The American Worker Is Doomed

By Jay Richards
The Daily Utah Chronicle

Thursday 15 March 2007

Not since the Great Depression has the American worker faced such a bleak future. According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, incomes for the lowest income quintile have declined during the past decade and the gap between the rich and the poor grows bigger each year. In essence, the rich are getting richer - and the poor are getting poorer.

It's high time for a change.

Much of the reason incomes have declined in the working class is because of the decline of labor unions. In 1953, 36 percent of private-sector workers were union members-which is the primary reason the United States has a middle class today. Millions of Americans are currently enjoying the benefits of unions.

According to a story in The Washington Post, fewer than 8 percent of Americans belong to unions today. Where is our country headed when only 8 percent of the workforce is represented by unions?

Despite this grim picture, the Democratic Party has shown a ray of hope in recent months. On March 1, the U.S. House of Representatives made history when it passed the Employee Free Choice Act. For years, labor unions and workers have been working to get Congress to pass this long-awaited bill. According to the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations, this bill will do three things to get our country back on track. First, it will strengthen penalties for employers who violate workers' rights to join a union. Second, it will allow a neutral party to determine a first contract if the company and employees cannot reach an agreement. And third, it will enable people to form unions when a majority of employees indicate in writing that they want one, which would return to the employees the choice of whether to form a union.

One reason we see a decline in union membership is our economy's changing from an industrial economy to a service economy. Historically, most trade unions represented industrial workers-such as steel, iron and copper miners. Service industries have fought, illegally in some cases, to block their workers from joining unions.

Jessica Moser, spokeswoman for Wal-Mart, has been quoted saying, "While unions may be appropriate for other companies, they have no place at Wal-Mart."

Oh, really?

So the largest retail company on the planet, the largest private employer in the United States and a company whose reputation lies on low prices (because of low labor costs), feels that unions are not "appropriate" at Wal-Mart?

Wal-Mart is the shining example of why unions are necessary in contemporary American life. It is difficult for college students to understand, because Wal-Mart prices are so low. But, it is important for us to realize why they are so cheap and why the company can afford to sell its goods for low prices.

Congress is making progress with union membership, but there are things we can do, too. We can refuse to shop at a store that hurts its workers. More than 138 million Americans shop at Wal-Mart each week. Consumers hold the power in a market economy. We have the power to stand up and say "no" to Wal-Mart and other companies that refuse to allow their workers to unionize.

Don't sell your soul and your integrity for low prices. Don't be the consumer they want you to be.

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