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Happy Labour Day everybody! Here’s some things to think about while you enjoy this day off in celebration of unions (a short thread).
Unionization is good for income equality. https://www.epi.org/publication/as-union-membership-has-fallen-the-top-10-percent-have-been-getting-a-larger-share-of-income/
Income equality is good for economic growth. https://www.oecd.org/newsroom/inequality-hurts-economic-growth.htm
There appears to be a relationship between happiness and rate of unionization. https://phys.org/news/2011-02-unions-members-nonmembers-happier.html
While the amount is greatly disputed (7% to 15% or more), most everybody agrees there is a “union wage premium” and unionized workers get paid more. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_wage_premium
And, of course, while it might seem like ancient history, we can thank the labour movement for the five-day workweek, the eight-hour workday and modern employment standards (including prohibitions against child labour) and employment insurance - among other benefits.
So on this day off, remember why you get to sit at home and raise a glass to the labour movement.
We take it for granted and we hear it run down all the time. But the movement has made us fairer and richer.
We take it for granted and we hear it run down all the time. But the movement has made us fairer and richer.
