Is anti-union progaganda effective?

[Psy]

I noticed bourgeoisie propaganda had recently years really ramped up trying to make non-union workers fell like unionized workers are greedy and lazy. To me it seems counterproductive as it points out that the capitalists are not happy with workers that are in "the middle class" and wants to drive down their wages to the same level as non-unionized workers and for them to work harder with less safety regulation. Thus capitalist anti-union propaganda to me at least debunks the American dream as it capitalists telling the workers increases in living standards are for capitalist only and all workers should be content with minimum wage (like airline pilots that earn that on average earn the same as workers at McDonalds while having far more responsibility and investing far more in their training).

Yet do less class conscious workers actually buy this BS? Do they really want unionized workers to be as exploited as non-unionized workers or simply sore that they are more exploited?

[Red Commissar]

I can say it definately works in the United States. Most people I talk to seem to see unions as being lazy, wanting more money, and "unappreciative" of having a job. I believe we had a thread earlier indicating approval of unions in the United States is quite low.

[Psy]

I can say it definately works in the United States. Most people I talk to seem to see unions as being lazy, wanting more money, and "unappreciative" of having a job. I believe we had a thread earlier indicating approval of unions in the United States is quite low.

Yet if they worked harder there would be less jobs, I would think contract workers would understand that since they employment is depended on work the capitalist needs to be done. For example if there is only 6hrs worth of work in day and you do it in 6hrs you'd get only paid for 6hrs if your a contract worker but if you drag it out for 8hrs you'd get your full days pay and reduce the risk of the bosses thinking of downsizing you (especially if are part of a union that can hide how hard they are working from the capitalists more effectively).

[Red Commissar]

Yet if they worked harder there would be less jobs, I would think contract workers would understand that since they employment is depended on work the capitalist needs to be done. For example if there is only 6hrs worth of work in day and you do it in 6hrs you'd get only paid for 6hrs if your a contract worker but if you drag it out for 8hrs you'd get your full days pay and reduce the risk of the bosses thinking of downsizing you (especially if are part of a union that can hide how hard they are working from the capitalists more effectively).

Remember with the American workforce they are deluded into competing with one another over the illusion of advancement and making better wages. And with the increasing size of the service sector that encourages this kind of behavior, and the difficulties in organizing in that field, it's a tough time for unions.

They attribute their success and wages to hard work. Anyone who isn't making those wages, to them, is being lazy and not applying themselves.

[Psy]

Remember with the American workforce they are deluded into competing with one another over the illusion of advancement and making better wages. And with the increasing size of the service sector that encourages this kind of behavior, and the difficulties in organizing in that field, it's a tough time for unions.

They attribute their success and wages to hard work. Anyone who isn't making those wages, to them, is being lazy and not applying themselves.
Most non-unionized workers don't earn that much and earn much less then their counter parts in unionized shops. While unionized workers in the USA on average still don't earn much I know a lot of unionized co-workers that feel sorry for non-unionized workers and the sub-livable wages they earn for doing more work and having more responsibilities.

So but their own logic does not that mean union workers are more successful as most non-unionized workers are earning minimum wage while union workers are earning more? Also what advancement, maybe it is because I'm in the rust belt but most people here understand there is no advancement as they can see over-production and their relation to it.

[HEAD ICE]

In America a lot of anti-union sentiment comes from the perception amongst workers that the union routinely sells out their interests and are indistinguishable from bosses, resulting in having to pay dues with no visible benefit. There of course is the business propaganda already covered.

[Invincible Summer]

Even the media here tries to play up the "public" (almost all unionized) vs "private" (much less so) sector dichotomy, almost in a way that pits union workers who get paid a lot and have cushy contracts, etc against those who don't. It's not quite anti-union propaganda, but it definitely sets up the atmosphere for in-fighting amongst the working class.

[Jimmie Higgins]

It only works anywhere in the absence of the counter-weight of an effective and fighting labor movement. There has always been anti-union propaganda because it is a threat at the heart of the system that currently produces all the propaganda - hell, unions were illegal in the US until two generations ago.

So like all false-propaganda, anti-union propaganda only works unless people have immediate experiences or information that contradicts the propaganda. So while the same lies or worse were used during the strike upsurges of the past, many people had first-hand evidence that unions do help workers fight for their interests at work.

Now the right-wing often claims that unions "just take your money" and if your union is very beurocratic and quick to push a shitty contract onto the rank and file, then the propaganda has room to take root because there is no evidence to the contrary. If, on the other hand, dues were being used for strike-funds and to organize the unorganized and the rank and file did feel like the union was a vehicle for them to win better deals and have some power in the workplace, then people would be less swayed by propaganda and more determined to call out the propaganda when they hear it.

[danyboy27]

i noticed that what the media does is using valid exemples of corrupted union and apply broad generalisations to the whole concept.