Indiana

Labor Pains

By Abdul Hakim-Shabazz

I was downtown Thursday as dozens of employees from the city’s hotels were gathering together to stage a protest over the wages paid to workers at the Hyatt and their inability to unionize.     Forty-one people were arrested, including City-County Councilor Joanne Sanders.  They were charged with blocking a public sidewalk, a misdemeanor.

I think a couple points need to be made here.  The union issue between the Hyatt and some of its employees is a pretty standard one.   The Hyatt says it doesn’t mind dealing with a union as long as it’s done by secret ballot.   The workers who want to unionize want to use the process known as “card check”.  Instead of a secret ballot, workers sign a form saying they want a union and the company has to stay neutral in the process.

I have never been a fan of card check.  As much as I despise unions and the concept of collective bargaining, if people want to unionize they should have the right to do so, but it should be done by secret ballot so people can be free from intimidation.  The bigger issue though is pay and wages.   I understand people wanting more money, but my father always told me, if I have a job and don’t like the pay, I should either get another job or shut up.

The last time I checked, slavery was illegal in this country an no one was forced to work anywhere.  Should a company that’s making money hand over fist share the wealth with it’s employees?   Sure, if that’s what they want to do.  Should a corporation pay a “living wage”?  Sure,  if that’s what they want to do.  Of course, no one can tell me what a “living wage” actually is.    The fundamental principal of employer-employee relations is that both parties are free to contract with each other.  Employees don’t have to take what the company offers and the company can’t force the employees to stay.

So my advice to the hotel workers who don’t like their pay, get another job that pays closer to what you want and go get some marketable skills so you can back up those demands.  No one is guaranteed anything in this world.  Sorry, but that’s how it is.  Deal with it.  You’ll live longer and sleep better.

Full post as published by Indiana Barrister on July 23, 2010 (boomark / email).