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Unionism, why it’s necessary

I’m not going to get into the history of unions in America because I’ve been there, and it gets boring saying the same things over and over.

However, I do have to say that unions are one of the most important avenues for workers in any society; although, sadly they’ve lost most of their fire over the last few decades.

Why am I brining this up? Well, I’ll give you 2 words: “Writers Strike.”

I won’t beat around the bush, I am on the writers’ side. The fact of the matter is that the networks are lying pieces of crap.

Uh, let me try that again, the networks, producers, and etc. are deceiving the public about the future of the entertainment industry. I’m not going to get into all of the back story because there’s too much, so if you want, just check Google.

I’m writing in defense of the union, and unionism in general.

From as far back as history has records of wage slavery and people working for others in order to ensure their own survival, employers have endeavored to exploit their workers, and workers have been unable to stop them. Those employers do everything possible to cut costs, keep wages (and/or residuals) as low as possible, and ensure that they maximize their profit.

This is natural, this is rational, but it’s also destroying workers because they tend to work harder with less, or little pay back in the end.

It is important–and this is why the National Labor Relations Act was passed in 1935–for workers to be able to ban together, and use their collective power to try to counterbalance their employers’ exploitation.

So what? You ask.

Well, it amazes me that people are rebelling against the writers for being selfish. For fighting for what they justly deserve, and asking “too much” because they get paid “enough.”

And yet, the networks are what, Saints? They’re not selfish? They bastardize the economic system, and yet the writers are to blame.

There’s one argument that I can sympathize with: that there are other employees–who don’t write or produce–that suffer, get laid off, and etc. But, who do I blame for this? Nope, not the writers, not the union, I blame the networks for once again being selfish.

Like I said, seeking profit is natural and rational; however, the networks are holding onto profit that is not theirs by all rights. The writers deserve to receive their profit if the system is to work.

If all employees–and the public–band together in support of unions and workers rights, what changes? Exploitation will be more difficult. I’m not saying society will be perfect (I understand why people would not want to live with the same labor economy as in Europe), but changes do need to happen, or we get more Merrill Lynchs ((With employees getting laid off due to inappropriate actions at the top.)), and more drama that’s not so fun to watch.