that is a much more complicated question than can be answered in a comment. while unions have been very good for very many, now we see that unions and benefits are a major cause of CA going bankrupt, so you have to look both at the short term and the long term. Also, companies can be very good without unions. Whole Foods, for example, pays health care for all who work 30 hours or more a week and also pay for same sex partners' health - and the CEO takes a salary of $1.00 a year and gives the remainder of his would-be salary to charity. Goodness comes from the heart of each soul.
I think unions are essential because our country has had a long history of big corporations disregarding the rights of workers and paying them substandard wages. One example is the farm workers in California that Cesar Chavez eventually organized. While the CEO of Whole Foods has been generous to his employees without them being unionized, he is an exception. I find it unlikely that most corporations would voluntarily increase worker wages and benefits given their profit motive.
i know unions help keep jobs....for example, if a truck driver causes an accident and as a result the company loses millions of dollars, i bet the driver is 99% likely to be fired (if no union)...if the company had a union, the union would fight to keep that driver working...
that is a much more complicated question than can be answered in a comment. while unions have been very good for very many, now we see that unions and benefits are a major cause of CA going bankrupt, so you have to look both at the short term and the long term. Also, companies can be very good without unions. Whole Foods, for example, pays health care for all who work 30 hours or more a week and also pay for same sex partners' health - and the CEO takes a salary of $1.00 a year and gives the remainder of his would-be salary to charity. Goodness comes from the heart of each soul.
ReplyDeleteI think unions are essential because our country has had a long history of big corporations disregarding the rights of workers and paying them substandard wages. One example is the farm workers in California that Cesar Chavez eventually organized. While the CEO of Whole Foods has been generous to his employees without them being unionized, he is an exception. I find it unlikely that most corporations would voluntarily increase worker wages and benefits given their profit motive.
ReplyDeletemy father is part of Teamsters local 439...the company offers excellent benefits, pay, and protection.
ReplyDeletei know unions help keep jobs....for example, if a truck driver causes an accident and as a result the company loses millions of dollars, i bet the driver is 99% likely to be fired (if no union)...if the company had a union, the union would fight to keep that driver working...
ReplyDeleteyes, the CEO of Whole Foods is the exception. an exceptional man. and this week there was an organized picket and boycott of his stores.
ReplyDelete