In a blatant move of Anti-Labor sentiment, SpaceX and Amazon sue the National Labor Relations Board for “violating employee rights.” The board sued the two companies for:
- Refusing to meet with unions
- Retaliatory firings
The companies will try to argue that the labor board itself is unconstitutional. The company attorneys argue that the NLRB has unchecked power to enforce Labor Laws against the companies.
“The NLRB routinely exercises authority to prosecute alleged violators of federal labor law, define the legal standards that govern the prosecutions, and weigh the facts necessary to find a violation — with only limited judicial review by Article III courts.”
Right, because employees have so much power over their managers. Managers don’t just randomly message for employees to come in on days off or receive retaliation for asserting their human rights. Employees are just able to refuse a power-hungry manager’s monopolization of their time without consequence.
Through labor unions, higher wages, worker safety, and open communication are the goals of a union. Amazon and SpaceX are openly anti-union companies that have chortled about union busting.
Companies such as Amazon, SpaceX, Starbucks, Trader Joe’s, and many others disregard NLRB rulings and regulations to sustain the power of the employer. Even if retaliation is illegal, even if union busting is illegal, there are no repercussions without unions to enforce them. Just like when companies hire private investigators and contractors to “protect” the businesses, they’re aware that voices on the ground are vital to keeping the operation running. Same with the enforcement of worker’s rights.
If the companies are successful in suing the NLRB, this could spell trouble for anyone who isn’t born with a silver spoon in their mouth. If the corporate overlords are successful in their assault on your rights, you will work overtime without extra pay. You will accept any wages or risk being fired. You will accept any danger or get fired. These are the rights that corporations want to take away from you. You will piss in a bottle and be grateful for it. You will accept sexual harassment from your employer if they deem it fit.
There is a long history of everything labor unions have accomplished for people like me and you. Those who have to climb through the ashes. Those who only receive crumbs while capitalists devour cakes.
We have to remember that whatever argument the companies lob toward the NLRB, stems from their refusal to collectively bargain with the unions. It is the companies refusing to acknowledge their employees as people. The Capitalist wishes to dehumanize and turn Rob, Earl, and Charles into ID Numbers: 4334957, 2384092, 2347982. (Not real numbers.)
With SpaceX, eight employees allege that the company fired them in retaliation for being openly critical of the company’s decisions. More importantly, they dared to question the competence of Overlord Musk.
“We are trying to hold violators of our statute accountable. It would be chaos if the agency was not allowed to perform its functions and do it properly.” Jennifer Abruzzo NLRB General Counsel
Abruzzo’s accomplishments include outlawing “captive audience” meetings, where employers forced employees through anti-unionization seminars. However, Trump will most certainly change the game when he gets to office, appointing Peter Robb, a lead NLRB counsel who served under Reagan’s term when he fired the air traffic control strikers.
The only thing we can do is to brace for the storm incoming. Every Floridian understands this and while the damage is very real, many have recovered. Through a proactive and connected community, we can climb over the ashes that Trump and his minions place before us.
