Can Labor Organizers and Union Busters Reach a Compromise?

Do you ever feel bombarded?  Energies coming at you from different directions?  Now that the Pandemic has subsided, referred to as the new normal, we wonder what’s next?  We have a war waging on the other side of the world, as well as the rise of nationalistic leaders and points of view in Europe and South America. 

We watched a country mourn the death of its beloved monarch. Most of the world knew only one Queen during its life:  Queen Elizabeth, the longest reigning monarch in history, and a woman at that. 

We have fires raging in the west and Florida cleaning up after the catastrophic hurricane Ian. The remnants of Hurricane Ian will be here for a long time. Rebuilding infrastructure, homes and businesses takes time, perhaps as much time as repairing the effects of the Pandemic which have yet to be fully understood. The world has changed rapidly. As a result, the world of work has been transformed.   

In the wake of the Pandemic, corporations realize they don’t need as many offices or warehouses.  Employees have learned that by working from home, they can get a lot more done without having to commute.  Liz Shuler, labor organizer and President of the AFL-CIO recently said that there is labor organizing happening in every sector of the economy, including Gaming, Apple Stores, Amazon Warehouses, Starbucks, and even amongst Mt Sinai post-doctoral students.

Grassroots organizing has experienced a decades-long decline. In the past two years, we have seen a resurgence of grassroots organizing efforts. Along with this increase in grassroots organizing, we’ve seen a multi-million dollar new industry emerge: union busting. I’m puzzled. Why would a company pay multiple millions of dollars to undermine the development of a union when fair wages and other benefits would likely cost them less in the long run? Why fear an empowered workforce aligned with corporate values and goals? Historically I recognize the rapport between companies and unions has been adversarial. Isn’t it time to revisit that?  

Labor organizing and union busting demonstrate the tremendous strain workers and their employers are experiencing.  As human beings, we are goal-directed. We work towards something. Since the Recession in 2008 many have been doing not only their own work but also the work of people who were let go. They’ve put their nose to the grindstone. They fear they too might be in danger of losing their job.  How might they support their family?  Fear has infiltrated the workplace perhaps more than ever. This fear is unseen, yet present nonetheless. And so it's difficult for workers to address this invisible menace. 

There will always be companies and people who work for them. It is what societies are built upon. Some people are driven to create their own businesses, while others prefer working for a multinational, midsize or small business.  Eternal is the dynamic tension between workers and employers. I wonder what the world would be like if both businesses and their workers trusted each other? What would happen if people in different functional areas like marketing, finance, and sales were compensated not for the functional area they were in but for the type of thinking that is required of them? 

Over the course of my career, I’ve interviewed thousands of people. What have I learned?  Employees know their value. Some clearly will tell you (in confidence that is) they are overpaid. Others know they are underpaid but value their job satisfaction over salary. Still others are frustrated at being underpaid, which undermines both their trust in the organization and their productivity. 

Like acorns falling from oak trees, each acorn has the DNA to become an oak tree. Some will grow strong and tall and live a hundred years while others might only reach 30 years and be prone to illness.  In truth, each is an oak tree having unique internal coding and characteristics.  The environment in which the acorn falls also plays a key role in its growth. The soil, weather, and other factors all play a part in the kind of tree that will grow.  Similarly, each of us is encoded with capability. Some will thrive on assembly lines while others become professionals. Others climb the corporate ladder or create new and exciting businesses. 

Employees are not simply employees:  they are all human beings, are all coded differently, and are all influenced by the environments they have grown up in. Within large work systems, people of all levels of capability are required to ensure the business thrives.

We forget that our country is made up of immigrants, except for those who were here first: the Native Americans. Sometimes, in the service of “paying their dues”, immigrant groups have been hurt by stereotypical institutionalization of beliefs.  Isn’t it about time we take a deep breath and recognize we are all human beings? Those of us who are parents know that no two children are alike.  Some are academically brilliant, while others are satisfied working with their hands. You don’t value one over the other, or do you?

We are one country. Let us take a lesson from Ukraine.  They are fighting for their freedom, their values, the right to choose. We did that in 1776. Have you forgotten?

It’s important that we discuss this in the workplace. Let me know what you think, and please forward this to your friends and colleagues.  Contact me at info@bovaenterprises.com 

And a quick announcement:  I am proud to announce that my newly published book, a collaboration released with Mission Matters, will be out soon.  You may watch an interview about the book here. Stay tuned for more details.