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It's never been about helping people
(lemmy.nz)
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this post was submitted on 29 Aug 2026
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Work Reform
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A place to discuss positive changes that can make work more equitable, and to vent about current practices. We are NOT against work; we just want the fruits of our labor to be recognized better.
Our Philosophies:
- All workers must be paid a living wage for their labor.
- Income inequality is the main cause of lower living standards.
- Workers must join together and fight back for what is rightfully theirs.
- We must not be divided and conquered. Workers gain the most when they focus on unifying issues.
Our Goals
- Higher wages for underpaid workers.
- Better worker representation, including but not limited to unions.
- Better and fewer working hours.
- Stimulating a massive wave of worker organizing in the United States and beyond.
- Organizing and supporting political causes and campaigns that put workers first.
founded 3 years ago
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The forced labour part is relatively new-ish. I think the average American has no idea about the slave labour involved in their daily lives.
Forced labor is not new. When the USA amended the constitution in the aftermath of the civil war they explicitly banned private ownership of slaves but made a specific carve out for prison slavery. Immediately after emancipation the states created laws that freed black folk couldn't avoid and in 10 years the prison population went from 90% white to 90% black. And those black prisoners were leased to plantation owners to work their fields.
Convict leasing lasted almost 50 years, but not before other modalities of prison slave labor had developed and matured.
It is in no way a relatively new-ish thing
I meant as a political talking point its relatively new, but I also havent been around forever so it might be a recurring topic.
I will say that in the 90s and 00s, the teaching was that we don't do slavery anymore. Very explicit that slavery is bad, but its in the past so no worries. This has led to a lot of people born in the 80s and 90s becoming aware of this reality much later into their adult lives.
My guess is most of them still think slavery is "solved" in America. Most people aren't going to look at most of the brands in their grocery store and think, "slave labor helped bring me this product."
I'm always glad when people come around, but it's also important to acknowledge this fact so we can correct it.
13th amendment of the united states:
Yeah, they sorta gloss over that part in school when we learn about this stuff.