In this era of giving away the hard fought battle of better working conditions and pay by AmeriCorp Corporations that have funded the demonizing of unions, I have to wonder how the present day working-class have given into thinking they are better of without a strong voice to represent them in bettering their living standards. Union representation is now down to 7 percent of this nation”s work force. Non-union wages are also hitting rock bottom.
Non-union wages historically have been at a level just below what union wages were, but now with the weak union membership, management no longer has to pay as much to its workers, less benefits and few retirement programs all that had been given in order for them to keep good workers employed by them. If McDonald”s became unionized, guess what? The other burger stands would have to raise the pay and benefits to their work force too and the same would go for Walmart, the big box stores, as well as the truck drivers, long-term care homes, hospitals, etc.
Why are the new car manufactures popping up in the red south states, noted for having the poorest educated citizens, lowest wages, in the nation and having the least amount of union representation. These days in California, in some areas, companies had to pay above the minimum wage to keep help as it”s not enough to live in those areas. But, you don”t see the same companies offer the same wage for the same work in all areas of the state.
Do the math, in the richest area, who”s more affluent kids, get the burger flipping jobs, at better pay and benefits rates then average and poor kids in the less wealth counties of the state. Once again, the rich keep on getting richer, at the expense of the rest of us. Trust me, this has a great effect on the futures of working class kids into the future. The same level of hard work, whether by adults or kids, should be paid equally and fairly. Folks who live in the colder states need more earnings with the higher cost of utilities and all other things that cost more because of the cold weather. Do the math.
Now the target is privatizing government jobs and programs. If this is allowed, we will no longer be the middle- or lower- class, but our new name will be the sharecropper-class.
Jim Hall
Clearlake Oaks
