Christopher Martin, a professor at the University of Northern Iowa, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast to talk about possibly increasing the retirement age. Martin also discussed why the American worker is killing themselves on the job and compared the reactions to retirement age increases in France and the United States.
There have been reports that there will be another increase in the retirement age in America. The reports suggest the age will be increased from 65 to 70 years old. Unlike the retirement age increase in 1983 that raised the age by two years over 20 years, this increase would happen over a five-year period. Martin warns that if residents aren’t careful, this five-year increase could turn into even more, and ensure workers continue to break down on the job.
It is believed that more Americans work harder and for more hours than workers in other countries to protect themselves. However, Martin argues that this desire to work harder and work longer is actually killing more Americans since the introduction of the 40-hour work week. He believes that those workers who are non-union put all the responsibility on themselves and feel they’re the only person able to protect themselves in the workplace. Unlike other countries with higher union densities and better worker protections, the American workforce continues to overwork itself.
In France, the world saw the reaction to a proposed retirement age increase. There were protests in the streets with hundreds and thousands of union workers protesting their right to retire at 62. Martin then pointed to the United States in 1983, where most union members didn’t think anything of the increase from 63 to 65 over a 20-year period. He believes that better education for workers and greater unionization would improve the American workforce, and create the same types of union respect as in France.
Listen to the entire episode to learn more.