Unprecedented things happen today. Labor unions brought people into the streets. Not in Egypt and Tunisia, while in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Having received, in November 2010, authorities in the state Republican Party led the attack on trade union rights. The new bill takes away from unions and local administration staff, teachers and other rights of collective representation. Alone easier to break. At the turn of Ohio and Michigan, where Republicans also took power. In the private sector in the U.S. trade unions is almost gone. One after another the big business destroying unions, first in myasoobrabatyvayuschey industry, then food, then in the steel.
Obama is looking for new allies
In the past year with Barack Obama broke the backbone of trade unions to the automotive industry.Now accepted as the last bastion - the trade unions of employees and staff of the federal administration. Only there were medical insurance pension and other social rights. Throughout the rest of America, all this has long been considered a luxury. Republicans are counting on the selfishness of a fragmented mass of Americans that their constituents would be nice if someone becomes ill.
President Barack Obama (center) at the plant «Orion Energy Systems, Inc.» In Manitowoc, Wisconsin
The White House sits a demagogue who has entered into power on the votes and money of the workers.Only in the mid-term elections in November, the American Confederation of Trade Unions AFL-CIO spent on the election campaign the Democrats more than $ 100 million, and the local trade union organization has about 50 million.However, big business has much more money and can spend it freely. Obama understands that will not get the votes of the working American, and is now looking for new allies. Media, we are full of claims that "Obama is toward the center." As if he had previously heard only by Noam Chomsky and Slavoj Zizek, and now popravel.
In another way, there can be no
With the advent of Reaganism in America in 1980 labor unions were considered an enemy, if not society, that authority.Trade unions are not invited to the partnership, the press meets union hostile action, and lawmakers have imposed many restrictions that make organizing workers difficult, if not impossible. Under attack on unions and placed upon the theoretical base: everything that hinders modern hegemon, the big business in maximizing revenue - obviously a bad thing. In svobodnorynochnyh fridmanistskih textbooks and references unions simply called a nuisance. Strong trade union movement is among the shortcomings economies.20 years of assault on the rights of workers and changes in the economy led to a weakening of the trade union movement.
American labor unions - certainly not ideal. Unlike corporations, which have their secret plans to make all the money, with the trade unions is clear: where does their money, and what they want. American unions have many drawbacks. There is corruption, nepotism, blat, intrigue, and even links to the Mafia.To split the labor movement, to intimidate workers, the owners hired the mafia. And trade unions - as well. And throughout. In a world where greed, greed and avarice is revered virtues, and greed built not only a virtue, but in the main corporate responsibility in a world where money does not serve the cause, but it is a byproduct of making money - labor unions just can not be better , moral or good hosts. It is believed that the owners to increase revenue may do anything not prohibited by law.Workers' requires high morals, self-sacrifice and devotion to duty. In a climate of corporate greed, when everything is done for money and for the money, the workers and their unions can not be different.
Attack of the employers
More than half the U.S. population, about 160 million Americans say they would consist of a trade union if they could. However, a very small fraction of them can really unite. In America, a law that requires to create a trade union the exercise of universal secret ballot of all workers.A similar vote is required for the start of the strike, and for approval of its results.
Labor Day in the U.S.
Infringement of trade union rights violates the democratic freedoms of Americans. Moreover, the case of big business, previously considered to be absolute, now do not sound convincing. Big business has not fulfilled its part of the social contract, and economic growth has not led to greater prosperity for all.
A study conducted in 2008, Cornell University in conjunction with the State Commission for the trade deficit shows that employers are constantly influenced the vote.Yunionizatsii supporters harassed and fired. According to the survey, 25% of private employers to engage in illegal dismissal of activists, trade union rights. More than 2 / 3 of the practice of using managers to put pressure on the workers, talk one-on-one. "92% of employers are putting pressure on workers to persuade them to participate in anti-union meetings and rallies, prohibit union meetings in their companies. Over the past 45 years has increased dramatically the number of employers, a court forced to compensate for the illegal dismissal of workers because of their desire to create a union. And this despite the fact that over the past 30 years, all American administrations have been hostile to trade unions and the observance of labor legislation since Roosevelt and Truman were not enough resources.Yes, punishment and penalties are minor, that the employer more profitable to incur a fine and to cancel it in the flow.
The crisis of the middle class
Trade unions have been an active participant in creating the American middle class. The middle class is in fact determined not by income, and the presence of economic independence from the state or corporate business. That trade unions have achieved such conditions and wages that factory workers could send their children to universities. No coincidence that the erosion of the American middle class goes hand in hand with the onset of the trade unions.We are witnessing the disappearance of the owners, and we see more and more managers, and alienated from the production of the rentier. Lack of labor organization can eliminate the high-paying jobs and give the work to developing countries. Over the past 10 years, the income of the middle class has decreased by 17%. But revenue management superclass jumped up, and social gap has widened.
The assault on trade unions hit the middle class
Even worse to deal with social security.More and more Americans are without health insurance. Quality health insurance plans is reduced, and price increases. More and more workers full-time staff can not provide a living wage.
It is not in absolute terms. Thus, the District of New York City, Long Island - one of the most expensive areas in the United States. Here, an annual income below $ 40-45 thousand, which provides a decent life in other places and twice the official poverty rate in the U.S. ($ 18,000 for a family has not changed since 1960), can be considered poverty.
Hope remains
President Obama has not fulfilled his promise to hold free elections law on trade unions, bypassing a secret ballot.According to the draft law, most employees enough signatures to their local committee considered their representative in negotiations with landlords. Exactly how this occurs when the trade union wanted to disband. However, in a society of free market, freedom does not exist for workers and their representatives.The team, selected by Obama to solve economic problems, includes all the same old faces frimarketa supporters and defenders of the hegemony of big business in American society. Great expectations aroused the appointment of Hilda Solis for the post of Minister of Labour. It has been known that sympathetic unions. However, Solis was appointed, but all proposals for strengthening the trade union democracy "allowed to die" in Congress.
Hope always remains, but not the president, and on social activities, which we hesitate to call a class struggle.Erosion and impoverishment of the middle class, as well as increased social divide largely removes existing barriers and facilitate the struggle for social justice. Although the class war in a society is full. And launched its 1% of the super-rich international plutocratic elite for the redistribution of social wealth and income in their favor.Labor unions in America - one of the main obstacles that remained in their way.
Michael Dorfman
Translation: Mr Zhvania
Source: http://www.sensusnovus.ru/analytics/2011/02/20/5557.html
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