The 5 Biggest Corporate Lies About Unions | Robert Reich

Former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich debunks the biggest myths about unions spread by corporations.

[andrewb]

I'm a union railroad employee. Non-union workers in my field make almost half what I do and not nearly as good of benefits.

[Randolf.Redbeard]

Narrowing it down to just 5? I salute you Mr. Reich. I know that couldn't have been easy.

[jeeveekaa]

For a Dutchman, who has a great interest in American politics and history, your videos are really helpful. Thank you Robert!

[dageo]

To change the narrative about labor unions, we the people need to spread the word about it

[SilverGuard]

The way I see it. there are 3 pillars of a healthy, functioning, Capitalist system.
1: Strong Unions
2: Regulations with real teeth
3: The pressure of competition

[StephenGA]

That's why Wal-Mart will fire anyone who talks about a Union that's employed by them. Then Wal-Mart would have to pay a living wage and stop it's disgusting practice of using government programs to feed and insure their employees. Wal-Mart is the prime example of why workers need unions!!

[fobxxl]

I retired in 2002 from AT&T. If it weren't for the UNION we would have been screwed MANY TIMES !

[wendyscott]

Totally correct. The best jobs I had in my working life were union jobs. Back in the late 60s, I got an office job at a trucking company. My first husband was working for IBM and made very good wages. Between his income and mine, we didn't know what to spend it all on. I was what they called an extra clerk, which meant I worked various positions when those holding them were out sick or on vacation. I had such good wages, I could pick and choose when I worked. The last job I had before I retired was as a medical transcriptionist for a huge medical center, and it was also unionized. I made $30 an hour. My second husband was a teacher, also a unionized job. We're now living rather comfortably on his retirement income. You can't tell me that unions aren't great for workers and great for the economy.

[kristenrdesinski]

One of the largest and most effective opponents of retail unions? Wal*Mart. They used to (not sure about current training modules) require employees to watch a video module on unions and why they are harmful to the company and it's workers. It was pretty logical to the uneducated or inexperienced employees who had not encountered unions or knew nothing of the benefits that unions provided as part of worker contracts.
Are there unions that are poorly managed? Yes. Do some local union chapters need better oversight? Probably. Accountability and transparency is good for any entity that is responsible for the conditions of members/employees.

[unmog]

Basically anything the rich tells you, just believe the opposite. They're incentivized to lie to you

[ellengran]

US is on path to become what France was before the revolution. A few extremely rich families, the rest poor.

[johngermain]

Yes, a Rising Tide lifts ALL boats. Politicians should also realize that as our wages increase, so do tax revenues.

[TheStevehuff]

If labor unions are so bad then why do corporations do everything they can to discredit them?

[brookebradford]

AI & robotics can't unionize, yet their involvement in the labor & service industries are growing exponentially & internationally. If capitalism is going to remain, unionization AND real human involvement need to be reinstated as dominant.

[tonerduckpin]

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You, Robert Reich for posting this video on Labor Day. Your next video should be about the process of getting you workplace Unionized.

[LadyDoomsinger]

Living in Denmark, it is utterly bizarre to me, how Americans don't understand the benefits of unions. You'd think it common sense; when people stand united, they possess more leverage than when its every man for himself.

[spiritsbeyondthestars]

That's why they made the law right to work to get rid of Union. That was the worst idea that they ever came up with. Thank God I'm still in the Union.

[Actanonverba]

As a biotechnology worker I have wanted to join a union. I saw Execs get tremendous incentives for just joining companies and start-ups. Compared to newly minted MS and PhD workers with no experience get raked over the coals, taken advantage of...

[glenboniface]

No billionaire should ever be president.

[ITSJFE]

Makes sense now. When I used to work at Frito-Lay, anytime they were about to change our pay( or lower it)... they will make us watch a video on why we shouldn't unionize