A New Way to Fight Bad Bosses | NYT Opinion

As the Opinion video above explores, these are heady times for organized labor.
Unions have recently scored big victories in the auto industry and Hollywood; an increasing number of health care workers are starting to organize; and the threat of a strike resulted in big gains for hospitality workers in Las Vegas. Elsewhere, baristas, nail salon and fast food workers, graduate students, warehouse and retail workers, tech employees, domestic workers and ride-share drivers have been mobilizing as unions enjoy levels of public support not seen since the 1960s.
But it’s not all good news: The percentage of workers who belong to a union plunged to its lowest level on record in 2022.
In this video, Jeff Seal, a video journalist and comedian, argues for the wider use of an industry mechanism known as a minimum standards council to strengthen the labor movement and empower workers.
We’re not going to use this space to explain what minimum standards councils are. We’ll leave that to Jeff, who, in describing how these boards work and why we should care, takes viewers on a cross-country adventure and deploys an Uncle Sam wearing earrings, a megaphone on the streets of Seattle, a drive-through fast food order, boxing and even his mother.
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[@bmay282]

Minimum standards councils. This is what democracy is all about. End corporate welfare. Secure Living Wages for all workers. ❤️🇺🇸

[@brianstacy5606]

Let's first remember how NYT turned on Bernie, pumping out negative campaign coverage throughout 2016. Light-hearted progressive content is good, but not rolling over when it really matters is better.

[@djhero0071]

I think it was less about one newspaper running negative coverage and more Bernie not winning essential voting blocs and not explaining how he'd pay for his policies that did him in.

[@Sjalabais]

You say "the world's first minimum standards council", well...every social democracy works like this. Scandinavians call it "trepartssamarbeid", Germans write "Tarifvertrag" for industries. Welcome to the developed world, Americans. Now, on to fixing health care, justice and election system, schools, broadband policies etc.

[@xenn4985]

Lmao like you dont rely on our r&d

[@Pafemanti]

Let's say "the US's first...`' then. Good catch.

[@xenn4985]

@@Pafemanti still wrong, the US has had these as long as anywhere else.

[@mashucha]

@@xenn4985 Person A: *Says something reasonable* Person B: *Completely unrelated issue* That's what you sound like

[@centerrightpunk]

What's wrong with our justice system?

[@anoknskyle2243]

This is called industrial organizing, and it's something unions throughout the rest of the developed world have been doing for decades. The US stands virtually alone in requiring workers to only have a union which applies to their specific workplace, and not the entire industry they work in.

[@pwalshofficial]

That franchise owner is the exact reason the owners of these companies don't go on camera. They know their position is indefensible. You can raise worker pay without raising product costs. You just have to take it out of the profits which owners will never do because of their greed. This is why we need collective action, unions, and worker ownership.

[@ebrimajallow9631]

I have to disagree with you, beacause i think he wasn't listening to her at all. She a medium or small business owner not some multiple national corporation bringing billions yearly. She talking about the people behind them, who building their bueniss from scratch or building it up. They can't afford it with inflation and a new minimum wage, and she said she seeing a slow decreasing trend in her business profits.

[@centerrightpunk]

People are in business to make money and not for charity? I'm shocked!

[@pwalshofficial]

@@centerrightpunk charity would imply that these people are getting a handout for doing nothing. They are laboring and creating value for the corporation. Is that a hard concept to grasp?

[@centerrightpunk]

@@pwalshofficial the value of that product or service is determined by the buyer, which is in this case, the consumer market. Is THAT a hard concept to grasp?

[@pwalshofficial]

@@centerrightpunk that would explain why corporations are hyper inflating their products to make record profits while the average worker is barely getting by. This idea that the world is really economics 101 is really unfounded.

[@blue8710]

Unfortunately, lots of employees are modern slaves. The world needs people who can take their power back and become self-employed following their own values and creating a life that truly meets all their needs.

[@xenn4985]

By choice

[@lephtovermeet]

Cooperative ownership > unions but unions are still infinitely better than the absolute exploitation we have now.

[@siobahnhurley85]

Tell corporations the ride is over.

[@AlanNYCSeattle]

Very informative! I’m glad that Casa Latina in Seattle, WA was shown in this clip. Fighting the good fight! #WorkersRights

[@antemeridiemwolf]

OMG I love this so much!!! ROCK ON!!!

