If there had never been any unions, workers would be making the minimum wage

[raccoon]

and have no benefits whatsoever.

In the late 60's, in the summer I worked at a dress plant (textile mill). In SC, unions are rare as
a black swan.

The insurance paid 0 for maternity benefits. ZERO.

Oh, the joy of living in a red-as-a-baboon's-ass, right-to-starve state!

[elleng]

1. Yes, and people including states now think 'right to work' sounds SO nice!

[panader0]

2. If the minimum wage had kept pace with inflation,

it would be close to $25.00 an hour now.

[raccoon]

3. I know! and it's what, $7.75 I think. nt

[taught_me_patience]

8. Not even close

minimum wage peaked in the 60's at an inflation adjusted $10.56/hr.

[panader0]

9. Add in the productivity...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/13/minimum-wage-productivity_n_2680639.html

[doc03]

4. If it wasn't for unions there wouldn't be a minimum wage, a 40 hour week,

any worker safety, no vacations, no paid holidays, healthcare and no pensions including SS and Medicare.
I see people right here on DU that are against unions and just a few days ago I had one try and give me
this bullshit about 401Ks being better than a Defined Benefit Pension.

[TubbersUK]

6. + 100000

[madokie]

5. Our state went back to

what they call right to work which is really just for get the unions out of here

Today people here are making 10 to 12 bucks an hour and I remember back in the '70s I was making 12.50 an hour operating a dozer. Its insane. Back then I could go to the grocery store and buy 20 bucks or so groceries and last me a whole week. 10 bucks buy an ounce of weed that would last a week. I don't know how these kids get by now.

We're fucked and many don't even realize it

[mitch96]

7. What always amazed me is

That if businesses treated their employees fair, give them a living wage and insurance.. they would not need a union.. If your getting squashed you fight back or leave..
I worked at a place that paid good, had good bennies also. They took their pound of flesh out of you but all in all it was a win/win for both... People stayed, no revolving door employees.. I planned on staying about a year... it turned out to be 22 years..
m

[longship]

10. Hint: There would be no minimum wage. nt

[TexasProgresive]

11. There'd not be a minimum wage floor-period.

[PoiBoy]

12. Like Chris Rock says...

[raccoon]

13. Haven't heard that, but ain't it the truth?

[mitch96]

15. The perfect employee for a corporation is a slave

Like a working animal you just pay for feed and medicine when needed.. Business work up from this point.. History proves it... Only buy from the company store. Only live in company housing. Pay the least and get the most out of them.. Two shifts six days a week. No time off..
Maximize profit at the least expense. Why did corporations leave the US?? Cause labor is cheaper "over there".
Nazi germany was built on slave labor... The rethugs have been trying to roll back the advances of the unions since the '30's probably longer... sucks..
m

[Hortensis]

14. Raccoon, you're forgetting the NEW DEAL, the FAIR DEAL,

Last edited Tue Feb 7, 2017, 07:34 AM - Edit history (1)

etc. Re-dealing the economic cards to more fairly compensate the economic contribution of employees was what those were about.

Not to put down collective bargaining in the least, but it is another, far more limited method.

A more basic correct statement would be: If there had never been any LIBERALS, lower-skill workers would be making just enough to stay alive and get to work the next day, etc.

Where liberalism has been overall predominant, nations and their people are most free and prosperous. We see this only in advanced nations.

Where conservatism has always been dominant, more oppressive, even sometimes murderous government is normal, people are least free, and poverty is pervasive. As in dictatorships, kleptocracies, and "underdeveloped" nations.

[raccoon]

16. Nope, I'm not forgetting them. Nor the RAW DEAL, which is what we've got now.

But ITA about liberalism and conservatism. Conservatism holds societies back.

[Hortensis]

18. Conservativism is useful for worrying that the people

showing up on the other side of the river might carrying some disease that could wipe out the village, also for insisting on keeping the old music instead of tossing it away for what these other people brought.

But today's conservatives have abandoned both roles. Their new role is weakening and tearing apart the village so others can take over.

[hunter]

17. Most of us would be wage slaves trapped in company towns.

The uber-wealthy would be traveling around in luxurious railroad cars pulled by coal-fired engines.

There would be no airplanes, let alone airlines.

Any innovative "disruptive" technologies would be quashed because they'd be bad for existing businesses. No telephones because they'd compete with the telegraph business, no electric lights because that would compete with the gas and oil lamp business, no cars or trucks because that would compete with the railroad business.

Unions created an environment where people had enough money that they could choose how to spend it. Otherwise people had to spend all their money on food and shelter, with anything left over taken by unscrupulous lenders they could never repay. Borrow money to pay for a doctor to save your child's life, never have spending money again...

We seem to be returning to that world.

[raccoon]

20. Gosh, your post is a great idea for an sf novel. nt

[ProfessorGAC]

19. And, The Min Wage Would Be $2.50/Hour

I will never understand people voting against their own interests.