The hottest Labor Unions Substack posts right now

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Top U.S. Politics Topics

How the oligarchy shrank America’s middle class (Why American capitalism is so rotten, Part 8)

Robert Reich • 19752 implied HN points • 12 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Labor Unions Economic Policy Income Inequality Corporate Governance
  1. The virtuous cycle of rising wages with productivity gains broke in the late 1970s, leading to stagnant incomes for most American workers.
  2. Corporate governance shifted in the 1980s, with a focus on maximizing shareholder returns, leading to massive job cuts and weakened worker bargaining power.
  3. Decline in union membership since the late 1970s has contributed to shrinking middle class as unions effectively negotiated better wages and benefits for workers.

Why Bidenomics will get Joe another term and give the Democrats control over Congress

Robert Reich • 24391 implied HN points • 31 Jul 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Economic Policy Legislation Political parties Labor Unions
  1. Bidenomics is proving to be successful in boosting the economy and lowering inflation.
  2. The Biden administration is focused on restructuring the economy to benefit the bottom 90 percent.
  3. Bidenomics could lead to shared prosperity, potentially securing another term for Biden and control of Congress for Democrats.

Labor Unions Are Industrial Policy

BIG by Matt Stoller • 32430 implied HN points • 04 Nov 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Labor Unions Antitrust Corporate Power Industrial Policy
  1. Labor unions can influence corporate investment decisions and set industrial policy.
  2. There is a shift towards empowering workers to have a greater say in how corporations operate.
  3. The rise of antitrust enforcement, labor activism, and focus on domestic manufacturing subsidies are interconnected in challenging the influence of financiers and middlemen.

The Inner Civil War

Altered States of Monetary Consciousness • 1034 implied HN points • 04 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Economy Class Struggle Labor Unions Wealth Inequality Capitalism
  1. The economy has different classes like shareholders, managers, workers, and consumers, each playing a role in a complex system. Understanding these roles helps explain where money and power flow.
  2. Money acts like 'soup vouchers' that represent our claims on resources. The wealthy often accumulate a vast amount of these vouchers, leading to significant inequality.
  3. Workers often feel pressure from their bosses and compete against each other for jobs. This creates tension and can make collective action difficult to achieve.

Why Technocapitalism is Stronger than DEI

Richard Hanania's Newsletter • 2487 implied HN points • 15 Jan 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics DEI Markets Labor Unions Government regulations Economic Policies
  1. Anti-woke sentiments can be divided into those focused on discrimination and those on government interference with markets.
  2. Market forces and incentives help maintain safety standards in industries like aviation, outweighing concerns over diversity initiatives.
  3. Regulations unrelated to diversity issues, like arbitrary training standards, can sometimes have more tangible and negative impacts on industries than DEI policies.
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The Death and Privatization of Japanese National Railways (Part 2, 1982-1987)

S(ubstack)-Bahn • 220 implied HN points • 29 Feb 24
🌍 World Politics Privatization Labor Unions Political Influence Railways Reform
  1. The privatization and dissolution of Japanese National Railways (JNR) was driven by political dynamics and a push for neoliberal reforms by key figures like Yasuhiro Nakasone.
  2. The media played a significant role in shaping public opinion and supporting the privatization of JNR, contributing to its downfall.
  3. Labor unions ultimately surrendered and supported JNR privatization and division, leading to the dissolution of the iconic railway agency by April 1, 1987.

The Second Largest US Teachers Union Irreparably Harmed US Children

Who is Robert Malone • 14 implied HN points • 05 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Education & Policy Public Health Labor Unions Child development Political Influence
  1. School closures during the pandemic harmed students' academic performance significantly. Many students fell behind in learning, especially low-income and minority children.
  2. The American Federation of Teachers (AFT) influenced policies that contributed to negative mental health effects in students. Isolated from peers, many kids faced increased anxiety and depression.
  3. Prolonged school closures also worsened children's physical health. With less access to nutritious meals and physical activities, rates of obesity and related health issues increased.

The Rise and Fall of Japan's National Public Railway Labor Unions

S(ubstack)-Bahn • 160 implied HN points • 09 Mar 24
💾 History Labor Unions Privatization Neoliberalism Railways Japan
  1. Japan's national public railway labor unions faced a significant decline from their powerful past, with membership dropping drastically over the years.
  2. The labor unions within Japan's national railways held significant influence and power in the past, shaping the fate of the railways through radical left-wing politics and strikes.
  3. The privatization of Japan's national railways in the 1980s marked the end for the powerful labor unions, leading to mass layoffs, legal battles, and the dissolution of the unions.

It's the (Knowledge) Economy, Stupid

Symbolic Capital(ism) • 119 implied HN points • 04 Dec 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social Issues Party Politics Voters Democratic Party Labor Unions
  1. The biggest divide in American politics is between knowledge economy professionals and those feeling like 'losers' in this economy, impacting the Democratic Party and the political landscape.
  2. Knowledge economy professionals have significantly influenced the Democratic Party, leading to a disconnect with the values and priorities of most other Americans, especially working-class voters.
  3. The focus on catering to the preferences of knowledge economy professionals has caused a shift in the style and substance of Democratic politics, moving it away from the concerns of ordinary Americans and towards more niche ideologies.

Newsroom Diversity Will Require Union Flexibility

Second Rough Draft • 137 implied HN points • 27 Jul 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Diversity Affirmative Action Labor Unions Journalism
  1. Newsroom diversity is being challenged by recent court rulings against affirmative action.
  2. Labor unions may need to adjust their rules to preserve diversity in newsrooms during layoffs.
  3. Implementing economic affirmative action can help promote diversity by favoring applicants from lower income or wealth backgrounds.

🔋Is Ford’s Pause on CATL Plant Really About China?

Interconnected • 185 implied HN points • 02 Oct 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Labor Unions China Automotive Industry Economic Impact
  1. Ford's pause on the CATL plant is not primarily about China, but rather about leverage between Ford and the UAW in a labor strike.
  2. Multiple incentives and support were provided for the CATL-powered plant, despite CATL being a Chinese company.
  3. The uncomfortable reliance on Chinese technology by US EV makers like Ford is a mutual issue, not just a one-sided concern.