Tense labor market, shock of the pandemic, favorable administration: for academic Todd Vachon, the current strikes and the Democratic presidency of Joe Biden could help to reverse the neoliberal trend of the last forty years.–
Specialist in social relations in the United States and professor at Rutgers University, Todd Vachon sees in the proliferation of strikes the possible beginnings of a strengthening of the power of employees, after decades of worsening inequalities.
What is the particularity of this wave of strikes called “Striketober”, a contraction of “strike” and “October”?
It is rare to see so many simultaneous strikes in sectors as diverse as industry, services or transport. In addition, this movement is not the result of unionized workers alone. Of course, the unions are mobilizing because they know that in the current context of the tense labor market in the United States, they are in a position of strength. In August, 4.3 million people left their jobs. This is unheard of and has nothing to do with unions. They are simply people who have decided to re-evaluate their life and their professional choices.
Has the pandemic served as a trigger?
I believe him. People wonder: what do I want to do with my limited time on this planet? Do I want to continue with this physically grueling and poorly paid job? This is especially true for the famous “essential” workers. We called them heroes, we said thank you, but at the end of the day, their salary still isn’t enough to pay the bills and they don’t have the protections they deserve, especially in terms of health. Fear of the pandemic has raised awareness among American workers. Many want to grapple with the legacy of decades of neoliberalism, which has brought about a labor market where all the wealth generated goes to the richest, while the wages of the vast majority of workers have not even kept pace. inflation.
Can this strike movement gain momentum?
It is too early to tell, but many ingredients are in place to shift the balance of power, after decades of a system biased in favor of capital and employers. Much will depend on the strikes being carried out at the moment. Will they lead to tangible gains for workers? Will these victories inspire other employees to take action?
How are companies reacting?
Faced with the labor shortage, some offer signing bonuses, for example in exchange for a commitment to stay in post for three months. They are reluctant to increase the salary level but some have started to do so. This is also part of a fight that began several years ago, well before the pandemic, for a minimum hourly wage of $ 15. At the federal level, the minimum wage has not changed since 2009, it is 7.25 dollars. If we take inflation into account, it is worth less today than in 1968. This battle for 15 dollars has been an essential marker of the labor movement in recent years. Several states and large companies ended up moving, such as Amazon or the fast-food chain Chipotle, before the summer. In the current environment, workers have more power to demand these increases, simply by refusing to take on low-paying jobs.
Joe Biden has vowed to be the most pro-union president in history. He is trying to get Congress to adopt a gigantic program of social spending in education, health, childcare… Should we see a link between the stated will of the White House and the current social movement?
Yes, there is definitely a correlation between the two. Look at the history of our country: what remains of our welfare state today was basically put in place in the 1930s during the Great Depression, under the presidency of Roosevelt. He too wanted to be very supportive of unions and workers’ rights. His presidency was punctuated by numerous strikes and social movements, which aimed to push his government to translate its promises into action. Traditionally in the United States, unions are offensive when they have allies in power, and on the defensive when conservative governments attempt to reduce social protections.
Which has been the case for about four decades …
Yes, and not only elsewhere under the Republican administrations. Because if the Republicans openly accept their anti-union rhetoric, the Democratic Party, since the Clinton years, has also been largely neoliberal, defending an unbridled capitalism that was supposed to pull everyone up. But this trickle-down economy has only concentrated wealth in the hands of those at the top of the ladder. There seems to be an opportunity today to reverse the trend. This is playing out on multiple fronts, in strikes but also in Congress.
Do these two parallel fronts feed off each other?
Absoutely. It is crucial that subjects such as raising wages or strengthening social protection are on the political agenda and be the subject of debate. First, because it strengthens the action of unions and workers in the field. Secondly, because it consolidates the desire of a majority of Americans to see the political class tackle inequalities and the redistribution of wealth, in particular through public aid for childcare or higher education.
According to a recent Gallup poll, 68% of Americans support unions, a record since 1965. Yet only 6% of private sector employees are unionized. How to explain this paradox ?
It’s not really one. Unionization in the private sector is governed by federal law, which is very unfavorable to employees. To oppose the formation of a union, companies have at their disposal a whole host of tactics. For example, they can organize compulsory meetings to put pressure on employees. And if they do not have the legal right to fire an employee who would lead a union fight, the penalties are so low that in reality many do. It costs them much less than negotiating increases for all employees. All of this explains why the union membership rate has fallen so low. If we add civil servants, more than a third of whom are unionized, the rate rises to 11% because the public sector is governed by laws at the level of each state. There are enormous variations between states such as New York, New Jersey or Connecticut, where it is much easier to organize, and southern states where, on the contrary, local laws are hostile to workers and workers. unions, including in the public sector.
The Biden administration believes that this decline in unions has helped weaken American democracy. Are you of the same opinion?
Absoutely. Like other civic organizations, unions are an essential feature of a democracy. When an authoritarian regime emerges, it quickly attacks independent organizations, in particular unions. At the heart of democracy are the concepts of the will of the people and the general interest. But in a society of 300 million people, shared interest is not easy to define. Trade unions allow the formation of a collective identity and the defense of a collective interest within a specific and important place of our life, the work. They promote democratic practices within the business world, which is also very authoritarian. In the United States, when you enter work, you leave the Constitution at the door, especially if you are employed “at will”, that is to say subject to the whims of the employer who can fire you without reason or notice. Americans keep pushing forward and take great pride in their individual freedoms, but corporations have an incredible level of control over them. The cards may be being reshuffled.
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