Beaten Down, Worked Up: The Past, Present, and Future of American Labor

Democratic politicians better read this book if they want to understand why they will continue to lose elections if they don't move leftward. Let me clarify that statement: I'm not talking about the cultural wars that so-called progressives are focused on, but bringing working people more power in the workplace, especially organizing workers into unions to increase their pay and improve their workplace conditions.

I had not expected to enjoy this book when the PBS Now Read This Book Club made it one of their selections. I had expected it to be rather dry.

I was wrong.

Instead of being a complete history of the labor movement, it was episodic, exploring key bits of important history.

These included the Triangle Shirtwaist fire and of course, the 1968 Sanitations Workers’ strike that brought Martin Luther King, Jr. to Memphis, Tennessee where King was assassinated.

It goes on to examine more modern strikes by nurses and teachers who are not just striking for higher wages or better working conditions, but for better care for their patients and pupils.

It also expands on the current issue for a $15 minimum wage. The author argues that a larger piece show more of the pie for workers who are not making even a subsistence living is what will create a healthy economy.

Well written and very informative. show less

Call it three stars if you've read other labor history and are part of or at least follow the movement today, 4.5 if this is your introductory text.