05-03-2023, 11:47 AM
(05-03-2023, 10:03 AM)bravado Wrote:(05-03-2023, 09:35 AM)danbrotherston Wrote: Can you shout that a little louder for the folks in the back.
I find this so frustrating when people complain about this. Like sure...lets try and focus the disruption on the ruling class, but at the end of the day, disruption *IS* the power that workers have over employers...nothing more.
I especially hate it when people blame the striking workers exclusively for a strike...given the attitudes today, I do not see how it is possible that we have any labour protections today, most people seem perfectly willing to eat shit.
This is the utter lack of nuance that drives me nuts with union arguments.
It’s not ok to hold the region hostage to get your benefits, this isn’t a sustainable option for the future. Public employees just aren’t the same as private ones. In this case, the “ruling class” is all of us citizens.
I don't think using phrasing like "held hostage" helps add nuance.
If you want nuance, then what you should say is that the region should be willing to put up with disruption to help put pressure on the union for a better deal. Of course, the fact is that we are not a monolith, some people, especially poor people are harmed much more by this strike than people who get to hob knob with our city council. To say nothing of the bureaucrats actually negotiating.
That being said, I don't know what you mean by public sector vs. private sector. I think unionized employees are generally in a better position than non-unionized workers, but I don't begrudge them the right to fight for better conditions. Everyone is underpaid today...well..with a small (say 1% ish) exception. It doesn't matter that they're doing better than people who are truly at the mercy of capitalist overloads so to speak.