this post was submitted on 05 Sep 2023
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Work Reform
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A place to discuss positive changes that can make work more equitable, and to vent about current practices. We are NOT against work; we just want the fruits of our labor to be recognized better.
Our Philosophies:
- All workers must be paid a living wage for their labor.
- Income inequality is the main cause of lower living standards.
- Workers must join together and fight back for what is rightfully theirs.
- We must not be divided and conquered. Workers gain the most when they focus on unifying issues.
Our Goals
- Higher wages for underpaid workers.
- Better worker representation, including but not limited to unions.
- Better and fewer working hours.
- Stimulating a massive wave of worker organizing in the United States and beyond.
- Organizing and supporting political causes and campaigns that put workers first.
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Amen.
You can't keep slaves anymore, but you can own a company and pay your workers an amount that makes it hard for them to pay for basic necessities so they don't have time for leisure, or organising unions, or finding other jobs. The workers are free to go, of course, but then they'll fall into financial ruin and not have healthcare.
Frighteningly few have health care with full employment, sometimes it’s not offered, when it is, it’s still not budgetable.
That's exactly what it is, then I've had people laugh at me when I compare it to slavery.
It’s called wage slavery and you can use that information to educate, if any will listen.
Nah, most will just say get a better job, you're not working hard enough etc. Lots of people I speak to tend to frame it as a worker problem rather than a problem with the system. It's also why lots of people seem to be anti strikes...
Well I did use a qualifier. I know. I was in McDonald’s one day getting a soda and they took forever. A young woman was griping that “it’s those kids! No one wants to work anymore!” I told her for those wages and what was expected, i don’t blame them. I got an angry glare.
"but they're paying $15 an hour, isn't that what you people* wanted?"
Uh, it was, but that was 10 years ago...
*not the racist "you people", just the run of the mill ignorant one.
I giggled and took no offense.
Too many people seem to think that chattel slavery is the only thing that counts as slavery, and that even that doesn't count if a slaver is less horrible to their slaves than other slavers are.
Sadly, yes.
They should just start their own business then and stop being a bunch of lazy complainers