this post was submitted on 19 Sep 2023
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Work Reform
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A place to discuss positive changes that can make work more equitable, and to vent about current practices. We are NOT against work; we just want the fruits of our labor to be recognized better.
Our Philosophies:
- All workers must be paid a living wage for their labor.
- Income inequality is the main cause of lower living standards.
- Workers must join together and fight back for what is rightfully theirs.
- We must not be divided and conquered. Workers gain the most when they focus on unifying issues.
Our Goals
- Higher wages for underpaid workers.
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- Better and fewer working hours.
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You are overplaying it though. I am active in my union and in the organized labor movement more broadly here in the PNW. The railway strike left a bad taste in a lot of people's mouths, but there's also a recognition among leadership that the administration didn't have any great options if they didn't want to further tank the economy and cause even more inflation with potentially worse long-term results for everyone.
On the flipside he has appointed by far the most pro union NLRB in history, so this is kind of a case of letting the good be the enemy of the perfect.
That's true and the only pro union thing he DOES deserve at least some of the credit for, even though there's no way it was his own idea.
He forced a contract after taking away the power to strike. The contract he forced was in the favor of the rail owners while taking power away from labor.
Shortly afterwards the disaster in East Palestine happened and lots of people were justifiably pissed at the Biden admin for their part. It was only after East Palestine that the admin started working to get rail workers some of the demands they were originally asking for.
They got 4 days sick leave, which is breadcrumbs, but the Biden admin and mainstream media are attempting to sell it as a huge win for labor. The truth of the matter is if Biden was truly pro labor and was attempting to mitigate the economic impact of a strike from "essential workers" he could have just as easily forced a contract in labour's favor from the start. Everything else is cover for that fact, don't get it twisted.
Cool. Everything you say is true, but I'm just telling you that you're wrong if you think that organized labor is or should be somehow against the Biden Administration.
The reality is that he has appointed the most pro-union and labor-friendly NLRB in modern history.
I'm actually a bit disgusted with people like you who think you know how it is down at our local union halls.
You are the elitist motherfuckers who tell us what we should and shouldn't do or believe in.
Here's a cordial fuck you!
Local 10 till I die!
If we look at the history of the labor movement, victories happen when we are organized outside of the two political parties and force their hand. The same thing happened with civil rights and women's rights. It's only by taking an antagonistic approach that has both strong demands and sharp criticism of failures that the needle can be moved.
When you make excuses for Democrats and give them cover for their failings, they have no reason to go further next time.
I was a member UFCW 3000 for 7 years in my teens and 20s. My father in-law has been a member of IBEW Local 77 his entire career. My wife and I have been dragging our kids to picket lines for local unions striking since their little legs could march, not because we personally had anything to gain, but as an act of solidarity.
We are on the same side, I don't understand how you can say in one hand that what I say is truthful and then call me an elitist and swear at me. I am not out here trying to convince anyone to vote for Trump instead, I am just trying to be real about how we, as workers that want to increase labor's political power, can best accomplish our goals.