As America positions itself away from the manufacturing industry and moves in the direction of the service industry, we find that some young workers don’t believe the white collared world needs the labor movement. As some young workers graduate from college where the labor movement was rarely talked about in history books, or may live in states where they have rewritten history, we find that some of those young workers don’t feel as though we need the labor movement. Let’s just consider the keen, young, cut throat worker who will stop at nothing to be the boss, even those young workers don’t feel as though we need the labor movement.
Well let’s phrase the question “What would the world be like if the labor movement left us today?” Hypothetically, do you think that the employers would pay a living wage, contribute to health care, or offer retirement options? Do you think that employers would fight to repeal minimum wage, child labor laws, or the forty (40) hour work week? I guess this can all be summed up in one question “Do you believe that employers would do whatever it took to be competitive with other countries, even if it took reversing everything that the working class has fought for?” I believe that there are companies out there that would do the right thing even if they were not mandated, but even those companies would eventually be swallowed by greed!
We have experienced the world without the labor movement. Think back to the late 1800’s or early 1900’s where the railroad industry controlled the government and pulverized the working class. During that time J. P. Morgan and Andrew Carnegie were pressured to purchase and merge with banks, steel companies, and railroad companies which weakened small business and competition. Workers were forced to work long hours with no lunch breaks for low wages. This is what history consisted of and everyone already knows that history does a great job of repeating itself.
Now, flashback to the 20th century where companies are still merging and are too big to fail. The government is still controlled by large corporations and Wall Street’s interest. The middleclass is gasping for air, while large corporations are making hand over fist profits as usual. Tier systems are being implemented for young workers. The court systems are ruling in favor of large corporations political donations. Many workers are unemployed or underemployed. Whether you are white collared or blue collared, employers are still violating workers rights. So I say YES young workers still need the labor movement and they need the labor movement like never before, so that we can learn from our mistakes and not repeat the pitfalls in history.
Everyday white collar workers are realizing they need the labor movement. I just read a story and watched the video about lawyers in New Jersey. They organized to be represented by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers because they recognized the importance of bargaining as a unit. Open your eyes young workers! Large corporations promote independence and competition, when the labor movement promotes solidarity and unionism. Just take this quote from a wise man “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.” – King Solomon
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Thank you so much for this website. I am in my twenties and just joined the musicians union. Great resources here, extremely informative.