Will the backing from Democrats, and from Joe personally, while Republicans undercut them and Trump went to a non-union plant to call for them to fail translate to them voting blue when it matters?
That is my sole calculus now on every issue: is it better or worse for us in 2024?
"The starting rate for workers will be raised 67 percent. Some workers will get an immediate increase of 76 percent."
------------------
Can u imagine a 76% increase in pay and an increase of 25% more over the next 4 yrs? Only if u're a ceo. This is why ceo and top management pay is spiralling out of control and middle america is disappearing. Unlike shyt that rolls downhill, money flows up.
I'm curious if this strike strategy is something newly devised by UAW leadership or already proven successful by Unions in other countries that we're just now adopting.
I'm in CA where a $20 minimum wage for fast food workers was recently approved. My roommate works as a manager (he's trying to move up to district manager) of a small-ish restaurant chain and says he hopes the measure gets struck down because "tons of restaurants will be forced to close or severely raise their prices and/or cut benefits. I argued that they will not be "forced" to do any such thing. They 100% have the ability to pay every employee a living wage. It might mean the CEOs and higher ups have to settle for a few million less in their raises and maybe cut down on their stock buy backs, but I'm ok with that. And if they truly can't afford to pay a living wage and remain in business, then maybe they shouldn't be in business. I also think it's a great thing because other companies will have to raise wages for fear their employees will quit because they can make more at McDonalds. Plus the cost of living is so high here that $20/hour still isn't actually a living wage, but it's at least a lot closer than $15/hour. We agreed to disagree.
The incredible success of the idea of the sacred 'job creators' never fails. How it has stuck in peoples' minds! But they do not count, being 100% predictable: not bad, not good.
Meanwhile, here in California, no less than 3 fast food restaurants (Old MacDo, Spinach Sailor, and Bell of Mexico...variety!) are opening this month within a quarter mile of my house. All are, of course, aggressively hiring. All will, of course, be paying that wage come January, even if they aren't before. (I don't know what they're doing, two months out...seems smart to just hire at 20.)
That red-headed girl's joint is proposed for just across the street from my place as well, so it may get built soon.
The $20/hour doesn't go into effect until April of next year. Still, I agree that they should just start now although I can definitely see many if not most holding out until they're forced.
This just shows the power of unions when they are led and managed by people who know what they're doing and truly have the worker's best interests at heart. I hear so much anti union sentiment but it's pretty hard to argue with these results. Congrats UAW and keep up the good fight!
"People have got to stop fearing that all of the rich people are going to take their toys and move to Galt’s Gulch if they’re not sufficiently venerated." Yes. But, as we know, the superrich have been pushing this narrative for a very long time, so that several generations have grown up immersed in it. Further, this message now has the additional amplification of hyper-conservative media, funded in part by the highly-organized right-wing foundations, both on the airwaves and via the web, to which nearly every American over the age of 10 has unlimited personal access. And, of course, this conservative juggernaut plays to the basest instincts of the least-educated and poorest white Americans, as it has done for four centuries now. So, yes, people have got to stop buying into the rich man's lies. But they are bathing in those lies and breathing them every waking moment.
Not for nothing, but yesterday was John Mitchell Day in Scranton, PA. He was the UMW rep who was able to get the disparate coal miners who were deliberately separated by ethnicity and played against each other by the coal barons to agree to a major strike in the anthracite mines.
The union stood its ground into the approaching winter, which worried the big cities enough for Teddy Roosevelt to get involved. Once it became clear that the miners were suffering while the barons got even richer, the strike was settled.
And for that, they erected a statue in his honor on Courthouse Square in Scranton.
Oh by the way - the local TV stations almost never cover the festivities. Because why would you send a videographer who works 40+ hours as a “part time” employee with no benefits accidentally hear some rousing speeches by union leaders? They might get ideas!
It’s mostly just the “born on 3rd base and acts like he hit a triple” edgelords and the weak and worthless pundits who stand in line to gargle their balls who say that.
Though I’ve run into a few people over the years who bitch about unions. They’re usually public service employees with good salaries and a solid pension, thanks to their union.
These deals seem so magnanimous on the part of the employers, but I think that just points to how badly they have been ripping off the employees for so long.
Will the backing from Democrats, and from Joe personally, while Republicans undercut them and Trump went to a non-union plant to call for them to fail translate to them voting blue when it matters?
That is my sole calculus now on every issue: is it better or worse for us in 2024?
It feels too good to be true...
