Healthcare Workers Go On Strike

 

Healthcare workers have gone on strike to demand higher pay and better working conditions. This next wave of strikes demonstrates that neoliberal capitalism will exploit the labor force no matter what sector. Hospitals have ignored the demands of nurses and medical professionals for too long. Across the country they have to deal with long hours, low staffing, and limited pay increases. The strikes that have been occurring in entertainment, the service sector, and railroads show an economy that is not functional. Combined with inflation and the rising cost of living this is putting strain on the American workforce. Organized labor could under go a renaissance. The challenge is not allowing labor unions to act as a barrier between the government and labor force. At times labor unions have been used  as a means to hinder aspirations for change and settle for meager reforms. It may take revolutionary action to improve working conditions in the United States. The 75,000 employees that were able to force change in Kaiser Permanente may provide a guide  to worker empowerment. The Kaiser Permanente strike was the largest healthcare worker strike in US history. What the obtained was a $25 an hour increase in pay over the next decade. Although it is a victory, it could be short lived if inflation continues and energy related sanctions remain in place. Housing, utilities,  and food consume most of the population's income. Healthcare workers have more power than they realize. Without them, COVID-19 would have been more devastating. The pandemic and the recent strikes demonstrates the healthcare system in the US had declined. The fight is not over as healthcare nurses in other states are still on strike. 

United Auto Workers Go On Strike

 

More labor strikes are becoming common. The automotive industry is now seeing workers protest their grievances. The UAW are on strike and it is entering its third day. Without a settlement, this could have negative consequences for the US economy. Corporate avarice has driven workers to protest. This is the largest strike in the automotive industry's history. A total of 13,000 automotive workers have joined the movement. The United Automobile, Aerospace , and Agricultural Implement Workers of America has an estimated 400,000 members and 580,000 retired members. The corporations effected are the three major one in the United States. Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis refused to meet the demands of employees. What the UAW seeks is increased benefits for retirees, limiting the use of temporary workers, paid leave, cost of living allowance, a pension benefit, reduced work hours, and a 40% wage increase related to contracts. The cost of living allowance demand is an obvious symptom of inflation caused by the conditions in  Europe. Another pressing matter is the right of workers to strike against closing plants. The labor  strikes are active in Ohio, Michigan, and Missouri. The CEOs of the car corporations are seeing their  pay increase, while auto workers are struggling. The government tends to side in favor of the corporate elite, rather than the average worker. Frustration has been building across the country over economic inequality and unchecked power of business. The Biden administration's poor handing of the railroad worker strike demonstrates a limited support for organized labor. The UAW does have a solution to protect auto workers. The strike fund can provide workers pay. Depending on how long the labor strikes last and inflation it might not be enough. The strike pay fund is estimated to be $825,000,000. 

The SAG-AFTRA and WGA Labor Strike

 

Economic inequality and shrinking income is hitting all sectors of the economy. Corporate avarice has induced a simultaneous Writers Guild of America and Screen Actors Guild American Federation of Television and Radio Artists strike. The writers and actors are not seeing an increase income, when production companies are generating billions. Considering that streaming services are doing well, there is no reason why income should not increase. This is not the first time writers went on strike. The 2007 strike resulted in some Tv programs falling behind in production. The longer this continues films, TV programs, and radio productions could grind to a halt. The only logical solution is to reach an agreement. Labor unions lost much power over the decades. The problem is that many labor unions across various industries or occupations do not have solidarity. A mass strike across the nation in various sectors has the potential to finally challenge the abuses of corporate power. What prevents this is  class division among the workers. The actors and writers would not be traditionally considered working class like miners or railroad workers. Labor unions for law enforcement are designed to act as a protector for corruption and police brutality. The Teachers Union most likely would not come to the aid of a railroad strike. The limitation of  labor strikes in  America relates to the lack of political and class consciousness. The protestors just want some reforms, rather than revolution. It might take a revolution to stop the abuse of corporations and to improve the status of employees.  It was 1980 went actors went on strike against the film and television industry. The only time writers and actors were on strike concurrently was in 1960. What should be learned is from these events is that both the WGA and SAG-AFTRA should collaborate. Doing so allows them to put more pressure on companies to reach a suitable agreement. Labor strikes are going to be more common as long as corporations continue exploit their workers.   

France Wants To Increase The Retirement Age

 

France intends to increase the retirement age despite growing public opposition. Demonstrators and unions have been active expressing their anger over the new legislation. President Macron claimed that moving the age up was designed to confront France's deficit. Nationwide strikes will continue if this economic policy becomes law. The proposed change cannot solve the deficit. Such an event only occurs when revenue cannot not cover expenses of a nation. A practical solution would be for France to start exporting more goods to other countries. Doing so would increase the needed economic growth. Making it more difficult to get a pension does not help an economy. The government does not want to give its citizens the benefits of contributing to France's labor force. The proposed change will disproportionately harm the working class labor force. Among this group most might live to collect their pension. Those who are in dangerous professions are negatively impacted. The 64 years of age retirement proposal has induced labor strikes across the country. Sanitation and transportation workers are becoming more involved in the opposition to reform. If the legislation passes, more demonstrations will continue. Funding the pension system requires higher taxation . What critics claim is that the age increase is a means of gradually abolishing it.  The workforce could die before collecting their pensions. The argument would be made that it would no longer be necessary. The movement to increase retirement age is not just happening in France. The EU is attempting to impose it on member states.