[@Unown-mg1fj]

Unionize !

[@arnbrandy]

I was wondering what the difference was between a MSC ans a union... Apparently, it's due to the way unions are done in the US, being per facility and not per industry. Many other cointries have something like a MSC, but the employee party is actually a union!

[@gljames24]

We need worker cooperatives! Employees should directly own their workplaces.

[@KarlSnarks]

How close are these to the Social Economic Council (SER) and its "poldermodel" in the Netherlands? While this did normalize union influence, it also kind of stunted unions in their bottom-up power because it professionalized the process, causing a focus on marginal benefits rather than transformative change, and increased the distance between representatives and workers. If Americans are going to do this, they should make sure they keep using strikes and other forms of bottom-up power as their main leverage in negotiations, and keep workers involved rather than making it an indirect process of professional representatives.

[@user-ce5vd2qv7y]

Mom needs help with wifi router is universal

[@lebthetapdancer]

Unreal Jeff Seal

[@Stop-qx3io]

What if we just did class collaboration 🤯🤯🤯

[@matthewcaldwell8100]

What makes you think that if companies suppress unions, they wouldn't do the same to minimum standards councils?

[@Marinealver]

When a Company goes bad the solution is to form a Union. What is the solution for when a Union goes bad?

[@matthewcaldwell8100]

The same thing that happens when there is a corrupt democratic government: the establishment and protection of procedures for redress and leadership change.

[@MarianoCiancone]

Unions have representatives whose sole purpose is to negotiate on behalf of the workers already. Sounds like this plan is just relabelling the wheel or the person making the video is horrendously misinformed.

[@jamiewilbert1302]

Go union! Trust nothing else

[@prestok]

I'm not in the US and English is not my first language, but from what I know, everything you said describes what an Union does, at least here in my country. But if you guys have to change the name of something to get over your prejudices and allow it to fight for you, sure, whatever.

[@100c0c]

Or unions operate in different ways in the US. (As he described in the beginning.) Are you unable to read or listen?

[@prestok]

@@100c0c You can save the aggressive attitude for 4chan, dude. I have no interest in getting into a name-calling match with someone who I don't know and doesn't know me. The beginning of the video says that lobbyists and the government have battered Unions. The way I see it, what I said still stands: they were forced to call Unions something else to be able to go around all the brainwashing the people suffered through the years, that conditioned them to being against their own rights. If you'd like to elaborate on what you mean by "operate in different ways", I'd be happy to read it, but I'd condition it to being grown-ups disagreeing. If all you can do is try to offend me while I try to have a conversation, I think both of us would be happier by carrying on with our lives, because none of us will get what we want.

[@PaulADAigle]

You also need to look at the contract workers working for Microsoft. It's a horrible system that pays the workers less by giving a large portion to the contract agencies and they're forced to have contracts limited to a single year before they are cycled out for other contractors. It all started back in 1999/2000 when MS was sued for abusing their workers by working them like full-timers with less pay. They "fixed" the issue by limiting the time on contracts. Now it's 365 days on contract and then a forced 100 days off (usually with unemployment) before getting another contract if they are lucky in interviews. Almost every position they leave is immediately filled by another contractor so they can't get their original position back. The constant cycle tears you down.

[@luddity]

So how would these be any less prone to corruption than what we have? Seems to me the best way is to restructure corporate charters for all businesses beyond family size as worker co-ops.

[@dvidsilva]

❤

[@crypticTV]

4:15 wow that's a lot

[@nurlindafsihotang49]

Sound like union busting😂

[@KarlSnarks]

We have this on a national scale in the Netherlands called the SER (and many other Euro countries have similar methods), and while it has normalized union negotiations and given them more legitimacy, it has definitely also stunted the power of unions. It professionalized the process, creating a distance between union reps and workers, de-emphasized strikes as primary tool of worker power (though it has seen a return lately), has a class-collaborationist character, and reduces negotiations to marginal benefits rather than transformative change. It's not all bad, but can definitely deradicalize and recuperate unions if not careful.

[@100c0c]

​​@@KarlSnarks Your unions and US unions are different. Ports in Rotterdam are modern and efficient. Meanwhile, US port worker unions have relegated US ports to being the most inefficient major ports in the world.

