Harley Shaiken
Harley Shaiken
core debate debated elsewhere environment game labor looking rules seattle treated whether
What we're looking at in Seattle is a debate over the rules of the game and how the environment and labor will be treated -- whether they will be debated elsewhere or whether they will become part of the core discussions about trade.
combined create downward economy global pressure third
What's new about the global economy is First World productivity combined with Third World wages. That can create some real downward pressure on high-wage countries.
blink determined northwest resources strategy
They have a very determined strategy and they are plunking a lot of resources into this. Northwest is not going to blink at this point.
argument bankruptcy buys cutting judge open remains simply whether
They're going to try to make an argument that simply cutting wages, slashing benefits, etc., is not the only way to go. Whether the bankruptcy judge buys that remains an open question.
across bargaining begins clout happens influenced means message political showing table visibility
They're getting their message across before bargaining begins in earnest. Showing a lot of visibility and political clout means bargaining will be influenced by not just what happens at the table but what happens in the community.
beginning confront employer largest laying offering reaching workers
They are reaching out and offering the workers a service, but they are also laying out the possibility of workers beginning to work together. So as an individual, you don't have to confront the largest employer in the world. You can do it as a group.
airlines allowing bad bankruptcy clean emerge fewer lower mean news pensions wages
Bankruptcy is allowing airlines to emerge with a clean slate, but it's bad news for workers. Pensions will be affected, and it will mean lower wages and probably fewer jobs.
ball both game hard means pitch union
This is the first pitch in the game of hard ball and I think the union is both angered and not by any means intimidated.
biggest history memory point turning
This could be the biggest buyout in memory and a turning point in the history of the industry.
area break contract event existing gain industry largest level leverage major promising simply union within
This contract could be a watershed event within the telecommunications industry because a major union has used its existing leverage to break into a new area. This isn't simply any company. It's the largest telecommunications employer. On one level it's potentially a watershed event because the union could gain a toehold in the most promising area of telecommunications.
currently wages
Delphi has essentially said: 'We need competitive wages.' Those wages currently are being set in China, not Flint, (Michigan).
labor tough
Labor is in some pretty tough rapids right now.
exit looking middle roads
I think what we are looking at here are exit roads from the middle class.
dig felt hard instead line message send sent suspect taking
I suspect they felt that taking a very hard line would send a message to the union. Instead the message that they sent was to dig in your heels.