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"factory jobs were also crappy jobs a century ago"

true! what else, besides training and skills, made crappy jobs into living wage, family sustaining, lifting from poverty jobs?

unions!

we in the District--and everywhere--need to see to it that local and national service providers and retailers, who would prefer to pay poverty wages and pass the costs of benefits on to the public, stop blocking unionization. when workers have a voice on the job, they and everyone else benefits.

because "DC's rapidly growing, well-paid class of knowledge workers increasingly demand more and better quality services," they are also often quite willing to pay for that quality. look at the popularity of higher-priced "fast food" venues, like food trucks and local cafes, over and above the cheaper chains.

I completely agree that "re-engineering of workers' jobs to address demand for better quality from customers and better pay from workers." with unions, workers are far better able to advocate for the pay and benefits that will allow them to rise from poverty.

by Rebecca on May 27, 2011 1:15 pm • link • report