From Crooks and Liars August 12, 2009.
It's Not Your Imagination, You Really Are Working Harder for Less Money.By Susie Madrak Wednesday Aug 12, 2009 6:00pm
See, Republicans and corporatists will love this - they'll say, "See how much they're producing with fewer people? Obviously, they were slacking off before." Remember, Republicans believe they're entitled to cheap, disposable labor without any pesky legal rights or protections that may get in the way of their profits.
Kind of reminds me of that scene in "Schindler's List," where Ralph Fiennes as the camp commander shoots a very sick man who somehow did the impossible task he was ordered to perform.
"Why did you shoot him? He did what you asked," another guard says.
Fiennes replies, "Why didn't he work that hard for me all the time?"
Yes, welcome to America, where "Work Will Make You Free". (Or is it "You'll Work Almost for Free"?) Hey, at least they don't shoot us - those of us who still have jobs, I mean:
Feel like you’re working a lot harder these days, putting in longer hours for the same pay — or even less? The latest round of government data on worker productivity indicates that you probably are.
The Labor Department said Tuesday that the American work force produced, at an annual rate, 6.4 percent more of the goods they made and services they provided in the second quarter of this year compared to a year ago. At the same time, “unit labor costs” — the amount employers paid for all that extra work — fell by 5.8 percent. The jump in productivity was higher than expected; the cut in labor costs more than double expectations.
That is, despite the deep job cuts of the past year, workers who remain on the payroll are filling in and making up the work that had been done by their departed colleagues. In some cases, that extra work came with a smaller paycheck.
The higher worker output and lower labor costs have been good news for companies struggling through the worst recession since World War II. So far, some 70 percent of companies in the S&P 500 have turned in better-than-expected profits for the latest quarter.
I enjoy your blogspot!
ReplyDeletePeople are expected to produce more intensively and a huge proportion is made redundant. This is one of the outcomes of conceiving labor as a commodity.
ReplyDeleteIn the next natural downturn of the capitalist economy the great American Neanderthal, evolved in the last 200 years of prosperity will face his extinction, and will join the unemployed hoards of "Legacy Workers" now roving the country in search of basic sustinance due to capital flight to bigger better ROI's in Asia. We have been reduced from full-time credit rated, card carrying members of society to disenfranchised, even medical care deprived, drifters in one decade, and will be reduced further, as the dollar falls like a stone in world markets and oil rises in price for us. Detroit City a third world, johannesburg-like monument to what corporatists, capitalists bring to a society lays in ruin, and the with inflation we stand on the cusp of astounding price rises! People will pay for the government money printing spree of our "Fiat" money with their souls! American money, already referred to as "Funny Money" abroad, will take on the characteristics of Zimbabwe bucks, as Gold breaks the $1000.00/ oz. ceiling and passes it like a rocket out of control! The Chinese "Yuan" terrorizes the American dollar abroad, and will soon be adopted as official, and preferred currency of international trade, world wide! When this happens, the dollar at home will be halved in purchasing power, overnight, leaving American savings and credit ratings decimated in one short day! The Asian car will double in price, all things made in Asia will follow suit, and American labor will demand an automatic doubling of wages, or stay at home, because they will not be able to afford shoes to go to work in! We are in for a nightmare of paradigm shifts, equiped with a cash strapped govenment, and huge military bills for extravagances we cannot afford abroad! We are locked into this tragic situation and cannot escape the punishment it brings, but to go "Off-Grid" and isolate ourselves that way! Even Obama must admit, that without a "Conscription" scheme, we cannot continue militarily in Afghanistan ot Iraq, and without punishing devaluations of our dollar we are essentially bankrupt as a country! Many poisons America! Take your pick! and choose you must, the clock is ticking and your time is running out sure as the gates of Hell await your Glory! You will follow the late great U.S.S.R. in, and the abyss will close over you leaving the wreckage and rubble of your existance behind! Detroit Cities everywhere in America.
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