I stopped by the grocery store for bananas, milk and a jar of pasta sauce.
The shortest line? Behind the nice lady who, after her six re-useable totes overflowed, decided on “plastic” for the excess.
You see, both the grocery stores near my house have Express Lines – they just never open them anymore. That’s because they who own constantly funnel customers to the Self Service check-outs. Instead of one employee per register, a single worker supervises four check stands (plus juggles checker breaks, calls for carts and such). The goal, of course, to reduce labor costs. And jobs.
Friday’s St. Louis Post-Dispatch carried a Washington Post piece on James Collins, who – after six years on the job – makes the same as any new hire:
At Walmart, the world’s largest private employer, Collins says wages have remained flat — “$11, across the board” — for those around him since the company raised its starting wage in February. Managers, he says, have made it clear that pay increases are unlikely in his current position, where his responsibilities include cleaning up spills, emptying trash cans and maintaining bathrooms.
As recorded in the Bible, a constant tension exists between worker and employer…
Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’ [Matthew 20: 14 – 15]
Employers want workers who take what boss gives, shut-up and go away. Workers want a fair wage for a fair day’s work. Right To Work moves the ball away from the workers’ goal.
Probably most of us plan to vote No on Proposition A next Tuesday. That’s important.
Alas, after Tuesday the war continues.
For example, many Republicans already promise to vote again for Right To Work when they get back to Jefferson City in January. Accidental Governor Mike Parson says he supports Right To Work. Senator Bob Onder even promises that “Missouri will become a Right To Work state,” regardless of Tuesday’s vote.
Meanwhile, in Washington efforts to get national Right To Work continues, with Senator Rand Paul promising that President Donald Trump will sign that law. Add-in the thousand of other anti-worker items, ranging from restrictions on unions for government employees, forced arbitration, failure to raise the minimum wage, the effective death of fiduciary responsibility on pension plans, and, well, the hill ahead is steep.
So, after’s Tuesday’s battle take a moment to savor the win. Then pull the boots back on and return to the war.
Glenn
Submitted by Glenn Koenen, WCD Member