The Devil’s Bargain: Anti-Communist Business Unionism

The ability of unions to organize across nation-states has never been strong. But at least in principle, there was a spirit of internationalism and that the employers were the enemy. But after World War II, the AFL-CIO made a bargain with capitalists. The “labor-capital” contract unions agreed that:

a) workers of the world would not unite; b) workers would have no say in the production and circulation of products in the workplace, and; c) workers would abide by the policies set by the Democratic Party. In exchange workers were granted social security, pensions and a minimum wage set by law. This bargain lasted 20 years. Since then capitalists have ignored the contract and unions are weaker than ever.