Badger State Sin
Hurrah, hurrah, I have a new job. I’m working at a restaurant. This is not the sort of thing that’s considered a “real” job– management was shocked when they saw someone with my resume applying. Put a pin in that thought for a moment.
During the orientation, I was given a bunch of paperwork to fill out. Many of the forms I was required to sign were certifying that I had “read and understood” things like tipping laws, and the employee handbook, among others. After I had signed these forms, I was given the opportunity to read the documents I’d already sworn I’d read and understood. If I don’t like it, I can join the 10% of Americans looking for work.
Another interesting bit of paperwork I was required to sign was one waiving my right to a civil trial if I had a litigation-requiring dispute with the company. I am, of course, free to not sign these papers. Of course, most every employer requires the waiving of such rights, and individuals nearly always lack power with which to negotiate. So I signed. And generally hope that those clauses are unenforceable.
The boss told myself and my fellow trainees that “the restaurant gives you two holidays ever year. You should be happy– some restaurants are open on Christmas and Thanksgiving” That prompted me to ask “But we get overtime on Federal holidays, right?” The response is worth emphasizing:
“No. That’s only for places that have unions. We don’t have unions around here”
So about Wisconsin.
They’re not striking for wages and benefits. At least, they’re willing to negotiate and make concessions. We’re in a time of major economic difficulty, and we can’t ask rich people to foot part of the bill, so Unions need to do their part. Seems fair, right? Certainly part of the landscape in 21st century America. That’s not what this strike is about.
This strike is about the fact that every job is a “real” job. The strike is about the basic right of workers to form organizations that leverage the only power workers have: their ability to collectively walk off the job.
The thing is, most workers have enough human capital to do a whole lot of jobs competently. Which means the bargaining power of any given worker is pretty small. An organization that lacks a single person can fill that hole. An organization that lacks all workers is in a whole lot of trouble. Thus the only real power that workers have is en mass.
This strike is about the fact that your boss might care about you, but your organization cannot , does not, and is not allowed to.
The only organization which does care, can care, and must care is a union. This strike is about the fact that the governor wants to take away the only power workers have, and workers cannot let that happen.
Remember what I said a earlier about arbitration? That’s when a worker thinks an employer has harmed them in some way that isn’t illegal, and so they sue. Except that instead of going before a disinterested judge, the corporation will hire a judge– and that judge knows that if they wants to get hired again they will find in favor of the corporation. When workers are unionized, unions help pay for the judge.
And about negotiating pay? Who has the stronger bargaining position: 1) an individual and replaceable worker, or 2) an entire workforce? (hint: 2).
And finally, let’s not forget what my new boss said about federal holidays being for people in unions. In Wisconsin, they’re fighting for the basic right to wave a flag and have apple pie at a 4th of July barbecue.
