Workers' Rights and Jobs

Workers' Rights and Jobs – all working-age people have the right to safe, just, non-discriminatory and dignified working conditions, a sustainable living wage, paid leave and economic protection.

PROBLEMS:

1. The decision making process is removed from the workers and the workplace - the opinions, knowledge and skills of the workers are not heard.

2. Workers are dehumanized in the corporate world.

3. Robots are replacing workers.

4. Unemployment leads to decreased spending and hurts the economy.

5. Lack of bargaining power and organizing rights.

6. Use of the economic crisis for union busting.

7. The balance between new technolgy and jobs - responsibility to the current workforce when buying out companies, job retraining.

8. Loss of jobs to low wages around the world.

9. Lack of dignity.

10. Avoidance of corporate taxes.

11. The human rights framework for worker rights - particularly articles 23 through 25 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

12. Temporary and contractural work to avoid providing benefits.

13. Trade agreements and globalization of the workforce.

14. Unfair treatment of global workers - children, low pay, threat of violence.

15. Need independent, reliable sources of reporting.

16. Changes to organized labor - democratize labor.

17. There are no tariffs for jobs that go overseas, there are actually tax incentives for jobs that go overseas, tax holidays to bring assets back.

18. Need a real national jobs program.

19. There is a global jobs crisis. Governments are in austerity mode, corporate profits are soaring and profits are not reinvested in jobs. Low wages are global.

20. Neoliberal policies.

21. Lack of benefits on the job.

22. Capital crosses borders easily but workers do not.

23. Corporations have the rights of people but not the responsibility (no moral obligation).

24. Cell manufacturing - instead of assembly line, easier to move a factory, subcontracting work.

25. Legislation doesn't address global problems.

26. Government using private contracting for public functions. 

27. Need to look at whether or not jobs created are needed.

28. Minimum wage is not a living wage and wages are falling.

29. Using federal workers for political gain (create jobs that disappear once elected).

30. Worker safety is not enforced.

VISION:

1. Greater input in decisions by workers, job structure, how work is structured, 

2. Government control of corporations, not vice versa.

3. Employers connect employees to basic needs, not vice versa.

4. American companies adhere to American labor laws or better.

5. Global alliances to meet problems on all fronts, global worker solidarity.

6. Wages increase with productivity.

7. Respect for the commons (air, water, etc.).

SOLUTIONS:

1. Autonomous economy.

2. Fairer pay scale (lower CEO to worker ratio).

3. Reconfigure corporate boards to add workers voices.

4. Microcredit programs to encourage local businesses.

5. Greater worker participation and share in the profits -  use tax credits to support this.

6. Worker control over tax credits for businesses - entrepreneurial credit?

7. Appropriate technology - used to improve lives instead of decreasing jobs. 

8. Corporate export tax.

9. Community benefits agreements - employees/community judge corporation.

10. Corporate reponsibility.

11. Education tracks - vocational and professional.

12. Ending corporate trade agreements.

`13. Fully fund public education and healthcare.

14. Guaranteed national income - jobs for all at a living wage.

15. Evidence-based job creation - microcredit, local jobs keep money local.

16. Takeover of factories and reopening factories.

17. Financial transactions taxes to fund jobs, public investment in green jobs.

18. Restore greater good principle.