TED Talks Daily

How to Be a Better Human: How labor unions create worker power

Sep 4, 2023
Join Stanford professor Margaret Levi, a leading expert on labor unions and their impact on inequality, as she dives into the transformative power of collective action. She shares her insights on how unions have historically shaped workers' rights, emphasizing their role in creating essential protections like social security and health insurance. Levi expresses optimism about today's young workforce and discusses the pressing need for a revival of the labor movement to ensure an equitable future for all.
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ANECDOTE

Early Influences

  • Margaret Levi's interest in inequality began in childhood.
  • She marched in civil rights marches with her mother, witnessing inequality firsthand.
ANECDOTE

Organizing Attempts

  • Margaret Levi hasn't been a union member due to unsuccessful unionization attempts at her workplaces.
  • However, she actively participated in organizing a graduate student union.
INSIGHT

Learning from Failure

  • Even failed unionization attempts offer valuable lessons.
  • These experiences can foster personal growth, solidarity, and insights into power dynamics.
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