Compas,
Except for his first job as a stock boy at Mohican Market in Rochester, New York, my dad spent his entire work life as an optical engineer for Eastman Kodak Company, which -- back when the world's population was far less than it is now -- employed nearly 500,000 people worldwide. (Currently, Kodak employs 1600 people in Rochester and 6000 worldwide.)
Notably, George Eastman loathed unions.
An interesting datum about Eastman is that his suicide note read: "To my friends: My work is done. Why wait?" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Eastman
To prevent unions from making headway at Kodak, Eastman paid his workers -- and gave them benefits -- that unions could only dream of. (My maternal grandfather, Julius Joseph Noll, was the treasurer for the Carpenter's Union and the Glazier's Union in Rochester, New York.)
In a meaningful way, I think Kodak's treatment of workers can be considered a victory for unions by way of the implicit progressive pressure they applied.
Whatever unions' shortcomings may be, it is the only structured, socio-political mechanism we have to prevent Capital from running roughshod over the working class. (One of the many feathers in Pope Francis' hat is his ardent advocacy on behalf of unions. (See a brief "bibliography" on this topic at the bottom of this email.)
Great Graph Showing The Relationship Between Union Strength
And Workers' Quality Of Life
Great Graph Showing The Relationship Between Union Strength
And Workers' Quality Of Life
Trader Joe’s and Other's Suppress Unionization Efforts During Pandemic
Michael Sainato
April 23, 2020
The Guardian
As workers become increasingly concerned about workplace safety, employers have been suppressing organizing efforts
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Oct 30, 2013 - Organized by the Teamsters, Costco is union-friendly and meets workers on an even playing field when it comes to bargaining, and as union ...
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