2 ms·

> This seems like a LOT of issues that still need to be hammered out. They have been negotiating for two and half years. That seems like plenty of time to me.

by throwaway2037 2y ago

> This seems like a LOT of issues that still need to be hammered out. They have been negotiating for two and half years. That seems like plenty of time to me. Can you imagine a union nego taking that long in a country where labour laws are stronger? Seriously: Can you imagine Germany's IG Metall spending 2.5 years to negotiate (without success!) a new contract? It is unthinkable. One thing I have observed over the years, no matter what are the core issues, it is "never a good time" to strike as a union. I see this sentiment repeated over and over again (over decades!) by anti-unionists. > there's not a clear button the Times can push on behalf of the union to end the strike immediately There is: Agree to the demands of the union.

erulabs 2y ago
I’m never sure how to feel about arguments that take the form of “it’s obvious, just compare to <thing a statistically vanishing number of people could possibly be in a position to evaluate>”. I’m not sure how many Americans in an average group of 100 are aware of the average union negotiation time of a specific German union, but I’d guess between 0 and 1? I asked my German wife and she looked quizzical and asked if I needed her to Google it. I’m not disagreeing with you but I’m not sure this form of argument-by-esoteric-fact accomplishes your goals. Maybe I’m just uninformed, but as an uninformed reader, I’m not inclined to believe you. Present it as novel information and not something hilarious obvious, and you would probably have won at least one supporter.
- throwaway2037 2y ago
  I understand you sentiment. I was trying to offer an outsider's perspective. It's like talking a Swede about what happens when you don't have health insurance. They will look at you confused. "What do you mean 'don't have health insurance'? That is impossible in Sweden." Also, according to Wiki, IG Metall is <<the dominant metalworkers' union in Germany, making it the country's largest union as well as Europe's largest industrial union.>> I did some Google searches to find last few negotiations. It normally takes a couple of months. 2.5 years (NYT) is just... well... insane.

erulabs 2y ago

I’m never sure how to feel about arguments that take the form of “it’s obvious, just compare to <thing a statistically vanishing number of people could possibly be in a position to evaluate>”. I’m not sure how many Americans in an average group of 100 are aware of the average union negotiation time of a specific German union, but I’d guess between 0 and 1? I asked my German wife and she looked quizzical and asked if I needed her to Google it. I’m not disagreeing with you but I’m not sure this form of argument-by-esoteric-fact accomplishes your goals. Maybe I’m just uninformed, but as an uninformed reader, I’m not inclined to believe you. Present it as novel information and not something hilarious obvious, and you would probably have won at least one supporter.

throwaway2037 2y ago
I understand you sentiment. I was trying to offer an outsider's perspective. It's like talking a Swede about what happens when you don't have health insurance. They will look at you confused. "What do you mean 'don't have health insurance'? That is impossible in Sweden." Also, according to Wiki, IG Metall is <<the dominant metalworkers' union in Germany, making it the country's largest union as well as Europe's largest industrial union.>> I did some Google searches to find last few negotiations. It normally takes a couple of months. 2.5 years (NYT) is just... well... insane.