Workers rights are being shredded across Europe and elsehwere, no matter the
particular colour of the cabal in power, right, left, centre, centre right, centre left, the legislation is much the
same. Easier to be fired, more casual, precarious and part-time jobs, longer hours,
less attention to health and safety, and much more. It's called
reforming working conditions, according to the corporate bosses it will
boost efficiency and profitability, though nothing there to improve the
living standards of the ordinary people, on the contrary, we pay for the
so called boost in efficiency and profitability by deteriorating living
standards.
Though it would be foolish to think this is a phenomena of today. Far from it, it has been the pattern since the start of this insane, unjust system of capitalism first raised its ugly head. The system has always been to get as much labour and effort out of the employee for as little an outlay as possible. That is the foundation stone of capitalism. Austerity has been part and parcel of the capitalist system, it just that it has gone under different names. Its true title should be plundering the poor.
If we look back at the trend of wages away back in the 1800's we will see the same pattern, wages going up and then down, according to what the bosses could enforce. It has never been an ever growing improvement in our living standards. Yes, conditions have improved, but always on the back of determined struggle of those employed, not through the generosity of the boss.
| Wage trends (weekly) | 1836-37 | 1841-42 | 1846-47 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cotton spinners (machine) | 35/- | 25/- | 26/- | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cotton spinners (power) | 11/- | 7/- | 8/- | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coalminers | 25/- | 15/- | 20/- | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bricklayers | 21/- | 21/- | 24/- | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Joiners | 20/- | ? | 22/- | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Stone masons | 22/- | 18/- | 22/6 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Handloom weavers | 6/- | 6/- | 7/- | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Railway labourers | 14/- | ? | 15/- | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Railway masons | 21/- | 21/- | 31/- |
Looking at these rates and comparing it with my wage as a first year apprentice in the shipyards in 1950, it appears I was living in the 1800's as my princely sum was 19/- a week.
Our income from our selling our skills to the parasite class has stagnated, risen and then fallen, and this pattern has continued right up to today. Though I believe to day it is becoming more brutal as capitalism struggles to survive with its need for ever expanding growth in a world of finite resources.
