Antitrust, by Amy Klobuchar: on Jobs

Strengthening unions key to rebalancing American capitalism

Union workers earn on average 20% more than non-union members in similar jobs, making unions a crucial counterweight to the enormous power of corporations in US labor markets. However, union workers have been under relentless attack over multiple decades, with the enactment of so called "right to work" laws whereby workers receive the benefits of union contracts without having to pay the union dues that support union activities. Congress and the states must act to protect collective bargaining rights, to safeguard unions and to increase the minimum wage so that workers can earn a living.

Strengthening unions is a key component of rebalancing American capitalism. Without strong unions and fully functioning National Labor Relations Boards that enforce the country's laws protecting unions, collective bargaining, and economic security, such as pension and retirement benefits, will lead to stronger competition, and a more solid economy, and higher wages.

Source: Antitrust, by Amy Klobuchar, p.192 Apr 27, 2021

Non-compete employment agreements used to suppress wages

Non-compete agreements are used to suppress the wages of both high-skilled, high-wage jobs, with the terms of non-compete agreements almost always dictated exclusively by the employer. Employers have even attempted to use non-compete agreements to suppress the wages of minimum wage workers who are already struggling to make ends meet. In one particular egregious example, Jimmy John's--an Illinois-based sandwich chain--was found to be using non-compete agreements to bar departing employees from taking jobs with competing sandwich shops for two years after leaving the company. That was an outrageous effort to suppress wages by trying to deter employees from leaving for better paying employment opportunities. In June 2016, after an investigation by the New York Attorney General's Office, the company finally agreed to stop using that anti-competitive practice--one that targeted low-wage workers, putting them in fear of being sued if they left to work for a competitor. Source: Antitrust, by Amy Klobuchar, p.263 Apr 27, 2021

The above quotations are from Antitrust Taking on Monopoly Power from the Gilded Age to the Digital Age by Amy Klobuchar. Click here for definitions & background information on Jobs. Click here for other issues (main summary page). Click here for more quotes by Amy Klobuchar on Jobs.
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	*Democrats running for President:* Sen.Michael Bennet (D-CO) V.P.Joe Biden (D-DE) Mayor Mike Bloomberg (I-NYC) Gov.Steve Bullock (D-MT) Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D-IN) Sen.Cory Booker (D-NJ) Secy.Julian Castro (D-TX) Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI) Rep.John Delaney (D-MD) Rep.Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) Sen.Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) Gov.Deval Patrick (D-MA) Sen.Bernie Sanders (I-VT) CEO Tom Steyer (D-CA) Sen.Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) Marianne Williamson (D-CA) CEO Andrew Yang (D-NY) *2020 Third Party Candidates:* Rep.Justin Amash (L-MI) CEO Don Blankenship (C-WV) Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI) Howie Hawkins (G-NY) ~~Gov.Gary Johnson~~(L-NM) ~~Howard Schultz~~(I-WA) Gov.Jesse Ventura (I-MN)	*Republicans running for President:* ~~Sen.Ted Cruz~~(R-TX) ~~Gov.Larry Hogan~~ (R-MD) ~~Gov.John Kasich~~(R-OH) V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN) ~~Gov.Mark Sanford~~ (R-SC) Pres.Donald Trump(R-NY) Rep.Joe Walsh (R-IL) Gov.Bill Weld(R-MA & L-NY) *2020 Withdrawn Democratic Candidates:* Sen.Stacey Abrams (D-GA) Mayor Bill de Blasio (D-NYC) Sen.Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) Sen.Mike Gravel (D-AK) Sen.Kamala Harris (D-CA) Gov.John Hickenlooper (D-CO) Gov.Jay Inslee (D-WA) Mayor Wayne Messam (D-FL) Rep.Seth Moulton (D-MA) Rep.Beto O`Rourke (D-TX) Rep.Tim Ryan (D-CA) Adm.Joe Sestak (D-PA) Rep.Eric Swalwell (D-CA)
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Page last updated: Nov 25, 2021