Middle Class was 61% in 1971

[Triple_Se7en]

Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
Now it's down to 49.9%. Actually, I'm surprised it's even that high.

LINK


If it weren't for the Unions during those earlier heyday years / decades, the number today would probably be closer to 30%, rather than 49% today.

Today's paycheck numbers concerning union members don't matchup to those heyday years either. Back then the Big-3 had more employees than the cheap supermarket union employees today.

Shops need to join unions. The more unions - the better the pay and benefits. I don;t care if your Eyeglass Factory only has 10 employees. You will benefit in the long-run, by joining a Union.

 

[DoubleWasp]

I live the American dream. Would be hard to dent it.

I will say that it sure takes a lot more cunning, effort, shrewdness, and throat cutting than it used to.

The days of learning a trade, going to work to do your part, and bringing home the bacon are nearly gone.

 

[Mr Nice]

We're non Union employees (approx 43 employees on team)....

Start at $26 - 38 an hour (depending on qualifications) , PTO / vacations, insurances, great retirement package, tuition reimbursement yearly $10,000 limit, paid training, company car, over time on regular basis $20-40K each year, etc, etc...

When I tell hospital union employees we get two pensions... they look at me as if I'm crazy or kidding around. Hospital employees are part of the SEIU Union and hate it. 30 years on the job and looking back, a union would not of helped me except dealing with more headaches and aggravation. Lots of Union red tape to fire terrible employees or disciplining bozos causing trouble. No games when you work for me...

In some industries such as manufacturing, they are obviously pro Union for good reasons.

 

[artificialist]

People could more easily afford what they need if the dollar stopped getting inflated.

 

[GiveMeAVowel]

Originally Posted By: Triple_Se7en
Originally Posted By: Merkava_4
Now it's down to 49.9%. Actually, I'm surprised it's even that high.

LINK


If it weren't for the Unions during those earlier heyday years / decades, the number today would probably be closer to 30%, rather than 49% today.

Today's paycheck numbers concerning union members don't matchup to those heyday years either. Back then the Big-3 had more employees than the cheap supermarket union employees today.

Shops need to join unions. The more unions - the better the pay and benefits. I don;t care if your Eyeglass Factory only has 10 employees. You will benefit in the long-run, by joining a Union.



Yes, today very few rank and file workers understand voting and choosing options that are CLEARLY in their own best interests (joining organized labor unions) I think it has a lot to do with the lack of parental guidance, and a corporate media that promotes big business and all business at the expense of the ordinary employee or worker.

 

[javacontour]

I think workers understand just fine. If they saw these great benefitswere better than what they were getting, they would be signing up in droves.

The fact that unions are against right to work shows they fear workers having the free choice to make that value judgment. If unions are superior, they would be superior even in a right to work scenario and would continue to join even if they did not need to.

I will be convinced unionization is the way to go when they no longer block right to work efforts. As long as they block such efforts, they demonstrate an inability to compete on the merits of the choice and want to prevent workers from having the free choice to decide.

 

[supton]

Originally Posted By: artificialist
People could more easily afford what they need if the dollar stopped getting inflated.


'cept paychecks get inflated too. I mean, I don't work for what I made when I got out of college 15 years ago, and min wage certainly has gone up quite a bit since I started working.

Now you'd have to argue about if pay inflation matches cost inflation.

 

[Quattro Pete]

It's interesting how the article defines 'middle class'.
Quote:
$41,900 to $125,600 for a three-person household.

Depending on where in the country you live, it can be hard to make ends meet on $42K/year for a three-person household. So, even though statistically you can be classified as 'middle class', in reality you are living in borderline poverty.

 

[Mr Nice]

Good news: 250,000 new jobs created every month

Bad news: 90% are McJobs with zero benefits, current leadership pandering about job creation and working poor remaining 'poor'. Bozo daughters won't have that problem...

I sometimes post jobs here that pay decent wages.

 

[expat]

I know a pulp mill not to far away. 40 years ago it employed about 500 full time employees, on good pay. A guy could leave school with a grade 12 or even less, and likely get work there.

Today, with production at a similar level, they employ more like 50! Most have post secondary education (with the inherent student loans to pay off)