Human & Labor Rights Vs. Neoliberalism

  If I had to make an analogy, which I love doing, I can only seem to relate neoliberalism with the 70s and the Vietnam War. Why you might ask? A separation of government from the people of the state. The people want help, but they don't want the government's help, people want peace, but they don't want to fight for peace. It's an interesting dichotomy and it seems to me at least from a surface value I can understand why sociologist would be concerned with neoliberal worldviews.

Addressing two "solutions" if you will that I found quite intriguing were the CIW and ROC. First and foremost, I believe that it's critical to make the distinction that when nothing but NGO's pop-up the problems can't be solved in communities because you need the proper funding. Having worked for an NGO previously gives me a unique perspective. While I agree that there needs to be a healthy push back from the citizens of said state I think that completely separating yourself from the government, although they appear to cause nothing but conflict, needs to be viewed under a different light. When enemies come knocking at the door feuding brothers unite.

The CIW is a doing some fantastic work, for being able create the Fair Food Program has enabled countless migrants to be heard and have better pay. I'm curious to see other coalitions like theirs that have pushed big corporations to raise their standards. I've know several farmers that hire migrant workers that are very grateful for their work, because without them, we wouldn't have as high quality of food that we do.

The ROC sounds like a long lost friend that is there to be a voice for all of the silenced voices behind the kitchen doors. Health insurance and sick time in restaurants is almost unheard of. Between farm workers and line cooks they are amongst the most underpaid and undersupported in the industry. I really wish there were more worker owned cooperative restaurants, when you give people the resources to make positive changes in their life doing something they love, it's almost unmatched what they will do for their company.

Making the connection between workers labor rights and taking a stand against neoliberalism was a huge eye opener for me. If we don't have the proper policies enacted we can't really enforce change on a large scale in today's society.