-establishment" politician who will "drain the swamp", and whose poll ratings seem to go up whenever he is legally attacked.

The OP says "strikes are bad". Well agree to the workers' terms, then! There wouldn't be any need for a strike then.

 

[RandyRebecca]

There is an auto strike looming. You might not get the vehicle you ordered as soon as you'd like. Some fleet customers might suffer.

Even the now averted UPS strike ... would have been bad, but there are other options for package delivery.

Then agree to the workers' demands so that there won't be a strike. But no, you want the bosses to get what they want on their terms. Democrats can whinge all they want, but those that support the bosses over striking workers are RIGHT-WING.

 

[jaF0]

Problem, is, workers get greedy. I read where UPS settled and drivers will be getting upwards of $50/hour. Postal workers get around half that and do the same job. Not sure about FedEx or other delivery companies.

UAW wants something like a 50% raise over the contract period. And we wonder why cars and trucks are priced near $100,000

I support strikes when risk of injury or death is imminent. I am less supportive of strikes that are for pay and benefits only.

 

[jaF0]

Then agree to the workers' demands so that there won't be a strike. But no, you want the bosses to get what they want on their terms.

As a consumer, I don't want to pay the higher prices those wage demands cost me.

 

[RandyRebecca]

Problem, is, workers get greedy.

A world of billionaires that never cease to get richer and richer and richer, through 2008, through Covid etc. and you say that.

I read where UPS settled and drivers will be getting upwards of $50/hour. Postal workers get around half that and do the same job. Not sure about FedEx or other delivery companies.

Divide and rule tactics now. You want workers to blame workers who are better paid instead of blaming the billionaire capitalists.

 

[ll74]

Left-wingers (real ones, that is) support workers' strikes and struggles when bosses are treating them badly. Strikes are supposed to be inconvenient otherwise they wouldn't be strikes. True left-wing politicians would do all in their power to ensure that the workers' demands are met so that services can be provided at the highest level going forward. A happy, well paid workforce is the best workforce. Democrats are fake "lefts" who support the profiteering bosses and the military-industrial complex who waste our federal taxes on wars like Ukraine, Iraq, Afghanistan etc. They are so bad with this that they have enabled Donald Trump to pose as an "anti-establishment" politician who will "drain the swamp", and whose poll ratings seem to go up whenever he is legally attacked.

The OP says "strikes are bad". Well agree to the workers' terms, then! There wouldn't be any need for a strike then.

Left wingers who ignore the greater good are ok with strikes that harm the greater good.

 

[Dribble]

History has shown the advantages of strong unions.

 

[ll74]

History has shown the advantages of strong unions.

Who here has advocated for a weak union?

 

[BrightShinyGirl]

Workers are essential, bosses aren't. Good bosses figure out how to keep their workers happy and productive. If they can't do that, then what value do they add to the company?

 

[Dribble]

Who here has advocated for a weak union?

I am simply pointing out that history has clearly shown what happens when we have strong unions. Name one union that is as strong as it was 40 years ago. Do you think it is a coincidence that worker income has stagnated since unions have come under attack?

 

[adrina]

My problem with this premise is the stark reality that corporations are acting in multiple ways which are not only bad for their employees but society at large. Currently we have no mechanism in place to control these damages or get redress.

What is good for the goose is good for the gander.

Without striking, there is no accountability.

 

[Dribble]

My problem with this premise is the stark reality that corporations are acting in multiple ways which are not only bad for their employees but society at large. Currently we have no mechanism in place to control these damages or get redress.

What is good for the goose is good for the gander.

Without striking, there is no accountability.

Quoted for truth.

 

[v_indigo]

Strikes shouldn’t inconvenience anyone.
Protests should be quiet and kept out of sight.
These are the mantras of the oppressors, and the bootlickers.

 

[ll74]

Strikes shouldn’t inconvenience anyone.
Protests should be quiet and kept out of sight.
These are the mantras of the oppressors, and the bootlickers.

What is the purpose of the strike?

Is it to fuck the US economy?..or to get management of companies to address worker's grievances?

 

[v_indigo]

What is the purpose of the strike?

Is it to fuck the US economy?..or to get management of companies to address worker's grievances?

The latter. But the only way to do that is to make it awful for those companies. Sadly, that often means making it bad for the general public. But that’s because we’ve let business interests drive policy and go, essentially, unregulated.

 

[ll74]

The latter. But the only way to do that is to make it awful for those companies. Sadly, that often means making it bad for the general public. But that’s because we’ve let business interests drive policy and go, essentially, unregulated.

Cool. So it's not to fuck over the economy.

Glad we're on the same page.

So if the government makes a move against a union to protect the economy, they aren't acting against union interests.

 

[jaF0]

How did we get to the point where 100 car freight trains hauling hazardous materials at high speed have a crew of only one or two?

 

[v_indigo]

Cool. So it's not to fuck over the economy.

Glad we're on the same page.

So if the government makes a move against a union to protect the economy, they aren't acting against union interests.

My god, you really are a bootlicker

 

[Lazaran]

How did we get to the point where 100 car freight trains hauling hazardous materials at high speed have a crew of only one or two?

•
By basing executive pay on slashing costs.

 

[ll74]

My god, you really are a bootlicker

Biden stopped the strike of rain workers early on and then continued to negotiate to get the union workers the sick leave the asked for.

That was the perfect amount of give and take for unions and government. While they curbed union power, they did so to protect the economy while still working to facilitate a good deal for workers.

But please, feel free to tell those rail workers how Democrats hate them

 

[v_indigo]

Cool. So it's not to fuck over the economy.

Glad we're on the same page.

So if the government makes a move against a union to protect the economy, they aren't acting against union interests.

Biden stopped the strike of rain workers early on and then continued to negotiate to get the union workers the sick leave the asked for.

That was the perfect amount of give and take for unions and government. While they curbed union power, they did so to protect the economy while still working to facilitate a good deal for workers.

But please, feel free to tell those rail workers how Democrats hate them

 

[BabyBoomer50s]

Collective bargaining is fine. Workers striking for higher wages and safer, better conditions are fine. The problem arises when government puts its thumb on the scale.

 

[icanhelp1]

40% wage increase and a 32 hour work week. Interesting. People can’t afford to buy a house, if this goes the way of a strike won’t be able to afford a car either.

 

[dkovic77]

Problem, is, workers get greedy. I read where UPS settled and drivers will be getting upwards of $50/hour. Postal workers get around half that and do the same job. Not sure about FedEx or other delivery companies.

UAW wants something like a 50% raise over the contract period. And we wonder why cars and trucks are priced near $100,000

I support strikes when risk of injury or death is imminent. I am less supportive of strikes that are for pay and benefits only.

To provide some context, I have worked on the line building cars and it is a tough job.

The wages requested don’t fully come close to paying for the abuse the body takes doing that job over and over again.

With that said, don’t imagine the wages will hurt the bottom line as much as the company says it will. Especially as they have sourced parts from all over the world, most “American” cars are barely made in America.

The pandemic and the control chips had a bigger impact, but it seems the auto industry has rebounded.

The government does have an interest in keeping America working, but it’s not like strikes in previous decades where it impacted a bigger percentage. A fair wage is always key, as well as benefits.