The Rate of Exploitation is out of control

The chart below is a stark reminder of how wages and compensation have not kept pace with the productivity gains of the last 30 years:

And this chart shows a massive rise in income inequality, directly correlating to attacks on collective bargaining rights:

As EPI’s Heidi Shierholz writes: “Impeding union representation has been a primary goal of corporate interests in recent decades, and these interests have convinced conservative policymakers to attack collective bargaining through legislation, executive rulemaking, and the courts.” Indeed, the evidence is clear that President Trump and conservatives in Congress have expended no real effort in helping generate wage growth for most workers, but have done plenty that will make it harder for workers to see wage gains in the future. Here are just a few anti-worker policies Trump was able to push through a Republican-controlled Congress in 2017 and 2018: 1) Enacting tax cuts that overwhelmingly favor the wealthy over the average worker. 2) Taking billions out of workers’ pockets by weakening or abandoning regulations that protect their pay. 3) Blocking workers from access to the courts by allowing mandatory arbitration clauses in employment contracts. 4) Pushing immigration policies that hurt all workers. 5) Rolling back regulations that protect worker pay and safety.