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> People can always find new jobs. If that was the case, we would not need unions.

seibelj 8y ago
Well, I don’t believe we need unions. People can find new jobs, they just would prefer not to, but an employee’s preference and the business’ preference do not always match.
- michaelmrose 8y ago
  The fact that people COULD find new jobs isn't a counterargument for unions. If collectively nobody works within each given business to improve workers conditions at that business where will all the disaffected workers turn for a better option. Within an industry major players have no reason not to fix conditions at just crappy enough that people don't leave faster than we can hire new cogs. Anyone who things the free market just magically fixes things ought to look at the labor market in the 20s.
  - seibelj 8y ago
    This is not the 1920’s, and labor rules (and many different regulations) designed for the 1920’s no longer match reality. Unemployment is near historic lows. Any employee dissatisfied can find a new job. Competition between employers drives better benefits, wages, and working conditions.
    - WalterSear 8y ago
      > Any employee dissatisfied can find a new job. That's a presidentially arrogant statement to make, particularly in the middle of a discussion regarding the gig economy. > The public typically perceives a low unemployment rate as reassuring because it suggests that everyone who wants a job has one. But the broader set of jobs data suggests that’s not the case. ”As usual, the consequences of truly no growth in the labor market leaves particularly politicians to emphasize nothing other than the unemployment rate,” Snider says. https://qz.com/1297561/the-dazzling-us-unemployment-rate-is-blinding-americans-to-a-much-darker-reality/ https://qz.com/1297561/the-dazzling-us-unemployment-rate-is-...
      - seibelj 8y ago
        The unemployment at historic lows, the stock market booming, and all signs point to a vibrant labor market? Better find an article that claims the unemployment rate doesn't matter and the economy is actually bad, because mainstream statistics disagree! I think you should stop believing conspiracy theories.

Well, I don’t believe we need unions. People can find new jobs, they just would prefer not to, but an employee’s preference and the business’ preference do not always match.

michaelmrose 8y ago
The fact that people COULD find new jobs isn't a counterargument for unions. If collectively nobody works within each given business to improve workers conditions at that business where will all the disaffected workers turn for a better option. Within an industry major players have no reason not to fix conditions at just crappy enough that people don't leave faster than we can hire new cogs. Anyone who things the free market just magically fixes things ought to look at the labor market in the 20s.
- seibelj 8y ago
  This is not the 1920’s, and labor rules (and many different regulations) designed for the 1920’s no longer match reality. Unemployment is near historic lows. Any employee dissatisfied can find a new job. Competition between employers drives better benefits, wages, and working conditions.
  - WalterSear 8y ago
    > Any employee dissatisfied can find a new job. That's a presidentially arrogant statement to make, particularly in the middle of a discussion regarding the gig economy. > The public typically perceives a low unemployment rate as reassuring because it suggests that everyone who wants a job has one. But the broader set of jobs data suggests that’s not the case. ”As usual, the consequences of truly no growth in the labor market leaves particularly politicians to emphasize nothing other than the unemployment rate,” Snider says. https://qz.com/1297561/the-dazzling-us-unemployment-rate-is-blinding-americans-to-a-much-darker-reality/ https://qz.com/1297561/the-dazzling-us-unemployment-rate-is-...
    - seibelj 8y ago
      The unemployment at historic lows, the stock market booming, and all signs point to a vibrant labor market? Better find an article that claims the unemployment rate doesn't matter and the economy is actually bad, because mainstream statistics disagree! I think you should stop believing conspiracy theories.