Labor Rights and Protections

“Unions are the voice of the working people. When unions are strong, workers are heard, and democracy is strengthened.”

– Paul Wellstone

The Problems:
  • Inadequate Wages: The federal minimum wage is insufficient to meet the basic needs of workers and their families.
  • Weak Union Protections: Existing laws do not adequately protect the right to unionize and collectively bargain.
  • Lack of Worker Ownership: Workers often lack ownership and control over the companies they work for, leading to a disparity in wealth and decision-making power.
  • Plutocratic Market Dominance: Plutocrats often hold significant shares, enabling them to dominate corporate boards, influence major business decisions, and prioritize their financial interests, which can greatly disadvantage workers and consumers.

Our Solutions:
  • Minimum Wage Increase: Raise the federal minimum wage to a living wage to ensure all workers can afford basic necessities.
  • Union Support: Strengthen laws protecting the right to unionize and collectively bargain. Provide federal, state, and local support for union activities and penalize union-busting tactics.
  • Worker-Owned Cooperatives[1]: Promote the establishment and growth of worker-owned cooperatives through grants, tax incentives, and technical assistance.
  • Democratic Ownership and Wealth Redistribution[2]: Transfer control from wealthy shareholders to workers, redistributing shares based on tenure. Allow non-controlling shareholders to sell shares back for redistribution. Shift focus from the stock market to public retirement programs, bonds, and commodities. Encourage companies to offer defined-benefit pension plans.

Our Reasoning:
  • Economic Security: Raising the minimum wage ensures that all workers can meet their basic needs, reducing poverty and improving quality of life.
  • Worker Empowerment: Strengthening union protections and supporting worker-owned cooperatives empowers workers to have a greater say in their working conditions and company decisions.
  • Fair Ownership: Redistributing stock ownership to workers based on tenure ensures that long-term employees benefit from the company’s success and have a voice in its management.
  • Stable Retirement: Transitioning from stock market reliance to defined-benefit retirement pension programs, secure investments, and company-offered defined-benefit pensions provides more secure and predictable retirement options for workers.

How we will accomplish the task:
  • Legislative Action: Pass laws to increase the federal minimum wage, strengthen union protections, and support worker-owned cooperatives.
  • Stock Market Redistribution: Implement regulations to transfer control from wealthy shareholders to workers, and facilitate the buyback and redistribution of shares based on tenure.
  • Investment in Public Programs: Increase funding for public retirement programs and promote investment in bonds and commodities as secure alternatives to the stock market.
  • Company Incentives: Provide incentives for companies to offer defined-benefit pension plans and other retirement benefits.
  • Education and Outreach: Educate workers and companies about the benefits of worker ownership, cooperative models, and comprehensive retirement plans, and provide resources to support these transitions.

Funding:

Labor Rights and Protections | Net +$60 billion annually in federal discretionary spending with these policies

  • Minimum Wage Increase:
    • Estimated Cost: $120 billion annually (to cover increased wages for all minimum wage workers).
    • Funding Source: Reallocate $60 billion from other social programs and increase revenue from progressive taxes by $60 billion.
  • Union Support:
    • Estimated Cost: $10 billion annually (for federal, state, and local support).
    • Funding Source: Reallocate from less impactful discretionary spending.
  • Worker-Owned Cooperatives:
    • Estimated Cost: $5 billion annually (for grants and tax incentives).
    • Funding Source: Shift $5 billion from corporate subsidies.
  • Democratic Ownership and Wealth Redistribution:
    • Estimated Cost: $30 billion annually (for managing and redistributing shares).
    • Funding Source: Reallocate funds from stock market incentives and direct towards public retirement programs.

[1] Shifting corporations to worker-owned cooperatives is a transformative approach to create fairer workplaces where profits align with labor contributions, rather than simply enriching wealthy shareholders. Unlike traditional corporations that prioritize constant financial gains for a small number of shareholders, cooperatives emphasize financial stability and reinvestment in their teams. By empowering employees to share in ownership and decision-making, cooperatives foster innovation and collaboration. This model ensures that financial benefits flow to those who directly contribute to the company’s success, aligning incentives and enhancing morale across the workforce.

[2] To promote a fairer distribution of stock wealth, we advocate for expanding stock ownership opportunities similar to existing stock options available to many employees today. This reform would ensure that employees, rather than just a small group of elite shareholders, benefit from the value they help create. Legislation would protect small shareholders and ensure a balanced approach, with government oversight and a strong legal framework to support fair implementation. Through clear communication and public education, we aim to build understanding and support for this model—one that aligns with democratic values and ensures that everyone, not just a few, can share in the prosperity they contribute to.