If there was ever an indication of what a difference unionism can make then this is it. Target has capitulated and followed Walmart in raising it's wages to a poultry $9 an hour. Yes, that's $9 an hour after the raise. FFS. I think it was about $7 an hour before that.
So why is the pay so low? Simply put, the workforce isn't unionised. In fact Target goes so far as to make new employees watch Target's very own anti-evil-union propaganda video:
Oh haven't I heard all that before here in Australia too. The boss says "Don't worry, trust me, I'll look after you" and you end up going years without a pay rise. *pfffft*The video assumes unions haven't evolved from about the 1950's by the sounds of it. I can say from my own experience with working in a unionised workplace that unions have moved with the times and (at least in Australia) flexibility comes with on site Enterprise Bargaining Agreements that benefit both workers and employers.
Apparently if workers in the US are to get more than $9 an hour the sky will fall, or something akin to that. Yes folks, in the rich US that can afford to spend 90% of the world spend on military hardware and weapons, Target can only afford to pay it's people $9 an hour. And god forbid if you protest or join a union in disgust.
Which brings me to Target Australia. Here are the pay rates in Australia, much more than $9 an hour:
Add to that the compulsory 9% superannuation that has to be paid into the employees super fund of the employees choice.
So what gives? Why can Target pay such an amount here but not there? Simply put, Australia has a much more unionised workforce. Target pays the above amounts here and does very well with profits and all. The sky hasn't fallen and won't.
Advice to US workers? Grow some balls. Stand up for yourselves. Don't believe the hype. The corporates aren't going to give you a raise beyond $9 an hour unless you fight for it. Go on strike. Make a point. Make the US a better place for when your kids join the workforce. Unite.
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