It’s rare that a politician utters the words, “I was
wrong.” That type of blunt contrition is also exceeding uncommon among
commentators and columnists in the media.
But a column in February by Nicholas Kristof of the New
York Times took that tact and caught my eye. Kristof writes about foreign
affairs with a decided liberal bent, but he revealed in this column that his
views about organized labor were certainly not of the liberal, pro-union variety.
Until now.
On this Labor Day, it seems appropriate to offer a portion
of that piece:
of that piece:
“… A full-time construction worker earns about $10,000
less per year now than in 1973, in today’s dollars, according to (Jake
Rosenfeld, a labor expert at the University of Washington Rosenfeld.) One
reason is probably that the proportion who are unionized has fallen in that
period from more than 40 percent to just 14 percent.
less per year now than in 1973, in today’s dollars, according to (Jake
Rosenfeld, a labor expert at the University of Washington Rosenfeld.) One
reason is probably that the proportion who are unionized has fallen in that
period from more than 40 percent to just 14 percent.
“‘All the focus on labor’s flaws can distract us from the
bigger picture,’ Rosenfeld writes. ‘For generations now the labor movement has
stood as the most prominent and effective voice for economic justice.’
bigger picture,’ Rosenfeld writes. ‘For generations now the labor movement has
stood as the most prominent and effective voice for economic justice.’
“I’m as appalled as anyone by silly work rules and
$400,000 stagehands, or teachers’ unions shielding the incompetent. But unions
also lobby for programs like universal pre-kindergarten that help create
broad-based prosperity. They are pushing for a higher national minimum wage,
even though that would directly benefit mostly nonunionized workers.
$400,000 stagehands, or teachers’ unions shielding the incompetent. But unions
also lobby for programs like universal pre-kindergarten that help create
broad-based prosperity. They are pushing for a higher national minimum wage,
even though that would directly benefit mostly nonunionized workers.
“I’ve also changed my mind because, in recent years, the
worst abuses by far haven’t been in the union shop but in the corporate suite.
One of the things you learn as a journalist is that when there’s no
accountability, we humans are capable of tremendous avarice and venality.
That’s true of union bosses — and of corporate tycoons. Unions, even flawed
ones, can provide checks and balances for flawed corporations.”
worst abuses by far haven’t been in the union shop but in the corporate suite.
One of the things you learn as a journalist is that when there’s no
accountability, we humans are capable of tremendous avarice and venality.
That’s true of union bosses — and of corporate tycoons. Unions, even flawed
ones, can provide checks and balances for flawed corporations.”
