[–] TAThatBoomerang 1 point 0 points 1 point (+1|-1) ago
They do in Sweden. They've kind of lost their core the last 1-2 decades, but up until then they were very powerful and I think an overall positive force in the north.
[–] [deleted] 1 point 1 point 2 points (+2|-1) ago
[–] goatboy 1 point 2 points 3 points (+3|-1) ago (edited ago)
There is a difference between "don't" and "can't." Under some circumstances, Unions could increase wages, profitability, and investor long term ROI. Unfortunately, business based around quarterly earning reports, anti-cooperation incentive structures, and executive lateral movement often incentivizes the destruction of unions. However, when done properly with trust and good faith cooperation at all levels and departments- unions can offer some benefits to business. There can be great power in self regulating and auto learning systems. Unfortunately, it requires everyone at every level to have a unified mission and vision. That unity is difficult to achieve as the complexity of an organization increases.
[–] Broc_Lia [S] 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
No, it's not because of capitalism. They can't because they're not just fighting evil corporations, they're also fighting the laws of economics. If you increase prices you reduce demand. Some lucky workers might benefit, but the majority will not. Hence the lie behind "unions increase everyone's wages."
[–] SaneGoatiSwear 2 points -1 points 1 point (+1|-2) ago (edited ago)
1970-today inflation-adjusted american minimum wage EDIT: SHOULD BE 21.73/hour.
NOTHING has increased wages appropriately.
for example:
1 1913 dollar. one dollar from 1913. equals. 5 cents. today. in purchasing power. gas milk eggs, like fuucking 8 thousand items calculating that.
no joke
dollar is artificially kept alive -- entire central banking economic system is....
[–] Broc_Lia [S] 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
Define "appropriately." Inflation and the value of labour are two completely separate things which have nothing to do with one and other. One is controlled by the government and how much money it prints to prop up it's social programs, the other is largely based on how hard the people living there work.
Since the 1970s the US workforce has increasingly come into competition as the rest of the industrialised world recovered from WW2. There is nothing which could have prevented this from happening other than another war destroying europe.
[–] 6394011? 0 points 1 point 1 point (+1|-0) ago
looks like hillary got to him before he could finish :(
[–] SaneGoatiSwear ago
?? wrong comment response?
[–] 6394724? 0 points 2 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago
Where do you even get that number? The minimum wage in 1970 was $1.60. Inflation calculators I can find all show that be around $10 in 2016 dollars.
[–] SaneGoatiSwear 2 points -1 points 1 point (+1|-2) ago
a 10 dollar minimum wage doesn't afford those people living in half the country or any major city.
it's a forced economic caste system at this point.
[–] SaneGoatiSwear 2 points -1 points 1 point (+1|-2) ago
21.73 an hour, 40 hours a week, 50 weeks a year. what's that come to? 43,360 a year before taxes. good luck living in a major city on that.
it REALLY should be that yearly, 73,000 before taxes should be minimum. heck birmingham alabama costs 40k a year to live whereas manhattan is more like 79k minimum.
i really ought have put a "should be" in there instead of a period. editing.