The US can't compete on consumer electronics unless the products are tweak-level stuff that's mostly driven by BS. We do a lot of design/developent in other areas, but even in Aerospace, Defense electronics that don't require a lot of security clearances, the US is importing. The average wages in the US are too high because the cost of living has been raised by high wages. This isn't saying that unions are bad per se, but they are behind a lot of large wage increases, cost to manufacturers via strikes and being strong-armed into agreeing to the terms demanded.
The link shows the reasons workers should be in a union and #1 is "Union members earn more than non-union members"- "Union members have better protections against abuses in the workplace" was at #5. Used to be that working conditions/safety and long hours were the main reasons for unions. Everything about unions is about higher pay and that can't help but raise the price of goods made and services provided in the country where those goods and services are purchased.
My dad worked for Harley-Davidson and one of the people he knew drove a Toyota pickup with a 'Buy Union' bumper sticker on it. Proud union member, too- used to bitch about people making $18/hour in the early-'70s for sweeping floors, then I reminded him that they were in the same union. He didn't like me. Boo hoo.
Remember when GM said they had included $1500 in the price of each vehicle for retirees and benefits? Thank the UAW and AFL-CIO for that and look at the range of prices for a Chevy Silverado 1500, for example- $35K-$70K. That's insane.
We all want to have a job that allows us to take care of ourselves and our families. Things like paid sick leave, affordable health care, paid vacation, retirement, 8-hour work day, and safe workplaces are important to each of us as an individual and all of us as a society. Not many people...
www.afge.org
