Subj : How far I've come...
To   : MRO
From : Rob Mccart
Date : Sat Feb 04 2023 01:15 am

RM> > It's a complex issue. Non-union places mainly only survive because they
  > > directly compete with Union places. If they pay less or have terrible
  > > working conditions, their workers will go elsewhere. Granted it's much
  > > better these days because of half decent minimum wages and safety conditio
  > > pretty much guaranteed by basic government rules.

MR>are you talking about canada or other countries? i'm in the usa and i dont se
  >ny non union places only surviving because they directly compete with unions.
  >places survive because of good business.

Sorry, to clarify, although my messages come through a US Board, I do live
in Canada. Having looked at the information online I know there are still
a lot of US States with quite low minimum wages. Here they are working on
a Federal absolute minimum of $15 per hour - Provinces can choose to set
their minimum wage at More than that, but not less.

My point on competing with Union places.. My brother worked for years
for Sears Canada and multiple times the Unions tried to get in there
but when it came to the workers voting, they chose Not to have a Union
because Sears treated them quite well, possibly better than a Union place.

MR>and regarding minimum wage, i only see that in non skilled jobs that
  >many adults  wouldn't even take.

Quite true in many cases.. But a devcent minimum wage is the only way
to avoid Major poverty for those who have to, or can only do, those
types of jobs. My very first job I started at minimum wage, but I never
worked for minimum wage again. You hope to get skills to be worth more
than that later in that job, or in your next job. BUT, if there's a Union
in place, what you can make is usually guaranteed but also limited to
what your Union has negotiated with your employer. My non-union jobs, I
generally started there making less than most of the people already there
but, within a few years, I was making more than most of them. You usually
don't have that option in a Union place.

RM> > he said that it's fairly nice there.. if you have money. But the average
  > > person there barely scrapes by. He mentioned the owner of a butcher shop
  > > that he bought from told him once, when complimented on the meat, that he
  > > tries to make it the best he can but couldn't comment much on it because
  > > he couldn't afford to shop in his own store.

MR>oh i'm sure that's a cultural thing were he's acting humble. i'm sure he
  >has the pick of whatever he wants.

Not quite.. You are right that he did get some products out of the shop but
he literally had to sneak them out. If they catch you taking them, you
are 'stealing from the people' and they tend to seriously frown on that..
all the way to a re-education camp somewhere in the frozen North..

From all, according to their ability, to all, according to their need..

(Unless you are already super rich and buddies with the Dictator.. Oops I
mean the 'President' of Russia..)      B)

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 þ SLMR Rob  þ God has always been hard on the poor. - Jean Paul Marat
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