Labor Union Movement

[Benjammin911]

It is NOT the 'International' Workers of the World - it is the INDUSTRIAL Workers of the World (IWW). 'Industrial' because they organize industrially across all craft lines. They recognized early on that that is the only way for labor to fully exert its power - by organizing all the workers in a particular industry into the same union so that when necessary, direct industrial action will attain its maximum effect by shutting down all shops in the same industry.

[Jimmy1tooth]

the government has The labor Department that does stand behind workers so you dont need a union this isnt 1925.. so to give $40 a month to dues $3 per hr for dues check off $1 hr to pac to belong to a union your a fool because your union delegate drives $75,000 suv and you are out of work. and you better pay your dues even if you have not worked or they will throw you out of the union

[littleladyinbigworld]

And to the brainiac who said we should bring back forced labor to children because he likes cheap shoes- we shall never have a strong economy if our children don't learn trades that matter. A future doctor making shoes instead of being educated is stupid beyond words. Children should be learning and playing and enjoying childhood- NOT MAKING CHEAPER SHOES FOR YOUR BENEFIT!!! What OUTRAGEOUS arrogance!!! Children are no more ready for 12-14 hour manual labor shifts then they are ready for sex!

[littleladyinbigworld]

And who will buy crap and invest back into the economy if we have so little money? What good does it do to have Giant corporations if no one can afford to buy its stuff. I'm not the one who needs to get with reality. The economy in the US hit its peek in the 50's- also that is when Unions were at their peek. As Middle Class drop, so did the economy. We can't buy TV's, go to the movies, and buy cars if we can't afford to eat. Want to heal the economy...? Heal the Middle Class.

[littleladyinbigworld]

When taxes are too low for the rich, they don't need to invest it back into the system, they simply live of off the interests. Do you know how much the interest is on 5 or 10 billion? Fat Cats don't want the challenge of a Middle Class. The less we have the more they do. Middle Class out numbered them and they have a "middle" amount of money. What poor people can challenge them, even collectively?

[littleladyinbigworld]

• The bottom 50 percent of income earners in the United States now collectively own less than 1 percent of the nation’s wealth.

61 percent of Americans “always or usually” live paycheck to paycheck, which isup from 49 percent in 2008 and 43 percent in 2007. More than 40 million Americans are on food stamps. 21 percent of all children in the United States are living below the poverty line. Billionaires/millionaires contribute countless money to officials to get laws passed that benefit them.

[littleladyinbigworld]

The state with the fewest Unions VRS the state with the most Unions have virtually identical debts. You want to know who's sucking up the money? HINT: it's not Middle Class. In 2009, the number of millionaires in the United States rose 16 percent to 7.8 million. The top 10% of Americans now earn around 50% of our national income. 83 percent of all U.S. stocks are in the hands of 1 percent of the people. The bottom 80 percent of American households held about 7% of the liquid financial assets.

[littleladyinbigworld]

The top 10% of Americans now earn about 50% of our total national income. The top 1% own 95% of the total wealth. 83% of all US stocks are in the hands on the top 1%. The bottom 50% of income earners now COLLECTIVELY own LESS than 1% of the nation’s wealth, and yet some think that middle class is what’s draining the money from our economy- so take more away from them?

[littleladyinbigworld]

That makes it the same old trick they always pull; it’s equivalent to taking all of the food from a family’s house, and then saying, “Fine, if you’re going to whine this much, here- you can have a package of hotdogs back so it doesn’t feel like a total loss to you.” Well I say, FORGET IT! Keep stirring us up, right-wingers. We may not be natural war mongers like you, but our spirit is ten times stronger!!!

[littleladyinbigworld]

Now they're going to throw a little scrap to the protesters and allow them to negotiate their wages ONLY. Wow, thanks. Stand still for 1 second and they push you bad 3 steps. Union members are supposed to be so relieved that they're getting SOMETHING, they're expected to just take what they can get and deal with it. WELL I SAY NO LONGER!!! This is another right wing organized attack against the middle class- AGAIN! They started the fire- let them get burned for a change! WE THE PEOPLE!!!

[EricVonZipper2]

@littleladyinbigworld What part of the state is going broke don't you all get? I haven't had a pay raise in 3yrs, have no retirement plan, and keep seeing minor cuts to my wages, you need to get with reality.

[littleladyinbigworld]

@EricVonZipper2 Who said we don't get it? It is obviously the cause that needs to be addressed. Look it up for yourself; the states with the lowest union membership and the states with the highest union members- with basically the rates of pay/benefits, are irrelevant since they are at the same level of financial distress. That makes it obvious that unions are not the cause.

