this post was submitted on 19 Sep 2024
1460 points (98.6% liked)
Work Reform
10044 readers
557 users here now
A place to discuss positive changes that can make work more equitable, and to vent about current practices. We are NOT against work; we just want the fruits of our labor to be recognized better.
Our Philosophies:
- All workers must be paid a living wage for their labor.
- Income inequality is the main cause of lower living standards.
- Workers must join together and fight back for what is rightfully theirs.
- We must not be divided and conquered. Workers gain the most when they focus on unifying issues.
Our Goals
- Higher wages for underpaid workers.
- Better worker representation, including but not limited to unions.
- Better and fewer working hours.
- Stimulating a massive wave of worker organizing in the United States and beyond.
- Organizing and supporting political causes and campaigns that put workers first.
founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
The classic definition is the wage needed to cover the basic needs of the family including things like rent, childcare, transportation, etc. I would go one further and say that the family needs to not be living paycheque to paycheque. They should be able to save for the future, go out once in a while, educate their children, save and pay for university, and advance themselves. They should be able to live.
Rent where? Rent costs vary wildly.
What sort of childcare, and how many children is it meant to support? Or do you get $X per child? And if so, is there a maximum number of children, where having more won't get you more money?
Over what distance? And how, owned vehicle or public transportation? If owned vehicle, what kind of vehicle? Used/new? Price ranges for vehicles also vary wildly.
That entails what amount of extra money? And what do you do about people who willfully choose to spend it instead of saving it? Are you aware that in the US, 1 in 4 of people earning $150k or more live paycheck to paycheck? Just because one has money to save doesn't mean they're going to do it.
Again, far too vague. How often? And how much money does 'going out' cost? You'd have to figure both of those out, and multiply them by each other, to ensure this goal is met.
Taxpayer-funded public school already covers this. Unless you feel everyone should be entitled to the cost of private schooling?
University tuition is another massive variable, so you'd need to decide how much is given for tuition. Also, if someone does not go to college, do they not get that part of the money?
The vaguest criterion yet. It's pretty much impossible to say if a given minimum wage satisfies 'everyone can advance themselves'.
As anyone can see, this "classic" definition is still full of major holes, and not nearly complete enough to even conceptualize a goal such that progress toward it can even be measured. Just saying "living wage" over and over will never get anyone anywhere.
Okay, but the point is - more bro.
You can argue til you're blue in the face and you're not wrong but it's besides the point, until they actually fucking agree to move the posts in the right direction.
Then work out all the details you want homie.
And my point is that without even being able to say how much more, not only do you know when you've reached the goal, but to opponents you come off as greedy and entitled with "I don't know, just gimme more bro".
That shit is just not going to work, ever.
You misunderstand the entire basis of the argument. A finely tuned plan is great and there are people to figure that out - but that's rolling the ball along, shaping and tuning it as it goes.
You can't do that, when there are giant chains on the ball preventing it from moving.
Cut the chains, then we'll talk.
I've said my piece, you said yours, I'm sure you'll disagree so agree to disagree. Good day
K