In A Word: Labor - Corporate America's treatment of those who keep their companies afloat
Gerald Eisman
May 31, 2006
In A Word: Labor
Labor: 1. Work for wages. 2. Workers considered as a group. The trade union movement, especially its officials
Helene W. is a single mother of two living in a two bedroom one bath apartment in a city of 160,000. Her rent is $695 dollars monthly, a figure that includes nothing more than the space rented. The wallpaper is peeling off the walls in several places and the unpapered walls are in great need of paint. The plumbing often backs up, the appliances that do work break down on occasion, and she shares her apartment with rats and roaches. This environment serves as the norm for Helene's children.
Helene works for a living. Her job description is simple enough. As a customer service representative, she is responsible for fielding complaints and assisting in the solution by either being part of it or directing the complainant to a responsible person who can bring the problem to resolution. She is subject to anger, vilification, and the vileness of tempers stretched to the limit by rules set out by unfeeling and unknown directors. The stress level of her position is very high and, for her efforts, she is rewarded with $11.50 dollars an hour. That's a gross figure.
To add to this picture's depressing features, let's us examine Helene's benefits. Her medical coverage, far from being adequate, barely covers the basics and costs $225 dollars monthly. She gets one week a year vacation, but if it isn't taken it's lost. What that means simply is, her employer takes away that which is earned without penalty if the opportunity presents itself. Helene can, however, cash out her vacation if she so chooses, but as is the case in so many instances, her employer is allowed to pay her only a percentage of wages and then take out the usual deductions.
There is no pension offered so, after 40 years, if Helene retires she will get nothing from any source other than the government and, since her earnings are low, will not amount to more than a subsistence level figure. So much for the average working stiff in the richest country on the planet.
Sound terrible? You bet it is, but if one reads between the lines in the daily papers, listens to the hidden messages incorporated in the media news, or speaks to the average citizen paying attention to their words and feelings, it becomes obvious that this has become many of labor's norm.
Airlines have gone bankrupt and won unbelievable concessions in order to emerge from that state to continue their existence. Pensions have been dissolved and abrogated. Wages have been slashed and workers forced to give up benefits that they may keep their salaries. Courts have approved actions that would, thirty years ago, be forbidden and the very thought shunned. That is no longer the case. Today it is labor that suffers. Corporate America is on top of the heap and taking full advantage of those who keep the companies afloat.
In many companies it is a crime punishable by dismissal to even mention unions or the formation of one. The very word, union, used to strike fear in the hearts of corporate executives but no longer. Today's labor market has fallen back to the point they were at in the middle of the twentieth century, exploitable and expendable. Complain and you are out, is the attitude today. For every worker who gripes there are two who would be thrilled to take your place is the mantra of big business.
So, knowing the problem exists and how it hurts America's poor working class, what is the solution?
There are many possibilities, but no single action will eradicate the plight of labor. Solving one portion of the puzzle doesn't make the overall solution any easier. It will require a multi-pronged attack to conquer this enemy, each action dependent on the others for overall success.
It might be advantageous to examine the circumstances that brought this difficult situation about but that would take weeks and numerous columns to simply scratch the surface. Such examination would also be futile. Still, to approach the problem without a plan would be like plugging holes in a dike with chewing gum.
Briefly, then, let us suggest some steps for the beginnings of corrective measures.
First, bring the escalating health care costs to a grinding halt, then begin the process of rolling them back. In a country as rich as America, to have so many citizens unable to get reasonable medical care at affordable cost is a disgrace. Then, restore reasonable health care benefits to every employee in the country and through other means make it available to all others in need.
Bring back the "Fair Trade" act in an updated version, one that speaks to today's business and agricultural environment, setting standards for fair pricing. The old act kept the playing field reasonably level and there's no reason why that can't be attained again. Such an act likely would eliminate the predatory practices that unscrupulous businesses use to eliminate competition then set prices geared toward excess profits.
Reenact the windfall profit penalties, which would stop the obscene profits gleaned by many companies in the pursuit of their business while ignoring the detriment to the labor force. Then funnel the penalties into the treasury with the express purpose of paying down the monstrous national debt.
There is one more action available to labor, which, if employed liberally by every individual, would bring about great and effective changes in the nation. That is for every citizen to stop allowing corporate America to control his or her lives. Simply say "no more!" and, as a group, strike against any product or company that shows no concern for the welfare of the people.