[EricVonZipper2]

@littleladyinbigworld , You see what's going on with states right now? We tax payers are getting screwed by government unions, alot of them have unsustainable retirement plans and health care, Basically scamming the public. Where's all this spent money going to come from?

[littleladyinbigworld]

@EricVonZipper2 Sorry- I answered you, but I forgot to hit "Reply" first. LOL! That's what I get for staying up way too late.

[Fl4SHEff3ct]

OMG BAD MEMORIES OF SOCIAL HOMEWORK >.<

I still to this day do not know what the hell a capitalism is r a labor union or any of that charter of rights and freedoms crap, i just know that its what keeps our world round

And does anyone know the song? :3

[Licmycat]

Why would u work for illegal immigrants when dirty business-people like ours in Okla. get away with not hiring black folks? Who are you for? Citizens or immigrants? Isn't that going too far?

[DenaeTaylor1995]

Your all stupid.

[IronicKismet]

People that hate labor unions hate capitalism.

[zanariot]

@IronicKismet that's true but what most people are against is labor unions that use physical force or have government do that for them. There's nothing wrong with a union in as of itself but a union that takes a bat to someone who will do the job that they don't want to for less than they want is infringing someones rights and should be punished. The problem is that most labor unions have corrupted the government to support them and in essence made infringing on peoples rights legal.

[IronicKismet]

@zanariot ummmm....so unions should not have the same access to their gov't as corporations do? Anything the unions have done buisness has done worse. Its the eternal war between mgmt and labor.

[Slimtubestyle]

A person who wants to be paid more and do less or nothing is a greedy pig. Those who want more for doing less will find life harder as the world changes. Labor unions that demand higher wages and benefits for less work are the major reasons why jobs move overseas.

[bfyau]

You have just made a case for shareholders being only employees (either full -time, part-time or casual). Because if they are not any of these, they are receiving money for nothing, for doing nothing at all. Well said.

[omfg4000]

@Slimtubestyle No the major reason is that the people overseas were to poor to form their own unions.

And besides, rather live free than die in shackles. When all the corporations get out of the western europe and US the workers and farmers can finally rebuild the world in a collectivist fashion.

[genelawdog]

This a good effort, but get your facts right. The IWW, is NOT, I repeat NOT the International Workers of the World, it IS, I repeat it IS  THE INDUSTRIAL WORKERS of THE WORLD.

Industrial as opposed to the craft orientated AFL. SO while I thank you for the work and effort get it right.

[12rossja]

i used to be a laborer here we need to be 15 1/2 with parents signature... so thats when i started.... and this was only parttime and the work was so easy.... srsly... like movin things liftin pourin shit... it was so easy... and the pay was great... i

would do it again... and it was so fun... i dont know what the problem is... all my friends are also laborers... and alot of us make more money then our parents...

[THEMRESISTANCE]

rgeorge9260 is a worm. if we let companies have all the power we will be slaves you sniveling moron. ever enjoyed a weekend? Thank a union. AND! Wow an IT professional!, you're awesome. Lets see you in a 120 ft boom lift in -15 weather and tell me i'm not worth my union wage. Hell, Go take a crap in an on site port o let on a 105 degree day and tell me i make too much.

I work harder in two hours than you will in your entire life. Your mind is weak, wake up and resist.

[pmarchino]

@THEMRESISTANCE If you can't take the heat, stay out of the Port-O-Let. How about some cheese with your "whine"

[THEMRESISTANCE]

@pmarchino i wasnt whining at all. read the post, then understand that you are a fucking retard.

[GodChristLord]

"We'll Do It." Let's get unions and enthusiasm for unions STARTED again!

We just got to do it.

I will write the speeches to begin this, all I need is an orator.

It is the middle class and the worker against everybody else (Corporate America, land owners, the "R's" who ignorantly try to impose their values on us, etc.)

ALL WE WANT ARE FAIR WAGES TO MAKE A LIVING. We thank the wealthy and to some degree business for providing us with jobs, BUT we deserve better. ...Fight for that!

[seamoremonster]

Great Vid. Congratulations. This is one of my favourites!

[IGuessImLeft]

This is a well put school project, but it fails to address the Taft-Hartley Act of 1945, which was knick-named, "The Slave Labor Act" by opposition leaders in the House and Senate.

The party that once stood against slavery in the 19th Century gave America, "The Slave Labor Act" in the 20th Century.