"The starting rate for workers will be raised 67 percent. Some workers will get an immediate increase of 76 percent."
------------------
Can u imagine a 76% increase in pay and an increase of 25% more over the next 4 yrs? Only if u're a ceo. This is why ceo and top management pay is spiralling out of control and middle america is disappearing. Unlike shyt that rolls downhill, money flows up.
Thank you for a crystal clear picture of what the UAW is accomplishing. It's knockout! Brava to Robyn for gorgeous reporting.
I'm curious if this strike strategy is something newly devised by UAW leadership or already proven successful by Unions in other countries that we're just now adopting.
I get the feeling this is new territory a d is a precedent setter
I'm in CA where a $20 minimum wage for fast food workers was recently approved. My roommate works as a manager (he's trying to move up to district manager) of a small-ish restaurant chain and says he hopes the measure gets struck down because "tons of restaurants will be forced to close or severely raise their prices and/or cut benefits. I argued that they will not be "forced" to do any such thing. They 100% have the ability to pay every employee a living wage. It might mean the CEOs and higher ups have to settle for a few million less in their raises and maybe cut down on their stock buy backs, but I'm ok with that. And if they truly can't afford to pay a living wage and remain in business, then maybe they shouldn't be in business. I also think it's a great thing because other companies will have to raise wages for fear their employees will quit because they can make more at McDonalds. Plus the cost of living is so high here that $20/hour still isn't actually a living wage, but it's at least a lot closer than $15/hour. We agreed to disagree.
The incredible success of the idea of the sacred 'job creators' never fails. How it has stuck in peoples' minds! But they do not count, being 100% predictable: not bad, not good.
Meanwhile, here in California, no less than 3 fast food restaurants (Old MacDo, Spinach Sailor, and Bell of Mexico...variety!) are opening this month within a quarter mile of my house. All are, of course, aggressively hiring. All will, of course, be paying that wage come January, even if they aren't before. (I don't know what they're doing, two months out...seems smart to just hire at 20.)
That red-headed girl's joint is proposed for just across the street from my place as well, so it may get built soon.
The $20/hour doesn't go into effect until April of next year. Still, I agree that they should just start now although I can definitely see many if not most holding out until they're forced.
I forgot to say that I love your alternative names for well known fast food joints. I may just have to steal them!
This just shows the power of unions when they are led and managed by people who know what they're doing and truly have the worker's best interests at heart. I hear so much anti union sentiment but it's pretty hard to argue with these results. Congrats UAW and keep up the good fight!
Wow.
"People have got to stop fearing that all of the rich people are going to take their toys and move to Galt’s Gulch if they’re not sufficiently venerated." Yes. But, as we know, the superrich have been pushing this narrative for a very long time, so that several generations have grown up immersed in it. Further, this message now has the additional amplification of hyper-conservative media, funded in part by the highly-organized right-wing foundations, both on the airwaves and via the web, to which nearly every American over the age of 10 has unlimited personal access. And, of course, this conservative juggernaut plays to the basest instincts of the least-educated and poorest white Americans, as it has done for four centuries now. So, yes, people have got to stop buying into the rich man's lies. But they are bathing in those lies and breathing them every waking moment.
Very well done! This is huge to also have strikes over plant closures.
It just hit me that the president's name is Shawn Fain. Wow his parents had balls.
Not for nothing, but yesterday was John Mitchell Day in Scranton, PA. He was the UMW rep who was able to get the disparate coal miners who were deliberately separated by ethnicity and played against each other by the coal barons to agree to a major strike in the anthracite mines.
The union stood its ground into the approaching winter, which worried the big cities enough for Teddy Roosevelt to get involved. Once it became clear that the miners were suffering while the barons got even richer, the strike was settled.
And for that, they erected a statue in his honor on Courthouse Square in Scranton.
Oh by the way - the local TV stations almost never cover the festivities. Because why would you send a videographer who works 40+ hours as a “part time” employee with no benefits accidentally hear some rousing speeches by union leaders? They might get ideas!
And people don't think we need unions anymore!
It’s mostly just the “born on 3rd base and acts like he hit a triple” edgelords and the weak and worthless pundits who stand in line to gargle their balls who say that.
Though I’ve run into a few people over the years who bitch about unions. They’re usually public service employees with good salaries and a solid pension, thanks to their union.
I'm guessing Trump will take credit any minute now
Of course they can pay their workers well, it's just that the executives DON'T WANT TO.
These deals seem so magnanimous on the part of the employers, but I think that just points to how badly they have been ripping off the employees for so long.