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News at 11: Americans don't like unions and is fighting EU that does...

ffgjgf1 3y ago
Except most American automakers besides Tesla seem to have very strong unions. Which are also possibly more effective at maximizing their members wages than the unions in Europe.
- lawn 3y ago
  Swedish unions aren't primarily focused on wages but on other benefits, such as more support during paternity leave and better work-life conditions.
  - ffgjgf1 3y ago
    UAW is also focusing on all of those things (except maternity leave, US seems to be massively behind Europe in that area). Of course they failed to force the 32 hour workweek during the negotiations over the last few months but UAW workers seem to get more vacation days than Volvo in addition to much higher wages (and profit sharing bonuses etc.)and pensions.
    - kmlx 3y ago
      > Of course they failed to force the 32 hour workweek did you mean the 40 or 48 hour workweek?
      - ffgjgf1 3y ago
        No, one of the primary demands during the strikes a couple of months ago was a 32 hour workweek without any reduction in weekly pay. Instead they ended up negotiating higher 20-60% wages and improving some other benefits but no reduction in working hours.
        bryanlarsen 3y ago
        AFAICT the phrase was "overtime for work above 32 hours". So anybody working 32 hours would get 32/40th of a wage, and anybody working 40 would get 48/40th. But in my opinion, the overtime demand was just a "duck"[1]. Something easily negotiated away so that the union and company could meet in the middle. It's standard procedure in negotiations to make ridiculous demands so that you don't have to negotiate away non-ridiculous demands. 1: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9137736 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9137736
- eddtries 3y ago
  Swedish unions are there to set minimum wages, benefits, pensions, etc… because we have an actual free market & the social cushion for the natural losers of a free market. Unions have to take the role of negotiating with companies because the government doesn’t.
  - ffgjgf1 3y ago
    > unions are there to set minimum wages, benefits, pensions, I’m not sure how is that different from the UAW in the US? They do all of those things and seem to be as or even considerably more successful than European unions at achieving those things.
    - dagw 3y ago
      The fundamental difference is that in the US the Government dictates minimum wages and working conditions by law, in Sweden it's the unions that do it by agreement.
      - ffgjgf1 3y ago
        I’m not sure that’s relevant in this case? The minimum wage for UAW represented workers is over 300% higher than the one set by the federal government. Healthcare, retirement and vacation benefits are also massively better than those required by government. This was all achieved through an agreement with the union. Also it’s not like anyone working in non union factories owned by Japanese, European manufacturers or Tesla are earning anything close to the minimum wage anyway.
        xorcist 3y ago
        It's very different. The respective unions see their roles very differently, and fight for completely different things.

Except most American automakers besides Tesla seem to have very strong unions. Which are also possibly more effective at maximizing their members wages than the unions in Europe.

lawn 3y ago
Swedish unions aren't primarily focused on wages but on other benefits, such as more support during paternity leave and better work-life conditions.
- ffgjgf1 3y ago
  UAW is also focusing on all of those things (except maternity leave, US seems to be massively behind Europe in that area). Of course they failed to force the 32 hour workweek during the negotiations over the last few months but UAW workers seem to get more vacation days than Volvo in addition to much higher wages (and profit sharing bonuses etc.)and pensions.
  - kmlx 3y ago
    > Of course they failed to force the 32 hour workweek did you mean the 40 or 48 hour workweek?
    - ffgjgf1 3y ago
      No, one of the primary demands during the strikes a couple of months ago was a 32 hour workweek without any reduction in weekly pay. Instead they ended up negotiating higher 20-60% wages and improving some other benefits but no reduction in working hours.
      - bryanlarsen 3y ago
        AFAICT the phrase was "overtime for work above 32 hours". So anybody working 32 hours would get 32/40th of a wage, and anybody working 40 would get 48/40th. But in my opinion, the overtime demand was just a "duck"[1]. Something easily negotiated away so that the union and company could meet in the middle. It's standard procedure in negotiations to make ridiculous demands so that you don't have to negotiate away non-ridiculous demands. 1: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9137736 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=9137736
eddtries 3y ago
Swedish unions are there to set minimum wages, benefits, pensions, etc… because we have an actual free market & the social cushion for the natural losers of a free market. Unions have to take the role of negotiating with companies because the government doesn’t.
- ffgjgf1 3y ago
  > unions are there to set minimum wages, benefits, pensions, I’m not sure how is that different from the UAW in the US? They do all of those things and seem to be as or even considerably more successful than European unions at achieving those things.
  - dagw 3y ago
    The fundamental difference is that in the US the Government dictates minimum wages and working conditions by law, in Sweden it's the unions that do it by agreement.
    - ffgjgf1 3y ago
      I’m not sure that’s relevant in this case? The minimum wage for UAW represented workers is over 300% higher than the one set by the federal government. Healthcare, retirement and vacation benefits are also massively better than those required by government. This was all achieved through an agreement with the union. Also it’s not like anyone working in non union factories owned by Japanese, European manufacturers or Tesla are earning anything close to the minimum wage anyway.
      - xorcist 3y ago
        It's very different. The respective unions see their roles very differently, and fight for completely different things.