Labor: 1. Work for wages. 2. Workers considered as a group. The trade union movement, especially its officials
Helene W. is a single mother of two living in a two bedroom one bath apartment in a city of 160,000. Her rent is $695 dollars monthly, a figure that includes nothing more than the space rented. The wallpaper is peeling off the walls in several places and the unpapered walls are in great need of paint. The plumbing often backs up, the appliances that do work break down on occasion, and she shares her apartment with rats and roaches. This environment serves as the norm for Helene's children.
Helene works for a living. Her job description is simple enough. As a customer service representative, she is responsible for fielding complaints and assisting in the solution by either being part of it or directing the complainant to a responsible person who can bring the problem to resolution. She is subject to anger, vilification, and the vileness of tempers stretched to the limit by rules set out by unfeeling and unknown directors. The stress level of her position is very high and, for her efforts, she is rewarded with $11.50 dollars an hour. That's a gross figure.
To add to this picture's depressing features, let's us examine Helene's benefits. Her medical coverage, far from being adequate, barely covers the basics and costs $225 dollars monthly. She gets one week a year vacation, but if it isn't taken it's lost. What that means simply is, her employer takes away that which is earned without penalty if the opportunity presents itself. Helene can, however, cash out her vacation if she so chooses, but as is the case in so many instances, her employer is allowed to pay her only a percentage of wages and then take out the usual deductions.
There is no pension offered so, after 40 years, if Helene retires she will get nothing from any source other than the government and, since her earnings are low, will not amount to more than a subsistence level figure. So much for the average working stiff in the richest country on the planet.
Sound terrible? You bet it is, but if one reads between the lines in the daily papers, listens to the hidden messages incorporated in the media news, or speaks to the average citizen paying attention to their words and feelings, it becomes obvious that this has become many of labor's norm.
Airlines have gone bankrupt and won unbelievable concessions in order to emerge from that state to continue their existence. Pensions have been dissolved and abrogated. Wages have been slashed and workers forced to give up benefits that they may keep their salaries. Courts have approved actions that would, thirty years ago, be forbidden and the very thought shunned. That is no longer the case. Today it is labor that suffers. Corporate America is on top of the heap and taking full advantage of those who keep the companies afloat.
In many companies it is a crime punishable by dismissal to even mention unions or the formation of one. The very word, union, used to strike fear in the hearts of corporate executives but no longer. Today's labor market has fallen back to the point they were at in the middle of the twentieth century, exploitable and expendable. Complain and you are out, is the attitude today. For every worker who gripes there are two who would be thrilled to take your place is the mantra of big business.
So, knowing the problem exists and how it hurts America's poor working class, what is the solution?
There are many possibilities, but no single action will eradicate the plight of labor. Solving one portion of the puzzle doesn't make the overall solution any easier. It will require a multi-pronged attack to conquer this enemy, each action dependent on the others for overall success.
It might be advantageous to examine the circumstances that brought this difficult situation about but that would take weeks and numerous columns to simply scratch the surface. Such examination would also be futile. Still, to approach the problem without a plan would be like plugging holes in a dike with chewing gum.
Briefly, then, let us suggest some steps for the beginnings of corrective measures.
First, bring the escalating health care costs to a grinding halt, then begin the process of rolling them back. In a country as rich as America, to have so many citizens unable to get reasonable medical care at affordable cost is a disgrace. Then, restore reasonable health care benefits to every employee in the country and through other means make it available to all others in need.
Bring back the "Fair Trade" act in an updated version, one that speaks to today's business and agricultural environment, setting standards for fair pricing. The old act kept the playing field reasonably level and there's no reason why that can't be attained again. Such an act likely would eliminate the predatory practices that unscrupulous businesses use to eliminate competition then set prices geared toward excess profits.
Reenact the windfall profit penalties, which would stop the obscene profits gleaned by many companies in the pursuit of their business while ignoring the detriment to the labor force. Then funnel the penalties into the treasury with the express purpose of paying down the monstrous national debt.
There is one more action available to labor, which, if employed liberally by every individual, would bring about great and effective changes in the nation. That is for every citizen to stop allowing corporate America to control his or her lives. Simply say "no more!" and, as a group, strike against any product or company that shows no concern for the welfare of the people.
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