How to Be a Better Human How labor unions shape society
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Sep 2, 2024 In this engaging discussion, political economist Margaret Levi highlights the critical role of labor unions in shaping modern society. She emphasizes their contributions to worker rights, weekends, and social programs like Social Security. Levi discusses the decline of unions and its consequences for economic equality and the middle class. She advocates for a revival of the labor movement, urging innovative approaches to meet the needs of today's workforce and build solidarity across different sectors for a more equitable future.
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Unions' Impact
- Labor unions brought us the weekend, built the middle class, and helped win Social Security and health insurance.
- Union decline correlates with increased inequality and a shrinking middle class.
Pre-Union Working Conditions
- Child labor and unsafe working conditions were rampant before unions.
- Unions secured worker protections and transformed lives, enabling the achievement of the American dream.
Longshore Workers' Transformation
- Longshore workers, once destitute, gained middle-class status and dignity through unionization.
- Unions raised wages, reduced disparities, and improved workers' overall well-being.