Comment on: "The Democratic Party needs to become a workers’ party"

The Democratic Party needs to become a workers’ party

by Scott Courtney, WP, Sept 4, 2017

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/posteverything/wp/2017/09/04/the-democratic-party-needs-to-become-a-workers-party/?hpid=hp_no-name_opinion-card-c%3Ahomepage%2Fstory&utm_term=.b9f78f7669ab#comments

As someone who became politically conscious in Germany of the 50's and 60's, with "Social Democracy" gaining in relevance in Europe at the time, I agree that a re-vitalization of Unions is vital as a counterweight to the economic and political power of the 0.1%. However, the American model of Labor Unions is completely outdated and ineffectual. 

Labor Unions in Germany have a much more effective, successful structure, being organized around a sector-wide model with much more power in setting wages and work-standards sector wide, rather than just employer-by-employer.  

But most importantly, employees/labor in Germany have a guaranteed right to participate in corporate decision-making by virtue of their membership in Corporate Boards. This implements the, for Europeans, self-evident truth, that Corporations have responsibilities NOT ONLY to their share-holders, but also to their employees and to society in general. Thus, for example, corporation have an obligation to directly participate in the training and re-training of the workforce they need to stay competitive, rather then just lay them off and then expect, miraculously, to have the properly trained people available when they need them.