Unions, the Workers Warriors
I once proposed that tax reform is necessary to gain better control over how our taxes are allocated. However, there is a revolt that would be greater than a tax revolt. We need a worker’s revolt.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Per my research on Bing, the origins of the labor movement lay in the formative years of the American nation, when a free wage-labor market emerged in the artisan trades late in the colonial period. The earliest recorded strike occurred in 1768 when New York journeymen tailors protested a wage reduction.
Why do companies fight unions?
Unions became popular in the U.S. starting in the 1930s, with membership rising from just over 10% of the eligible working population in 1936 to about a third by the mid-1950s, according to 2021 research published in the Quarterly Journal of Economics. That remained the case until the mid-1980s, when they fell out of favor, thanks to a culture in which companies refocused on maximizing shareholder value and minimizing worker benefits, as well as a court-backed emphasis on the value of private property and private profit. “Those years turned out to be basically a blip in what otherwise has been not only a very contentious, but many times a very violent interaction between workers and employers in this country,” Devault says of the mid-20th century.
Crafty businesses, realizing the detrimental effects fighting unions had on their bottom line, led by Ronald Reagan and the far-right, used what I call brainwashing techniques, and it worked. Union is a dirty word, not only in businesses but also among the working class.
The latest brainwashing technique is tariffs. Brainwashed workers believe they should worry about price increases caused by tariffs.
News flash working class, that’s a billionaire’s problem that shouldn’t concern the working class. That’s a problem between Europe, Russia, China, India, Pakistan, etc. and America’s governments,
The working classes all over the world should be fighting for a larger slice of pie. The poverty level for a family of four is $38,000 year. 40 hrs./week x 52 weeks is 2080 hours a year. $38,000 divided by 2080/hrs. is $19.00/hr.
If you make less than $19.00/hr., you live in poverty based on a 40-hour week.
Here are the benefits for workers who work 40 hrs. a week or more:
Benefits of working 40 hours a week
Here are the benefits of working 40 hours a week to help you determine if this type of work is right for you:
Salary pays.
When companies use a traditional standard workweek schedule, they typically pay their employees a salary rather than an hourly rate. This can be beneficial since employees know exactly the money to expect each paycheck. With this knowledge, individuals can plan their budgeting far in advance and not have additional financial stress.
Paid time off (PTO)
Full-time employees often receive PTO from their employers through a policy where employees accrue a certain amount of PTO hours each paycheck. During this time, employees can enjoy a vacation or recharge at home while still getting paid. Employees can also use their PTO to stay home when they’re sick, which helps workplaces stay healthier since fewer employees come to work sick. Related: Paid Time Off: What Is It (And How It Differs From Vacation Time)
Medical insurance
Employees who work 40 hours a week usually receive medical, dental and vision coverage from their companies. Employers may require their employees to contribute out of each paycheck. Also, the Affordable Care Act requires qualifying employers to provide access to health benefits if they have a certain number of full-time employees.
Maternity and parental leave
When you work a full-time job, you can enjoy the security of having birth-related leave that allows you to take time after having children without the risk of losing your position. The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA) requires employers with fifty or more employees to provide 12 weeks of unpaid leave annually for mothers of newborn or newly adopted children. Employers offer additional maternity benefits, such as paid leave or parental leave for fathers. Related: How Long is Maternity Leave? (With Types of Parental Leave)
Retirement plans
There are a wide variety of retirement plans companies offer their employees, including a 401(k). With this kind of plan, employees can contribute to their account each paycheck, and the employer matches it up to a certain percentage. Plans like these are a wonderful way for employees to be able to prepare for their future.
Additional benefits
Employers now offer additional benefits to retain and attract employees of quality. These could include wellness programs, stocked groceries, dogs allowed at work, company retreats, holiday bonuses and anything else that would increase employee satisfaction. These benefits can function as incentives to motivate employees to work hard and care about their jobs thanks to positive company culture and work environment.
Sly businesses circumvent ACA requirements by forcing their employees to work less than 40 hrs.
That’s where unions come into play. Unions fight for their members, but workers must fight for unions.
Contact me if you want to discuss this matter further.