America’s Working Class Has No Lobby

[yurbud]

17. the full time/part time split is a classic union busting (or at least weakening) trick

Divide workers into two classes, take care of a minority of them, and they won't mind too much if the rest are screwed.

The other way of dividing workers is old vs. "new hires," so workers who have been there a while get raises and benefits but the newbies don't.

Companies get away with this because unions are democratic and those who are activists have usually been around for a while. When faced with losing for everyone or making things better for a few, union negotiators and members will often opt for the latter not realizing they are crippling their ability to form a united front in negotiations in the future.