Now all of our jobs are in Communist countries, and the GOP links labor to Marxism. Am I the only one here who sees the irony?

[silverbluejc08]

Unions: "Pay us or you get fired"

[rgeorge9260]

Unions have been the runination of our auto and manufacturing industries. It used to be that Unions served a purpose, protecting workers from bad work conditions and unfair labor practices. Now, they simply extort higher wages and benefits from companies, when the FACT is that companies are not getting their money's worth. This is why companies are leaving the US by the droves. FACT: "unskilled" workers in other countries are just as good and cheaper. I say abolish Unions. We'd all be better off

[IGuessImLeft]

Chrystler, Ford and General Motors sent our nation's workers into an abyss when they engineered automobiles that could not compete with the Japs. Blame the Big03 for their demise. Do the words, "fuel efficient" mean anything? What is most perplexxing to me is, with colleges like Case Western Reserve, University of Michigan, University of Toledo, Genermal Motors Institute, and a slew of others, how did the automakers loose to the Japs? Good workers need good prints.

[KontrolMachete]

Do you watch FOX news; educate your ass before you make a stupid statement. Here are some links for you to understand why we are loosing jobs in the USA. NAFTA, CAFTA and others. Unions and the AFL-CIO fought every one of this treaties it protect our jobs!!! Get your shit straight!!!

[rgeorge9260]

You are a typical Unionite, and will eventually Union yourself right out of a job. Get with the program. Trying to blame everything EXCEPT Unions is assinine. We are in a GLOBAL economy. FREE MARKET, e.g-companies can CHOOSE to have factories and hire workers wherever they wish. They CHOOSE to go elsewhere, because of anti-business environ of the US (e.g-UNIONS), which force employers to pay higher wages for UNSKILLED labor that could be done by my 13 year old.

[rgeorge9260]

Here's a non-union example. I work in IT. Companies have Offshored many IT jobs in recent years. I'm impacted, but understand. ALL companies are doing it. It works and it's cheaper, so why not (is their opinion)? If you can code quality programs, and do it cheaper, why wouldn't you? Now, if the US refused to embrace this GLOBAL fact, and forced business to NOT Offshore via punitive measures, other countries would have a competetive advantage over us, and would bury us-just like the auto industry

[rgeorge9260]

Now, you blithering idiot, you are ASKING to put yourself out of a job. Unions must make major concessions in wages, benefits, etc., and I'm talking MAJOR concessions. This means paying wages & benefits commensurate (big word for you, eh?) with your skill level. My son, and lots of others, would gladly do your job for less than 1/2 of your wages & benefits, and do it just as well. So, tell me, PLEASE, why should a company be extorted to pay Union wages and benefits, when they have better choice?

[rgeorge9260]

Here's my prediction: you and your ilk (that means 'kind') with a Union mentality, will continue to stick with refusing to see the reality of the GLOBAL economy, and competetiveness that is reality, and will not budge to make the MAJOR concessions necessary to survive. You will vote Democrat, and beg these people to protect your unrealistic wages & benefits, and they will do so half-heartedly, to keep your vote, when they know the reality of which I speak.

[rgeorge9260]

Now, I suggest you tell your Union reps to cuts wages and benefits to LOWER than that of your competitors, IF you wish to have a job in the future. If you do NOT, the auto industry is certainly doomed, beyond question. Did I say you need like this? NO! I would not either, but it's reality. I'm sorry, but I speak the truth. Lastly, if your union does what needs to be done (e.g.- makes the industry competetive), then they will only have done what the free market can bear for your job.

[rgeorge9260]

And at that point, who needs a Union? I do not have a union to protect my job from the IT company I work for, nor would I want it. My company pays me what the market says my skill is worth. If they find the skill cheaper, and still get quality, I'm out of a job. If the company can not compete with others because their wages & benefits are too high, guess what? They will go out of business. THAT, my friend, is REALITY! I'm doing you a favor. Honestly, I would take a job in another industry.

[rgeorge9260]

The union is going to take you to a dead end street, and put a bullet in your head. Then you will be in emergency mode, trying to support your family. Think ahead. PLAN. I do NOT see Unions changing their way, and it's going to be a disaster for MILLIONS! Don't be one of them! The government can only bail you guys out for so long, before their is a massive backlash. How many times do you think taxpayers are going to allow the auto industry to go back to the well? I KNEW the first several billion

[rgeorge9260]

was not going to be enough to keep these guys going when they got the first bailout! I EASILY called the short (about that lie). These guys still have no GOOD plan to become viable, and will not, not as long as Unions continue to negotiate NONSENSICAL contracts. The auto industry, in my estimation will not recover, as a direct result of unions. Now, I've warned you, and earnestly tried to help you. Now, I hope you can see reason, logic and reality. I think my argument speaks for itself.

