As Americans relax over the Labor Day weekend, they might consider the troubling trends in California - a bellweather state for the rest of the country. The average CEO now earns a staggering 419 times the wage of an average worker. One reason for this growing disparity might be the growing attacks on worker rights.
Unions ensure adequate wages, health coverage, and worker safety.
Union workers are more productive, have lower turnover rates, and enjoy a stronger voice in company decisions. Polls indicate a majority of workers would join a union if given a free choice. Yet, each year 10,000 workers are fired for supporting unionization efforts. Federal enforcement of labor law protecting the right of workers has dramatically declined. Employers constantly threaten to shut down in order to thwart unionization.