For me, it was that protesting was only ever discussed as peaceful, civil activity, as was a way of communicating demands outside of the voting cycle.
Unionization and workers rights were never discussed. I didn’t learn about unions as a concept until nearly graduation when my first job had so much required training about how dangerous they were, and of course I assumed they were full of it and did my own investigation.
Oh yes! This actually happened to me multiple times. Typically it was something about how unions result in lower pay or would not represent my interests.
Of course that’s all BS! You only have to use your brain a little. For example, even if they’re not perfect representatives, who else then is going to represent you? Yourself? You don’t stand a chance against a large business.
The costs of union fees was a sticking point, and it’s easy to waive that in front of somebody’s face when it’s harder to measure the impact of your union fighting for fair pay and blocking exploitation. The counter argument is that not all benefits are easily quantifiable. Negotiated raises are just part of the total compensation, and the stated pay numbers you’d get without unions in the world are made up because you can claim whatever you want about something that is not the case.
It always bugs me a little when Labor Day rolls around and people just kind of ignore how workers’ rights were literally fought and died for, but as you said, they don’t teach us about Blair Mountain or Haymarket Square on purpose.
For me, it was that protesting was only ever discussed as peaceful, civil activity, as was a way of communicating demands outside of the voting cycle.
Unionization and workers rights were never discussed. I didn’t learn about unions as a concept until nearly graduation when my first job had so much required training about how dangerous they were, and of course I assumed they were full of it and did my own investigation.
Required training about the dangers of unions? Seriously? That is just so messed up…
Oh yes! This actually happened to me multiple times. Typically it was something about how unions result in lower pay or would not represent my interests.
Of course that’s all BS! You only have to use your brain a little. For example, even if they’re not perfect representatives, who else then is going to represent you? Yourself? You don’t stand a chance against a large business.
The costs of union fees was a sticking point, and it’s easy to waive that in front of somebody’s face when it’s harder to measure the impact of your union fighting for fair pay and blocking exploitation. The counter argument is that not all benefits are easily quantifiable. Negotiated raises are just part of the total compensation, and the stated pay numbers you’d get without unions in the world are made up because you can claim whatever you want about something that is not the case.
It always bugs me a little when Labor Day rolls around and people just kind of ignore how workers’ rights were literally fought and died for, but as you said, they don’t teach us about Blair Mountain or Haymarket Square on purpose.
And who was basically always on the wrong side?
The US military.