Doug Henwood wrote,
> Don't forget forced overtime and multiple jobholders. There's at > least as much overwork in the U.S. economy as there is underwork. But > since that wasn't the case in the 1930s, most American leftists can't > think about it. ...and another thing I was going to mention was overtime and multiple jobholders. Oh but wait, Doug just mentioned it. I'm glad you mentioned it, Doug. And yes, I find it rather peculiar that "most American leftists can't think about that." I'm not sure if the generalization is accurate, but it feels as though it is. I view multiple jobholding and forced overtime as pathological symptoms, not as signs of vibrant labour demand. With regard to the unemployment rate, there is no category for "full-time composite from two or more part-time jobs". Nor is it regarded as "overemployment" when somebody who works overtime would prefer not to. Besides what would the statisticians do if there was such a thing as overemployment? Would the overemployment cancel out the underemployment or would the two add together as undesired hours employment? My preference would be for the latter, but nobody's asking me. With regard to the whole schmozzola of under-, over-, un-, and just plain unpleasantly employed, later today I'll post to Pen-l a piece on the work ethic and its discontents I started writing for the shorter work time list. Those of you who may have encountered difficulties following my last re: employment message will be happy to know that in the forthcoming message I clear up any possible confusion. Tom Walker 604 255 4812
