As union membership has declined, so has the middle class...

[kentuck]

And so has the standard of living of more Americans.

The political support for the so-called "global economy" has driven jobs out of this country, with the promise of huge profits and tax breaks from the government. That has done more damage to our jobs and labor force than any other factor. In fact, American corporations created more jobs overseas last year than they did in America.

Even when the President was bailing out GM and the auto companies, they were actually making record profits overseas. It was their American manufacturing that was in "trouble". So we paid them huge sums of money to keep their jobs in America. It wasn't about profits - it was about maximizing profits.

Apple, the great success story of all time, moved nearly everything overseas. That is why they are sitting on over $76 billion dollars in cash. They are a disgrace to American manufacturing. Yes, they moved to where they could make the most money but they kept the market where they could make the most sales. And they got tax breaks for doing it. I see nothing in Apple to brag about.

The anti-union folks preach about the right-to-work and negotiating with your individual employer. Good luck on that! And just what is the unemployment rate in these right to work states and what are the average wages? And how many are on food stamps? They have used their propaganda well but they are a fraud. They would destroy what is left of the shrinking middle class.

Most anti-union folks have today off. It is a holiday, not given by employers, but negotiated for the workers by the unions of America. As are most of the benefits these folks enjoy, such as the 40-hour week and time and a half pay for overitime, as well as their breaks they get while they are working. Their sick days and holidays and health benefits are mostly due to the work of unions. Anybody that does not appreciate what unions have done are either stupid or ungrateful.

[TBF]

1. Funny how that works. K&R for the OP. Happy Labor Day! nt

[LWolf]

2. k&r

[Omaha Steve]

3. K&R!

[FarCenter]

4. Union members were the "working class"

When a large percentage of workers started to think of themselves as "middle class", and they became more concerned about consumer issues (per Ralph Nader) and environmental issues (per Rachel Carson), it was the beginning of the end for the unions.