"The problem in America is not that there are no jobs. It is that jobs are not paying.
America is becoming a nation of zero-opportunity employers, in which certain occupations are locked into a terrible pay rate for no valid reason, and certain groups ? minorities, the poor, and increasingly, the middle class ? are locked out of professions because they cannot buy their way in.
Why was Margaret Mary Vojtko, an experienced teacher who did the same work as a tenured professor, making less than $10,000? Because her university refused to pay her more than $10,000. Why is Deirdre Cunningham, a New York woman who works two jobs as a bank teller and a sales associate, living in a homeless shelter? Because her employers refuse to pay her enough to live anywhere else. Cunningham's plight is common: 28 percent of homeless families include at least one working adult.
During the recession, American companies found an effective new way to boost profits. It was called "not paying people". "Not paying people" tends to be justified in two ways: a fake crisis ("Unfortunately, we can?t afford to pay you at this time?") or a false promise ("Working for nearly nothing now will get you a good job later").
In reality, profits are soaring and poorly compensated labour tends to lead to more poorly compensated labour. Zero opportunity employers are refusing to pay people because they can get away with it. The social contract does not apply to contract workers ? and in 2013, that is increasingly what Americans are."
Peace!
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2013/09/2013923101543956539.html
America is becoming a nation of zero-opportunity employers, in which certain occupations are locked into a terrible pay rate for no valid reason, and certain groups ? minorities, the poor, and increasingly, the middle class ? are locked out of professions because they cannot buy their way in.
Why was Margaret Mary Vojtko, an experienced teacher who did the same work as a tenured professor, making less than $10,000? Because her university refused to pay her more than $10,000. Why is Deirdre Cunningham, a New York woman who works two jobs as a bank teller and a sales associate, living in a homeless shelter? Because her employers refuse to pay her enough to live anywhere else. Cunningham's plight is common: 28 percent of homeless families include at least one working adult.
During the recession, American companies found an effective new way to boost profits. It was called "not paying people". "Not paying people" tends to be justified in two ways: a fake crisis ("Unfortunately, we can?t afford to pay you at this time?") or a false promise ("Working for nearly nothing now will get you a good job later").
In reality, profits are soaring and poorly compensated labour tends to lead to more poorly compensated labour. Zero opportunity employers are refusing to pay people because they can get away with it. The social contract does not apply to contract workers ? and in 2013, that is increasingly what Americans are."
Peace!
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2013/09/2013923101543956539.html
