The article discusses President Trump's assertion that factory jobs will return as part of his economic agenda. It highlights the significant decline in American manufacturing jobs since 1979, driven by factors such as decreased unionization. Despite a strong public desire for factory work, the realities of the industry today reveal lower wages and a complex history tied to violent labor struggles. Through insights from experts, the piece contextualizes the longing for manufacturing jobs within a narrative of historical labor activism and the socio-economic landscape.
"The picture that we get with smokestack nostalgia is that these were good, solid jobs that people had for generations... that forgets that it was union activity that secured those [wages]."
"Salaries for manufacturing jobs are now in the bottom half of all jobs. The decline in unionization rates is, by and large, responsible for the drop in wages for factory work compared to other jobs."
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