The slow, decades-long destruction of the US unemployment insurance system has resulted in more than just personal hardship for millions of workers — it has further weakened the fighting strength of the whole working class.
There is very little evidence that enhanced unemployment insurance benefits created sectoral labor shortages.
In March, 495,000 women entered the labor force, but the figures betray the harsher economic situation for Black women and many have dropped out altogether.
This book, writes reviewer Harvey, seeks "to provide an account of the nature and extent of the unemployment problem in the United States since the beginning of the industrial era following the end of the Civil War."
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Thousands of artists - visual artists, painters, playrights, actor, musicians, singers, and other creatives, were employed by the Federal government through the Works Progress Administration (WPA), between 1935-43.
We need and deserve a better unemployment insurance system. And to get it, we are going to have to fight for it, and not be distracted by the temporary, although needed, band-aids Congress is willing to provide.
Or Let the Markets Go Wild While the People Go Down
To maintain productivity and safety, some jobs are installing robot coworkers. Labor unions worry that the robots will continue to occupy jobs after the pandemic ends while others say they will free up workers for other positions.
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