71–80 of 150 posts
> The agency can require remedies, such as posting of notices and reversals of policies or punishments, but it has no authority to impose punitive damages on companies. So, in essence, there is zero incentive for Apple to change its behavior.
It just works
That Starbucks, Apple, Amazon, Walmart and basically every extraordinarily profitable company in America are so stridently anti-union that they're willing to break the law to prevent them, is probably the biggest selling point for workers to join them.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
I think the challenge is the way unions are set up in the US. It's very different than Europe. I recall some HNer mentioning in the UK (I think) your work place can have multiple unions, you can join whichever one you want.
Yeah, the whole concept of employers recognizing a union or employees being required to join a union which is raised in US union discussions are kind of weird. Employers don't have to recognize a union in Europe, employees can still join and avail of legal support or group actions by those employees that did join. Similarly, if the majority of your workplace is in a union, you don't have to join, just don't be surpri…
I believe unions are necessary in a world of humongous companies. That is because, in case of disagreements, an employee's prospect (losing 100% of their income) is a much worse negotiating position than a large company losing <1% of its workforce.
One point I've seen little or no discussion about on hn, is that employers are often (at least in Norway) organized. So they will have access to legal aid, standard contracts, training on negotiating etc - this in addition to the skewed bargaining power between a single employee and the company as a whole. Is this not common in the US (illegal collusion on wages aside)? It's always seemed strange to me that people wi…
In Europe there are multiple unions you can join for an employer. This competition keeps them working well.
In the US it's a single union per employer, and if the employer has one, you are forced to join it (and in some states you can decline to join, but still be required to pay fees). This causes lots of problems with corruption, and the union is more interested in their goals, than yours.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Many companies also do things that are a lot worse, like taking massive profits and then laying off the people that gave up time with their families and other opportunities to create those profits. I heard they also do things like give executives that don't do a great job millions while stiffing the individual contributors. Unions can help companies run better by forcing them to take a "longer than 2 year" view on de…
Unions can also (and quite often do) capture as much value as they can, while producing none.
increasing wages, workplace safety, and benefits for workers is something productive.
I believe unions are necessary in a world of humongous companies. That is because, in case of disagreements, an employee's prospect (losing 100% of their income) is a much worse negotiating position than a large company losing <1% of its workforce.
It's heart warming to see the US rediscover labour unions Republicans wrote American socialists out of the history books but you can't keep the people down! You'll see increased lobbying from companies for increased migration to keep wages down.
Or, hear me out, they could ditch the lipservice to democracy entirely and push some ursurper on a throne. After all strong hierarchys controlled by a godking are closer to a company anyway. What has democracy ever done for us?
Earlier quoted context omitted.
As much as I don't want to be part of one, I absolutely agree that they're necessary as a check on corporations.
Why wouldn't you want to be part of a union? I am a recent member of the UAW (a more white collar local), and it's been insightful. I think unions are much weaker than people perceive. Their strengths are mostly superficial. Striking is something members don't want to resort to. Other than that all you can really do is rally and file NLRB complaints. The NLRB is a slow moving bureaucracy that any competent employer c…
1) Interns, not being part of the union, needed to cross the picket line (Canada Federal Government strike). My friend (female) was punched in the face by a union member.
2) Another friend working on the factory floor, doubled then tripled their work quota. They were pulled aside and told it was amazing how much damage can happen to a vehicle in the parking lot when it's snowy.
Yeah, I have no interest in helping or encouraging that.
However, I do support people's ability to organize and strike. I disagree with a union deciding that they won't cross picket lines. That's cartel-like behavior, like price fixing between shipping companies, or OPEC.
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Please do point out my logical error. I see countless examples of competition keeping corporations in check. What is keeping Unions in check then?
I believe the parent is saying that if your logic were correct unions would be extremely powerful in relation to multinational corporations and everyone would be afraid of getting the union angry, as this is not the case something must be keeping unions in check or they cannot, at any rate, grow to be as powerful as you suppose. That your logic as stated does not hold any identifiable logical error does not mean that…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Or, hear me out, they could ditch the lipservice to democracy entirely and push some ursurper on a throne. After all strong hierarchys controlled by a godking are closer to a company anyway. What has democracy ever done for us?
That's a paradox of the left - is the fight to keep people laboring, or to do away with it (through automation etc.)
There is no mechanism in our capitalist system for allowing people to be automated out of a job while still living a good life.