The problem with organized labor... So we're having a transit strike here in NYC. New Yorkers who don't work for the city are overwhelmingly freelancers and service employees, so they're less than sympathetic with the union's demand for 8% annual raises and full retirement benefits at 55 instead of 62.

The problem with organized labor is that it fights for its own piece of the pie rather than for everyone. By attempting to continue to hold employers responsible for health and retirement benefits (as well as seniority-based raises), unions are burdening old-line, uncompetitive industries. Worse, though, they are fracturing the working class and letting the government off the hook in the area of social justice.

Why should transit workers have pensions, but not retail clerks or waiters? And also, why should corporate enterprises enter into life-long paternalistic relationships with individuals just because they want to buy some services?

Organized labor should focus what's left of its clout on government (local, state, and federal) to enforce minimum wage laws and build a taxpayer-sponsored social safety net for all, not just for their members. And corporations should be lobbying government just as hard to get social insurance off their books and onto the government's.  ¶ 9:55 PM