Im sure this topic will be contentious. The pro union vs anti union argument.
With the auto workers, what is the case to be made for them? After all, who doesn’t deserve a 4day work week and 40%increase in wages?
Is their argument that ceo pay has increased substantially more than the workers? Or that cost of living has outpaced wage rises? Or that
Cars were 25k
Wages were$15hr
Now cars r 50k
Wages r $18hr
Regarding the case against the unions, its been argued that the unions have basically destroyed/will destroy the car industry. I still vaguely recall the stories of union auto workers from decades ago being paid to not work because of their bargaining for sick/illness allowances.
No one is denying that unions in the last improved working conditions, but it’s a different world now. Chimney sweeps and child labour are not a thing, except maybe hyundai
I’m not sure what the counter offer by the car companies was, but the union demand was 40%. And 32hr work week.
Regarding what the ceo makes not being their concern. It seems it is though. That’s their main talking point. Why does the ceo get massive pay rises when the pleb on the line gets peanuts? Not factoring in the being on call 24/7 and the stress required to run a company with tens if not hundreds of thousands of staff, cos in their minds, bolting in a seat is the same thing, it’s just work
The car companies had an aggregate net income if $21B last year. There are about 150k uae workers and they’re asking for 46% over 5 years. The increase would cost the auto makers about 10% of those profits, probably more like 7% after tax.
This is what happens when companies get greedy on their labor costs. Workers kinda laid down for their last contract because times were tough and now they see huge profit reports year after year while their raises don’t reflect that.
Pay them. Every single demand. Mathematically it can be covered and still in the green just a little less. Same as was the UPS teamster strike. All less than what they spend on stock buybacks.
Somebody has to start fighting for better quality of life. Way too many hours. Society at large should reap the benefits of the gains of productivity and those should be in the form of greater pay and benefits (time off). And no settling for some material bs item (cell phone, TV) that form of progress has always existed. Otherwise what’s the fucking point of progress?
You want to stop the decay of society? Allow people to go back to single income households. Encourage more time with family and less time stressing, commuting and working.
Going to get messier now that the top contenders for president weighed in. Biden for unions and Trump for the CEO’s. Risky pick since the polling is heavy Union support