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Unions certainly have a place in a capitalistic economy....
And the ability to strike is key to the "power" of a union. This includes every aspect of work - including wages, hours, safety, security and "benefits" such as vacation and sick leave, pensions, etc. Employers have the ability to fire... unions have the ability to strike. While this can get very messy, even unjust, the "balance" here is necessary.
But what a lot of people don't realize is that WE pay for this. For example, the current strike against three American auto makers. Union workers want a 45% raise in pay (over some years) and this with a 32 hour week rather than a 40 hour week. It's about more money and less work (I don't think benefits, safety or security are a part of this, this time).
Eventually, something will be hammered out because both sides NEED the other. And this will mean added cost to the car makers. But here's the thing: NONE of those car makers will pay this. A little bit may be deducted from profit - but VERY little: there's not a lot of profit now and the owners of the company (stock holders) won't stand for this - they want their dividends and increased value of their stocks, and if that significantly declines, they will just sell their stock and eventually the company goes out of business. Nope. The car makers just PASS ON the cost. The cost of the cars, trucks, SUV's just go up to cover the added expense. YOU pay for this every time you buy a car. Even if it's a used car because used cars go up in value right along with new ones - indeed, when there's a spike in new car prices, used cars tend to go up even faster.
SO, think twice before you just say "Give those workers what they want." Cuz YOU are going to pay for it. Now, maybe that's good and right but still YOU are going to pick up the tab.
.
And the ability to strike is key to the "power" of a union. This includes every aspect of work - including wages, hours, safety, security and "benefits" such as vacation and sick leave, pensions, etc. Employers have the ability to fire... unions have the ability to strike. While this can get very messy, even unjust, the "balance" here is necessary.
But what a lot of people don't realize is that WE pay for this. For example, the current strike against three American auto makers. Union workers want a 45% raise in pay (over some years) and this with a 32 hour week rather than a 40 hour week. It's about more money and less work (I don't think benefits, safety or security are a part of this, this time).
Eventually, something will be hammered out because both sides NEED the other. And this will mean added cost to the car makers. But here's the thing: NONE of those car makers will pay this. A little bit may be deducted from profit - but VERY little: there's not a lot of profit now and the owners of the company (stock holders) won't stand for this - they want their dividends and increased value of their stocks, and if that significantly declines, they will just sell their stock and eventually the company goes out of business. Nope. The car makers just PASS ON the cost. The cost of the cars, trucks, SUV's just go up to cover the added expense. YOU pay for this every time you buy a car. Even if it's a used car because used cars go up in value right along with new ones - indeed, when there's a spike in new car prices, used cars tend to go up even faster.
SO, think twice before you just say "Give those workers what they want." Cuz YOU are going to pay for it. Now, maybe that's good and right but still YOU are going to pick up the tab.
.
