Supreme Court Finds In Favor of Workers
(I know, we're surprised as well.)
An article appearing in the New York Times reports that two cases dealing with age and race discrimination were decided in favor of the workers. The latter case involved the well-known company Cracker Barrel, and served to reaffirm that while retail and food workers are routinely put through a variety of forms of abuse, racial abuses--and retaliative efforts against rectifying those abuses--will not be tolerated.
No one can argue that these are not important victories for workers everywhere. Indeed, the Supreme Court's findings send a clear message to employers that the days of unabated age and racial discrimination from the boss are on their way out.
But what, exactly, is on its way in? Attempts by workers to organize in the workplace have become as difficult as ever. Tolerance for labor unions and 'worker solidarity' by bosses are at a historic low. The climate of fear that surrounds retail and food workers is palpable and penetrating; to many young workers today, solidarity seems a fading vestige of yester-century.
It is true: We appear to be at a point where the highest levels of the law will stand against discrimination in the workplace, in effect mandating businesses to clamp down on discriminatory practices at every level. But while this is a proud moment for workers everywhere, we should remember that there is still much to be done: Having freedom from something is only the beginning. Having the freedom to do something (like organizing one's workplace and establishing meaningful collective power) is truly the safest guard against abuse by the employer, and will no doubt prove to be the much tougher fight.