Hamilton Nolan

1 week ago | hamiltonnolan.com | Hamilton Nolan

I wrote a piece for In These Times this week called “Unions Without Strikes,” which was prompted by something very big and very ominous that has been on my mind: the fact that there have been no strikes, or even real hints at strikes, in response to the most egregious government assaults on organized labor since WW2. Today, I want to briefly expand on a couple of points in that piece—one analytical, and one that I hope is of immediate practical use.

1 week ago | open.substack.com | Hamilton Nolan

I wrote a piece for In These Times this week called “Unions Without Strikes,” which was prompted by something very big and very ominous that has been on my mind: the fact that there have been no strikes, or even real hints at strikes, in response to the most egregious government assaults on organized labor since WW2. Today, I want to briefly expand on a couple of points in that piece—one analytical, and one that I hope is of immediate practical use.

2 weeks ago | inthesetimes.com | Hamilton Nolan

We are now living through a gruesome demonstration of what happens when unions allow their strike muscles to atrophy. A century ago, before workers had many legal protections, everything they won was won by fighting — by the strike. After the National Labor Relations Act of 1935 formalized the relationship between unions, business, and the government, that changed. Unions evolved to wield their power in the context of NLRB elections, federally mediated contracts and political lobbying.

2 weeks ago | hamiltonnolan.com | Hamilton Nolan

What’s the problem with “free trade?” After all, it is quite economically rational. A company moves a factory overseas and hires cheap labor for the same reason that a company does not build its factory on Fifth Avenue and hire NBA players to run the machines: because companies always seek the lowest labor costs for the same amount of work.

2 weeks ago | hamiltonnolan.com | Hamilton Nolan

Do not join the United States military. Don’t join the Army, Navy, Air Force, Space Force, Marines, or National Guard. If you are in contact with young people who are considering joining the military, counsel them not to do it. If you are in a position to steer people away from military recruiters, do so. If you are in the military, get out of it as soon as possible. When your enlistment period is up, leave. If there is a safe and lawful way for you to leave early, do that.