Harris at the AFT

Kamala Harris was speaking to the American Federation of Teachers in Houston today.
It was supposed to be a White House speech but it was a campaign speech.

“People should have a right to join a union” means “People should be forced to join unions”

People have never been barred from joining unions. Union formation isn’t a snap of the fingers, but it isn’t banned or barred. People have been forced to join unions to gain employment in certain states in certain fields. If you want to work there, you join the union the union. It’s a union shop.

“Unions helped build the middle class” – “Unions have helped destroy the middle class” Only approximately 7% of the private workforce is in unions. Compared to 36% of the public workforce. Union wages are predicated on some multiple of the Federal minimum wage and as that rises some people gain, but others lose.

Employers don’t only have the rise in wages to account for, they have the rises in FICA taxes, unemployment taxes, workers’ compensation, and other benefits. For every dollar in minimum wage rise the employer has anywhere from $1.17 to $1.27 or more. For each dollar for each hour for each employee.

Prices have to rise or employees have to be let go. Overheads remain the same. Rents, inventories, lights, heat, etc. Fixed costs. Labor is a variable cost. If the employer has to let too many people go and can’t do the work him or herself, they go out of business. And then there are no jobs. Minimum wage: Zero.

“extremists attack our freedom to vote”
“extremists refuse ‘common-sense’ gun laws”
So everyone who isn’t thinking like she is is an extremist.

“We want to ban assault weapons” – there is no such thing.

“We are in a fight for the future”
Yes, we most certainly are.