When I was a kid growing up in Middle America (I'm in my 50s now), it seemed like people really cared about these types of labor issues. I remember most adults took interest in the working conditions at the local auto plant, even if they didn't work there. Now, it feels like, at best, people just don't care ("Pfff. I don't work there, why should I care?"), or at worst, people blame workers ("Bunch of lazy bums!", "Be grateful you have a job at all!", "Should've gone to college!") I'm sure there's a list of reasons for this shift in attitude, but I can tell you that it's real, and kinda depressing.
I'm almost 50 and I've bounced between white collar and blue collar work, union and nonunion, during my professional career. It is indeed depressing and was never more palpable, IME, than in academia of all places. Thomas Frank wrote a great book on this shift in Listen, Liberal: Or, What Ever Happened to the Party of the People?
IMHO, two things: (1) The gradual destruction of labor unions. When I was a kid, labor unions were strong, seemed like every adult was part of one. And there existed a "brotherhood" amongst the various unions. When one union went on strike, the other unions would wholeheartedly support them. And (2), pro-business bias in reporting (don't wanna upset PepsiCo, a massive sponsor!). Here's a great example: https://www.google.com/search?q=frito-lay+strike+site:foxnew... . Nothing about the Frito-Lay strike. Fox News is the ONLY news source in Middle America. I don't feel like other major sources are much better; they've got sponsors to please, too.
Basic rate with 2% raises for the next two years. Frito Lay execs must be puzzled why the plebs aren't throwing themselves at the gate for such a great deal.
This is not the kind of thing that should require striking. The whole point of government is strength in numbers; protecting small groups of people from being abused.
I'm not optimistic, but I really am hoping that we can get our capitalism better regulated some day. At this point, it's not even really capitalism: there's no real competition, and the investments on short term gains are drying up. The field's of opportunity have been ransacked by short cons. Nothing left to do but invest keeping the short cons out.
This is what happens when we let CEOs pretend to be gods who establish a directive for all subordinate management to achieve unattainable goals. They then become sociopaths and psychotically treat people like garbage.
This comes back around to how general labor places "can't find anyone." Well in the words of Bill Engvall: "Here's your sign..."
I don't think this is on CEOs. I grew up pretty poor and now make very good money. However, if someone was always sheltered they are so disconnected from reality they have no idea what is a livable wage. It is capitalism that creates this dynamic, not CEOs or business owners.
This is why governments have minimum wage. Not sure if this is still the case but walmart was helping emoployees get on food stamps....tax payers were literally funding mcdonalds and walmart workers.
The bottom of the work force does not have much negotiating power.
I'm surprised that none of the workers have decided to take it out on the managerial or executive level at the company. Might as well take a few of the people who made you want to commit suicide with you.
The last few paragraphs are quoting the company. My experience of labor disputes is that companies are often less than honest when engaged in them. I wouldn't trust their self reported records in this case.
But also, it wouldn't be very surprising if the union drove a weaker bargain than the workers wanted. A lot of unions have gotten pretty toothless.
> The plant, which is one of 30 in the U.S., employs about 850 people. Yet, officials said, only about 20 — approximately 2% — averaged over 60 hours per week.
> "Our records indicate 19 employees worked 84 hours in a given work week in 2021, with 16 of those as a result of employees volunteering for overtime and only 3 being required to work," the company said on Monday.
That's not even the normal qualified/hedging language, that's pretty cut and dry.
Readit News
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I'm not optimistic, but I really am hoping that we can get our capitalism better regulated some day. At this point, it's not even really capitalism: there's no real competition, and the investments on short term gains are drying up. The field's of opportunity have been ransacked by short cons. Nothing left to do but invest keeping the short cons out.
2. You don't know what capitalism is.
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yes it is.
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This comes back around to how general labor places "can't find anyone." Well in the words of Bill Engvall: "Here's your sign..."
This is why governments have minimum wage. Not sure if this is still the case but walmart was helping emoployees get on food stamps....tax payers were literally funding mcdonalds and walmart workers.
The bottom of the work force does not have much negotiating power.
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Looks like the company met the pay demands and the working condition changes the union asked for, yet the workers still aren't happy.
Is there something else up? Is the union not asking for the right things? Are there other unreported conditions or requests?
But also, it wouldn't be very surprising if the union drove a weaker bargain than the workers wanted. A lot of unions have gotten pretty toothless.
I would guess both factors are at play here.
> The plant, which is one of 30 in the U.S., employs about 850 people. Yet, officials said, only about 20 — approximately 2% — averaged over 60 hours per week.
> "Our records indicate 19 employees worked 84 hours in a given work week in 2021, with 16 of those as a result of employees volunteering for overtime and only 3 being required to work," the company said on Monday.
That's not even the normal qualified/hedging language, that's pretty cut and dry.