[@xenn4985]

Dangerous opinion

[@GREGORYABUTLER]

except not really if you don't have a union you have no rights that your employer is bound to respect Also... the New York Times is currently trying to stop it's online employees from unionizing.. so maybe there's a tiny bit of bias that affects this content?

[@kidmohair8151]

this is all well and good. but. when push comes to shove, just as it has always done since unions started gaining *real* power in the 1880's, government will shut these councils down as quick as their corporate masters tell them to. the problem isn't a lack of representation. the problem is the individual greed based socio-economic system.

[@ramonm.m8844]

Algorithm

[@Blue_Azure101]

Give them enough time, and they will infiltrate it and corrupt it from the inside

[@davidjgill4902]

Labor needs to be empowered to counter the abuses of corporations and billionaires in a globalized world, but has labor in America, in some cases, gone too far in the past? Is it fair to claim that unreasonable labor demands contributed to the decline and demise of the auto and steel industries?

[@d3nza482]

No. And no. Thank you. Good night.

[@100c0c]

​@@d3nza482 Ignoring the problem will just continue the decline of unions in the US. Look at how labor unions in NYC and Paris differ when it comes to subway construction.

[@augsdoggs]

I’m a third generation union worker (Teamsters Heavy Construction NYC). I support the effort and fight of fast food workers to make a living wage. But can they please try a little bit harder to get my order right?

[@Raunak164]

Tell their bosses to not understaff the outlets and overwork them. As someone who has worked in hospitality 99% of the time mistakes happen because staff are overworked.

[@augsdoggs]

@@Raunak164 OK, I’ll talk to their bosses. 😂

[@100c0c]

NYC Construction unions are one of the worst. Your unions jack up construction costs as much as possible while even stronger unions in France actually make reasonable demands and work efficiently.

[@fiveoh3814]

Get worker representation on corporate boards like that suggested by Bernie and done in Sweden. That's possible if you have the union density like that of Sweden. "Claim no easy victories" as Cabral said. Organise and win.

[@sitasurjitkalair8371]

😆

[@davidefucci7773]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/fJ3YYoWtZ8d6p9k

[@seanwebb605]

This video doesn't work. Tell me that ownership/management can really be represented as a boxer. Visually it appears as if workers are fighting against workers with Dave Hebner officiating.

[@bbqsnake7560]

I think cost of living increases are good in every industry but raising minimum wage always leads to prices of everything going up. I don't have a solution but as a teacher that sees costs of everything going up while my pay stagnates it's hard for me to get behind minimum wage increases rather than housing and health care fixes first. I think it's fantastic we are rallying around labor and insuring safe working conditions and a pay that makes sense but it seems like the middle earners keep falling behind and being forgotten too.

[@100c0c]

Would you vote for a conservative if you liked their plan for addressing healthcare and housing (whatever that may be) or do other issues take priority?

[@bbqsnake7560]

@@100c0c oh totally! I think that the policy makes the candidate not the party

[@PhokenKuul]

Unions have done just as much damage to themselves as anyone else has.

[@nicholasc.5944]

wtf do you want from us now NYT🙄

[@_rob_.]

Good luck with that sheep.

[@I.AM.JUPITER]

By your avatar, you seem to be part of the baby boomer generation. Let me tell you what is happening now- I am an IT professional- I cannot find a full time job, corps only hire contractors and the contracting companies are mostly owned by Asians. I have to spilt my rate with them. Believe me when I say I have worked in the country since I was 13, my contract wagers have not increased since 2007. As a contractor, I have no protection, no healthcare, no unemployment, rarely do I work 12 months out the year. Corporations hired me for a project 3 to 6 months and I’m let go. I have no recourse. Then it takes me 3-6 months to find another contract. This is not the economy of my parents or baby boomers. I am 59 yrs old, I haven’t any healthcare nor do I have any savings cause it goes as contracts end. Even if I am the only woman on a 12 person men team- I’m the one let go. I hope this gives you a picture of what is happening

[@bobsands3557]

who needs unions when you have pronouns, right?

[@cristianefraga7940]

luiz inacio l.lu.l.l.a. da silva says that american judges didn't want Brazil to have Petrobras in 1956!!!

[@vegan_victory]

Go vegan. It is the most important thing. Think of the sweet innocent animals. Go vegan for the animals. 🌱💪

[@seanwebb605]

Most of the animals that I eat are vegetarian or vegan. So in a sense I am supporting veganism by eating meat.

