Bennett, Martin
Martin J. Bennett teaches American history at Santa Rosa Junior College, serves as Co-Chair of the Living Wage Coalition of Sonoma County, and is a Research and Policy Analyst for UNITE HERE Local 2850.
The Jobs Crisis and A New New Deal for America
By Martin Bennett and Richard Walker
The nation is experiencing the most severe economic crisis since the Great Depression. Princeton economist and former vice-chair of the Federal Reserve, Alan Blinder, calls the current crisis a “national jobs emergency.”
The official unemployment rate in September was 9.1 percent – nearly twice the rate a decade ago – and leaving 14 million people out of work. In California, the rate is much worse, 12.1 percent, with over two million workers out of luck.
It's not just the financial meltdown of 2008 and the Great Recession. The American economy has been underperforming for years. Business Week calls 1999-2009 “The Lost Decade for Jobs,” as private sector employment grew by a paltry net 1.1 percent—the lowest increase for any 10-year period since the 1930s.
Is the Wal-Mart Way the American Way?
By Martin J. Bennett
"We need to uphold the law, we need to apply the law and we need to allow this project to move forward. I believe that not to do so would be un-American." So stated Rohnert Park (Sonoma County) City Councilwoman Amy Breeze last summer when the council voted to approve a controversial Wal-Mart supercenter--despite a year long campaign against the project by a broad coalition of labor, environmental, and community organizations.
The Living Wage Coalition of Sonoma County challenges Ms. Breeze's definition of Americanism. Though we respect her point of view, we think she is dead wrong. Wal-Mart, we believe, has betrayed fundamental American values. As the largest retailer and private employer in America, no other company has such a profound impact upon our economy and labor markets. It is time for Wal-Mart to change, or face a growing opposition to its plan to build at least one supercenter in every county of California.
Don't Blame California Public Employees!
By Martin J. Bennett
A recent article in the Economist magazine titled "Tough Times for Everyone - Except Public Sector Workers" states that taxpayers are now learning about "the banquet public sector workers have been having at the expense of everyone else" and that many public employees can "retire in their mid-50s on close to full pay."
These unsubstantiated claims--repeated endlessly in media--stand reality on its head. Such accusations are part of a systematic campaign by corporate America to mislead taxpayers and scapegoat public employees.
California public sector workers, such as teachers, public health nurses, firefighters, librarians, maintenance, park, transit, and social workers are not responsible for the economic crisis that makes drastic cuts to state and local governments necessary. These public employees earn modest, middle-class pay and benefits.
Opposition to Wal-Mart Supercenters Building Across Bay Area
By Martin J. Bennett
The San Francisco Bay Area has become the epicenter for contentious battles in California to halt proposed Wal-Mart supercenters that sell both general merchandise and groceries.
Both the City of Antioch in Contra Costa County and the City of Rohnert Park in Sonoma County will consider supercenter proposals this week. The outcome could derail Wal-Mart's strategy to build at least one supercenter in each county of the state.
In April, the Rohnert Park Planning Commission unanimously denied the Wal-Mart proposal to enlarge its existing discount store into a supercenter. Wal-Mart has appealed the decision to the city council.