[rgeorge9260]

By the way, the treaties you mentioned came about because our government can NOT deny the GLOBAL economy of which we are a part. They know that denying such means certain doom of MANY industries. Realize that GM COULD, if they file chapter 11, leave you by the wayside, screw unions, and do business elsewhere, wher land, buildings, and labor are all cheaper. Then they could COMPETE. YOU would not have a job. THAT is reality. Government can NOT and will NOT stop this. Oh, they will pretend

[KontrolMachete]

Your reply shows that you have not done you homework!!! If you like to work for dimes, move to china my friend jajajaja. I dont think your 13 year old son can do my job or you! it takes a man to work in construction. My 5 year old can do your job, he likes to play with cables and shit like that!!! Bye my brother UNION YES!!!!

[rgeorge9260]

Again, you work a job that needs no education, and no specialized skill. Certainly nothing that could not be learned by some illegal who would do the job more cheaply, or a multitude of other who could ceretainly do just as good a job, again, more cheaply, if Unions were not there to artifically inflate your worth and protect your job. Honestly, it's the only reason you don't get paid the money you are TRULY worth. You got your ten and twenty, but your work ain't worth a dollar!

[rgeorge9260]

Heaven help you if you the unions ever go bust. Then you will find out what you are truly worth. Union are outdated and unnecessary, and increase the cost of everything. Again, unions will help ruin this country, enventually. Also, I doubt your small brain could even begin to comprehend what I do for a living with computers. I am highly educated, highly skilled, and I am well paid by a company that is not FORCED to pay me any more than what I am worth, and that's a six figure salary, my friend.

[rgeorge9260]

Neither you, your son, or anyone else you know could do my job. It takes way too much education and years of experience. Unlike what you do. The only reason my so could not do your job is because it is construction, and requires hard physical labor only a man can do. I'll give you that. However, it still remains relatively unskilled, easy to learn, and certainly does not require a lot of brains. Let me guess? You maybe finished high school? Unions extort money for their members. I say BUST'EM!!!

[TheNonExistentlife]

I know this is 6 months old..but this guy doesn't know what he is talking about. The skilled trades persons in construction do go to school as well as continuing education to keep those skills. As far as His education..I don't doubt he is highly trained and skilled..but he should never think he can't be replaced..oh yeah his job was....buy someone who lives overseas.... When unions are busted the living standard of the worker drops...

[rgeorge9260]

It would help America, as it would break their power grip, and let industry work the way it should-in free market competition. Ever wonder why companies hire illegals? It's to get around paying outrageous union wages for work that does NOT require special skills. I'm NOT for hiring illegals, but making the point that unions are not necessary, and merely extort wages and benefits that union members do not deserve. Don't you feel guilty knowing you are not TRULY earning what you are worth?

[rgeorge9260]

Rather you extort money from others, via the union. In essence, like many Dems, you believe in getting a handout of sorts. Sure you work hard for a living, but admit it: if you were on your own, with no union to threaten to shut things down, you would not be making near what you do. I call that legalized extortion, and extortion is wrong (in most cases, extortion is illegal!). Without you union, you might as well go to work at the Quckie Mart down the street, cause that is your worth.

[KontrolMachete]

Once again you show your ignorance about unions and the free trade. Especially when big corporation are bringing workers form India, china and other counties with H2 Visas to do your job for dimes. Its ok I will pick you up at home depot to clean my house. Take care my friend.

[IWLocal8]

Look up Collective Bargaining. You'd rather have kids in sweatshops and unsafe working conditions. My Union dues train others in my Trade and help to make money for our Union Contractor. Sad to read views similar to yours who really are clueless.

[rgeorge9260]

Clueless is how I describe the Union mentality. You call it collective bargaining, but I call it collective extortion. Did you read what I said? You, and other who think like you, are on your way out of a job, unless you change. Companies will continue to send jobs overseas. It is a Global Economy. Comapnies are allowed to find labor who can do the job, and at the best wage. MANY Union jobs are rather unskilled (not all). Many of these can be done cheaper, and it's a company's right.