[@T.D.111]

Labor leaders are all about lining their pockets, not helping workers.... There are jobs available everywhere...no one is holding a gun to your head. If you don't like your job....move on.

[@KarlSnarks]

Not every union is great, but a good union is one of the best things workers can have to improve their conditions. Striking is a direct act of worker power.

[@I.AM.JUPITER]

I am an IT professional and the last 15 yrs, I have not had a full time job. I am hired as a contractor, I’m hired for 3 to 6 months at a time. The recruiting company that’s hiring me. I have to split my rate with them and they are mostly Asian. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong about Asians, they are overseas, and they have influence in the corporation to get me as a US citizen hired. My wages have not increased since 2007 as a matter fact, is getting worse because the recruiters are wanting more and more of a cut. Companies high contractors cause they could take them out on their tax benefits. They don’t have to hire full-time people. So 3 to 6 months I’m working next thing you know I’m let go. I could be the only woman in the team of 12 men and I’m let go. I have no recourse. There’s nothing I can do. There’s no unemployment. There is no healthcare. I did with America told me to do I went to school. I got a college degree. I went out to look for a job. And I have been shafted for the last 15 years. I am 59 years old now and I have no healthcare, if I’m let go over job, which I totally am between six months or whatever I have to live off my savings I can’t do unemployment. You don’t understand what corporations are doing to us right now. Maybe you have had a job you stayed in for 30/45 years great for you, but that is not what I have been experiencing. I am the first one to be let go, and then it takes me 3 to 6 months to find a new contract so my savings is always wiped out. I am a professional, black woman, but they will keep the Asians before they keep me. I’m not saying that anything is wrong with Asians. I’m just saying this is what we have. There is no recourse for me. I just have to play with these rules and pray that I don’t end up eating dog food and living on the street.

[@matt-30-]

I can’t be the only one who feels this way: this video is cringeworthy. The juvenilia undermines the content of this video essay. Can you imagine if Frontline used SNL-grade humor like in this video? This video isn’t meant for people like me, but those who are uninformed and they’re not going to entertain the ideas presented here because of the obnoxiousness of the mode chosen here.

[@SerpkoBakotiinii]

American workers can no longer compete with other countries because of their high wages. Are you demanding that their wages and work standards be raised even higher so that US industry will come to an end? Do you remember what happened to Detroit because of unions?

[@vanyac6448]

Which countries are American workers paid more than and given more benefits? In practically every other country in the developed world , paid maternity leave, at least a month of it, is legally mandatory. In Europe, so is at least 25 or so days (it varies country by country, but it's generally close to 25) of PTO that isn’t sick days or holidays (which have their own distinct legal mandatory minimums). Also fast food workers in Denmark are paid more than in the US and unlike in the US they get full benefits. Plus union density in every country in the developed world except South Korea is higher than in the US. Also, the reason why American automakers have been losing ground to Japanese automakers was because corporations in the US only worry about the profits on the quarterly reports, while Japanese firms think long-term. So where American firms just worked to make their cars look attractive to drive demand up and would then let them break down in a few years so that the customers would need to buy a new car, Japanese carmakers spent their whole existence making their cars more and more reliable so that they’d build up a loyal customer base that would come back to them whenever they want a new car. That made Japanese cars better, so customers switched to Japanese cars. Nothing to do with unions.

[@suckmyartauds]

You know auto workers in other countries could fight back too... maybe if American workers had disposable income they could fund it. Make it impossible for the corporations in underpay anyone, anywhere.

[@Sjalabais]

What happened in Detroit: Ford paid its workers enough so that they could afford the cars they were making. The US was once a decent country to live in - for everyone. Now it's a broken class society. Nobody benefits from working poor; least of all, the working poor themselves.

[@EpicGamer-hn5cy]

I got a wonderful idea! The American state shall force American corporations to bring back 70% of their manufacturing to the homeland. Failure to do so will result in the directors and c-suite being charged with treason, and the shareholders have all of their investments seized as punishment. American workers and taxpayer money through subsidies built American corporations, they'd be wise to listen to workers' and people's demands.

[@100c0c]

​@@vanyac6448 The reason why US unions are awful is exemplified in NYC subway construction. The unions make unreasonable wage and hiring demands. Meanwhile unions in Europe are reasonable and efficient while still helping their members.