Comment on Labor Unions Are Industrial Policy
phoneymouse@lemmy.world 10 months agoI don’t see how that question is relevant. In a democracy, the state should theoretically be incentivized to do what is best for its constituents, since its constituents are mostly workers, I would think mandatory unionization would be a no brainer. In practice, power in our democracies largely mirrors the power structure of our economy with capitalists capable of using their capital to control the government in the same way they use it to control workers by denying them the full benefit of what they produce. It’s how you get workers on food stamps while the CEO is worth billions.
What matters is workers being able to benefit from the fruits of their labor, rather than shareholders exclusively. Today, you can spend 40 years of your life building a company as an employee and be thrown to the curb without a cent of equity. Workers, despite dedicating their lives to the company, have no rights or recourse. Unions help change that and give workers power. The state should represent the best interests of the public and serve as a counter-balance to protect the public interest from the power and narrow-mindedness of private interest.
unfreeradical@lemmy.world 10 months ago
I am asking you to consider, through substantive inquiry, how the ideal you promote is most likely to be achieved.
Historically, has the state supported the interests of the working class for becoming organized, or has it rather tended to support the interests of business?
If the state has supported the interests of workers, then would it not follow that the state already provides the organization needed for advancement of the working class, such that unions would be unnecessary?
phoneymouse@lemmy.world 10 months ago
I mean hasn’t it supported the interests of both to some degree, but only when the working class forced it. As a rule, it tends to support business because that is where wealth is concentrated and influence follows. The most substantial gains in worker rights has always been through unions, strikes, civil disobedience, etc. acting as a catalyst for politicians to prioritize the interests of workers over business. In other words, workers need unions to be more powerful than business.
Where are you trying to go though with your questions?
unfreeradical@lemmy.world 10 months ago
You seem to be suggesting that workers should form unions, such that, when the working class develops enough power, it should use the power to press the state to force workers to forn unions.
An essential issue seems to be of circularity.
A further doubt, quite severe, is the meaningfulness of organization among workers who have not sought organization. Unions require active participation from members who believe that being organized is valuable and who conceive of themselves as agents of their own liberation.