While the U.S. economy weakens with no end in sight, Congress and members from the U.A.W. were unable to reach a settlement on the automobile bailout fiasco. Republicans from the south clearly have motives for not wanting to approve this deal; namely, they have foreign automakers set up in their backyards,more than likely accepted campaign contributions from them, and never liked the word “Union” dating back some 148 years! Well, I too was always suspicious of unions but for much more cogent reasons.
Number one, they drive a wedge between labor and management. The Commies in the 20’s always spoke of workers of the world uniting and envisioning this socialist utopian state. So I knew this was their baby. The AFL and the CIO started out as separate entities and later joined forces. Their reasoning seemed logical; organize industrial workers so they can receive fair wages in a safe working environment. Remember reading about how awful underaged kids were treated in those sweatshops? Long hours, low wages and humiliating conditions? How the greedy employer was raking in the dough at the expense of the poor worker bee?
Well, Karl Marx is one of the architects of this scenario. See, the Commies used to argue pretty well. They seemed to be so articulate, armed with the facts, and a sense of socio-economic history. I remember debating one years ago about race and economics. I remember this person saying, “Hey, it’s not a race-struggle it’s a class struggle.”(Their favorite reply) I generally agreed with him then and certainly it rings true today as the Middle Class is on the brink of extinction next to the Bald Eagle. But, I knew that there was more to it than that.
It wasn’t Adam Smith Capitalism that was devouring the world. It was a kind of predatory neo-Mercantilism that appeared to be the problem.
I saw Union-forming as being one of the mechanisms used to divide us. Yes, there were problems with the way workers were treated in the workplace. And the idea of workers sticking together to get a fair shake is not a hideous idea at all. But the workers and they alone could achieve a lot, minus some carpet-bagging Union guy from out of town leaving his card behind. They always seemed shady. Like a secret society of traders. If you want to eat, you have to get shaken down by them to join their club. If you resist, then suffer at the hands of the avaricious, unscrupulous employer. It was always so black and white with them.
Furthermore, they shut out Black skilled laborers in the early days and often secured work for Irish, Polish and Italian immigrants. It was widely known that the Black laborer had exceptional skills due to his background on the Plantation as an indentured servant. They had a hand in building the White House, the U.S. Capital and Master’s house. Booker T. Washington’s “Up from Slavery” details the level of skill and craftsmanship these laborers possessed. Today, Blacks will tell you that the Trade Union is not much of a better partner to him.
Unions also drive up wages which in turn forces the manufacturer to raise the price of goods and services.
Union demands and the cost of production force companies to consider going offshore in their effort to compete globally and see profits.
Their Compensation/Pension requirement is burdensome on Employers.
I trust that the American worker is smart enough to bargain singularly and collectively without the meddling of a giant trade Union, who, for all intents and purposes has ulterior motives like lining their pockets with Union fees amongst other things.
It’s time to abort Karl’s baby.
Oh, and about the Big Three? Ah, let em drown. *kidding*
Stay focused on part two.
