One of the things that we have been talking about with our Union School participants are the benefits that unions have created in society.
For those of you who need a lesson . . . here are a few things that you may enjoy, all of which came about as a result of union activism:
- Eight-hour day
- Five-day workweek
- Health insurance
- Good pensions
- Paid sick leave
- Fair treatment for women, people of colour, & workers with disabilities
- Higher wages
- Overtime pay
- Job safety
- Paid holidays
- Job security
- Severance pay
- Maternity leave
- Paid vacations
- Family & medical leave
- Health care
- The weekend
- Fair job advancement processes
- Worker's compensation
Additionally unions have been at the forefront of social justice and equity issues for the better part of a century.
If you're a part of the middle class - thank a union. It's because of the union movement that the middle class grew to the extent that it has. In the US there is a startling statistic that correlates the rate of unionizing in the country with the number of the middle class. As unionization goes down the number of folks in the middle class go down as well.
Regardless of whether or not you are in a union or even support them for that matter, if you care about your continued ability to live the life you enjoy and want to ensure your children and grandchildren enjoy a similar lifestyle you better support those unionized workers! The next time you see a picket line grab a sign and join in because those workers are on strike for themselves and for all of us . . .
Bravo! (I want to say Right On but I think that would REALLY date me.)
Posted by: Sandrac | May 27, 2012 at 03:39 PM
LOL @ Sandra. You do make me smile. now if only we can convince those silly folk south of the border . . .
Posted by: JDeQ | June 11, 2012 at 06:59 AM