SEARCH
EPI: Unions Don’t Hurt International Competitiveness |
|
 |
|
A new snapshot study from the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) debunks the myth that unions have a negative effect on a nation’s ability to compete in a global economy.
Check out the above graph, comparing current account deficit—a measure of international competitiveness—with rates of union membership in major industrialized nations. As we’ve noted, strong unions are compatible with a strong economy, and yet another measure shows it: many nations with higher levels of union membership than the United States, like Canada, Germany and Denmark, have very strong export sectors and a positive trade balance.
As EPI’s Josh Bivens notes, the relationship between competitiveness and union density doesn’t show that unions hurt a nation’s ability to compete:
Note that the United States has the lowest union coverage rate in the sample yet also has the biggest current account deficit. There is, in short, nothing about highly unionized economies that suggests they can’t be internationally competitive.
This analysis proves the falsity of opponents who contend the increased union membership resulting from the Employee Free Choice Act will harm the nation’s standing in the global economy.
Find more EPI research on labor policy here.
1 Comment
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
EPI: Unions Don’t Hurt International Competitiveness
This article is a nice try using “Lies, Damned Lies and Statistics” to prove a point that real world experience has shown to be unsupportable.
Of course, under capitalism, and especially under “free market” capitalism,
unions, and especially effective unions, do in fact “Hurt International Competitiveness”. Unions have meant best wages, best working conditions, health benefits, etc. in comparison to non-union jobs nationally and especially internationally. Every union job “benefit” has always meant a reduction in profit to the owners and investor. Unionized companies simply cannot compete internationally against non-unioned, and virtuall slave wage labor.
This historic struggle over who gets how much of the economic wealth generated by the labor of working people is known as an example of the “class struggle”.
Under capitalism, labor is forever the loser to capitalism. Today, with the collapse of U.S. and global capitalism, you might as well chuck your charts into the dustbin! Even with EFCA the chances of getting a job, let alone a “living wage” job, let alone essential health care benefits, etc. are now slim to impossible.
Under capitalism, working people can never get a job unless there exists a business that has a “business plan” that will ensure the owners make a profit after the essential “human resources” costs are met. Not one extra worker will be hired, no extra benefits, not even a “living wage” is possible, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE IS A MASSIVE SURPLUS OF UNEMPLOYED AS TODAY.
The solution is NOT to “bailout” the banks, auto companies will billions and trillions of dollars first, until the point that they MIGHT start hiring a few people.
The entire SYSTEM of capitalism, that forever puts the needs of working people LAST if ever if ever considered. The time to transition to a socialist economy is now.
Nationalize and socialize the entire corrupt and gangster run banking system.
Nationalize and socialize the entire ENERGY INDUSTRY. This includes the entire OIL industry - which has invaded Iraq and the Middle east for oil profits. COAL - the end the massive pollution. NUCLEAR - to stop more nuclear power plants. ELECTRICITY to end the privatization of the power plants, to make more efficient and serve the needs of the people, not profit.
Nationalize and socialise the entire AUTO INDUSTRY. Finally end the production of smog producing private transportation. Transition fully to sustainable energy, public transportation, etc.etc. to finally address the Global Warming crisis.
For a SINGLE-PAYER (SOCIALIZED) national health care system, abolish private-proift that doubles and triples costs, that kills people who can’t afford health care!.
For free universal public education from pre-school through college.
THERE ARE TENS OF MILLIONS OF JOBS TO BE DONE TO BENEFIT THE PEOPLE AND SOCIETY. BUT THESE JOBS WILL NEVER BE AVAILABLE OR THE JOBS NEVER DONE UNDER CAPITALISM BECAUSE THE GANGSTER CORRUPTION AND PROFITEERING OF CAPITALISM MAKES THEM UNAFFORDABLE.
(read more at http://www.wsws.org)