Beyond Cuckoo

Working For A Living, Everyday

My father’s role model was Archie Bunker. What was a stereotype to fans of “All in the Family” was real to him. We didn’t politically agree on much, but we were both glad that he had a union job.

Teddy’s thirty year stint as a New York City bus driver saved our family and allowed us to live in relative middle-class security, with food on the table, medical insurance and a few weeks of vacation each year. My mother worked as a clerical worker in the Financial District, and as a woman and non-union employee, her salary and benefits would not have sustained our family.

As a government worker, I’m also glad to have the security that union membership provides, which is why I wonder why labor unions are under attack. Let’s look at the benefits that many feel American workers should not be entitled to:

• Pensions: In 1949 the National Labor Relations Board ruled that companies had to bargain with their unions over pensions. Today pensions across the country are under attack. Only 15% of workers have access to such a plan. Keep in mind that government continues to hand out massive tax cuts to corporations as they cut pensions.
• The Right to Organize: In the 1950s, when I poked my head out of my mother’s womb, more than a third of workers belonged to unions, now less that twelve percent of Americans are unionized with right-winged politicians undermining collective bargaining with anti-labor laws.
• Income Equality: With weak and non-existent union representation the middle-class’s share of national income has shrunk.
• Access to Health Care: Again, because of union membership, the 1950s saw an increase of affordable workplace sponsored health insurance. Today corporations are cutting health care benefits and fighting tooth and nail to repeal the Affordable Care Act.
• Fair hours: In 1870 the average work week was sixty-one hours. Workers once again found relief in the 1950’s with the 40-hour a week schedule. Since the 1980’s Americans at “good” jobs are now working more for less—a growing number work under sweat shop conditions.

Some of the most profitable corporations pay the least wages. Teachers are underpaid and our schools suffer. Fast food workers wonder how to care for their families on minimum wage. Government is top-heavy; with management and leadership making extraordinary salaries as they negotiate against line-staff, who take the brunt of media attention for making too much and holding on to job and financial security. The gap between haves and have-nots grows to a new level that is beyond cuckoo and it will destroy America’s greatness.  Happy Labor Day!