[IWLocal8]

There's no one who can do what I do for a living as well as another UNION Ironworker. The fact that even though my job will never be outsourced and I'm fighting for the rights of others to join Unions, and, standing up for Working Families should say something. It's important for the survival of "We The People..."

[rgeorge9260]

Unless there is a Union there extorting money by threatening to shut down the company altogether. That is the only collective 'bargaining' power they have. It's blackmail. You would not like being blackmailed personally. Well, companies don't like it either. If I were to open a business, I should have the right to hire whomever I please, and not have some union thug come and tell me otherwise. Grocery stores have unions. I gurantee they could find check out woorkers who would work for half

[rgeorge9260]

the wage they get, and it would still be a GREAT wage compared to that paid for other similar jobs. Laws and regulations here prevent kids in sweatshops and unsafe working conditions. I contend other countries may allow for such, but this is likely a rarity. Question: if a company could hire someone to build car, and pay $65 per hour, OR hire another worker who would do the job for half, and do just as good a job, why hire the $65 an hour guy? $32.5 an hour, times 2040 hours a year is $66,000+.

[rgeorge9260]

This would not even reflect benefits! Many HIGHLY skilled workers do not make that!. However, because a unions extort a higher wage and benefits, companies in the US can NOT compete with those companies who do just what I said: pay a good wage and benefits, and build quality. Japan has done it for years, and the US has hosed themselves. Unions have no one to blame but themselves. Better pull that head out of the sand and get real, or you will pay the price. It's coming, GUARANTEED!

[rgeorge9260]

I speak from experience. I am a highly skilled IT worker, a making a six figure salary. Several years ago, I watched the very job I was doing sent Offshore (to India). The company said they could have someone else do my job cheaper. Did I like it? No, of course not! But, if I was honest, I could see the company's reasoning? Can't you? I saw the handwriting on the wall, and went back to school in my off work hours. It took me a year, but I was able to move into a new job and get more money.

[IWLocal8]

Mr.Coffee once made their products in the US and paid their workers $21/hr. They packed up and moved to Mexico - paying the workers there about $2.45/hr. Finally, they moved to China and paid out a whopping 21 cents/day. When has the price of a coffee maker EVER gone down? GREED is why your job went overseas.

[KaptainKaka]

It is worth what people will pay for it.

[rgeorge9260]

Many of the folks who I worked with who did NOT take action no longer have jobs (at least not with the company that I am still with). The company allow you to work at will. You either have a skill that is worth paying for, or you don't, and they do NOT intend to pay a dime more than you are worth. And why should they? I don't have a union extorting money for me. I do for myself, and feel I'm in a better position because of it. If I lost my job, I could get another making the same wage.

[rgeorge9260]

Could you do that, IF the union was not there to represent you (and extort a higher wage than you might otherwise get)? And is that a good position to be in? I want to be worth what I'm paid in the market. It's better for me and the company I work for. It allows my company to be more competetive, thereby keeping me employed. My company is "lean and mean", and if they were not, they would not be weathering these tough economic times too well, and I would likely be without a job. Think about it...

[IWLocal8]

How is Labor and Management sitting down TOGETHER and AGREEING on a wage "extorting"? I'd love to make $100/hr but understand that I'd price myself right out of a job. We compete with lower nonunion companies on smaller jobs (less profit margin) and even though we get paid more, we do it safer and quicker - not to mention getting it done right. There's no way nonunion workers can do what we (Union) do. You really don't know enough about Unions.

[EGFrebelgirl]

Cute video but has a number of factual inaccurate statements. Mother Jones was a member of the Knights of Labor, founder of IWW and never worked for the AFL. IWW is Industrial Workers of the World not International. Civil Rights Act does not make it an Unfair Labor Practice but is it's own law it is a civil suit to discriminate. Many more. Nice try but this crowd really needs to do their home work better.

[silverbluejc08]

Unions are corrupt.

[seamoremonster]

Big Business, Big Industry, Mulit-Nationals and Wall Street would probably agree with you.

[sheetmetal67]

I'm a Union SheetMetal Worker from Austin, TX, Local #67, awsome job on the video.

[IWLocal8]

Great job!

[ReadOrDieDW]

more money for less work?

give me unity, or give me death :)

p.s. you can keep your corperate parking spot

[joindeunion]

Excellent work, well done ladies and keep it up. :-)

[Dolan116]

Well done, I hope this project earned you an excellent grade. I hope the research you did allowed you to understand how important the labor movement is to the middle class.

[unionguy21]

GO UNIONS

[fastdudez28]

awesome video

!! cute girls lol unions are needed more then ever