Unions and the consumer

[koinegeek]

A question has been bugging me for a couple of weeks

Comments

[anonymous]

Mostly, they give reassurance that the products were created or assembled under humane conditions by licensed workers, not by a sweatshop of Malasian children. And for food products, it goes further to assure the consumer that it probably doesn't contain severed fingers.

Good for starters?

-BTP

[tacky_tramp]

I agree.

Furthermore, your question supposes that "the consumer" is a discrete entity with no other social function than, well, consuming, when in fact, consumers are workers, too.

I'm not a diehard union supporter by any means, and had a great experience working with a nonunion grocery store for a while, but there, worker organization wasn't a pressing need because management was actually interested in working cooperatively with employees and arriving at decisions together. But barring those exceptional circumstances, workers in the manufacturing and service industries can get screwed in a big way if they don't collect their power into some force that can challenge the company.

[koinegeek]

I meant "the consumer" as a role, an aspect of an individual, not necessarily an isolated entity.

[koinegeek]

I agree that the ideal would be a high level of respect and communication between managers and workers.

Focusing on the impact to the consumer (even if the workers of an entity also consume the good or service), in what ways do a worker collective challenging the employing entity help consumers.

(I can honestly think of a few ways, but I'm more interested in what others think at the moment)

To put it closer to home, how do teacher's unions standing up to school and government entities help the students?

[whatami]

I am very anti-union. Labor unions increase wages and prices alike, so the net effect is not likely to be very good, especially since most American workers are not part of a union, yet buy products from unionized manufacturers (automobiles, etc.) and merchandisers (most grocery stores).

[koinegeek]

Ahh. The first detractor :)

I wonder, hypothetically, if every American were part of a worker's union, would the situation be different? Or would there be other negative aspects (such as greater unemployment)?

Also, it seems many Americans choose foreign make cars, even if they are made in the US. From my understanding, companies like Honda, Toyota, etc, do not allow unions (I could be wrong). However, I hear they treat their workers with a great deal of respect.

[whune]

I see no benefit to the consumer what so ever.

I will now proceed to rant about unions in my journal.

tah tah.

[koinegeek]

Interesting points in your posts. I'll have to comment later :)

[whune]

okie

[moonli]

Personally I think unions are one of the last refuges for communists.

[koinegeek]

I've heard there are other refuges: world socialist movement, many peace and environmental groups, Russian mafia, U.S. academia, etc. I'm not saying I agree, just what I've read in passing.

[moonli]

Those too.

[tacky_tramp]

Do we need a refuge? Surely, the revolution is nigh!

[koinegeek]

Aye, there's always a cost and it has to be accounted for somewhere.

[tacky_tramp]

I for one would rather pay a higher price for goods and know that my money is going to support a decent standard of living for the people who made those goods. Otherwise, you're just subsidizing poverty.