How Unions Govern Industries Under EFI

Unions as More Than Bargaining Units

Unions have long been seen as organizations that negotiate wages and benefits on behalf of workers. While this has been essential in protecting labor rights, the Equitable Future Initiative (EFI) proposes a model where unions evolve beyond bargaining into full industry governance.

Under the Public Industry Administration Model (PIAM), unions do not just negotiate within the existing corporate system—they replace corporate hierarchies entirely, ensuring industries are managed by the workers themselves. But how does this system function in practice? This post explores how union governance ensures fairness, stability, and democratic decision-making in the economy.

The Three Levels of Union Governance Under PIAM

PIAM is structured into three interconnected layers, each responsible for different aspects of economic planning and labor management:

1. Industry Unions (Sectoral Guilds)

Function:

• Represent entire industries instead of individual workplaces.

• Set wages, working conditions, and automation policies across the sector.

• Establish equitable labor distribution and production standards.

📌 Example: A National Healthcare Workers Union oversees all hospitals, clinics, and eldercare facilities, ensuring fair pay, adequate staffing, and responsible AI integration.

2. Regional Labor Councils (Local Governance Units)

Function:

• Assign workers to jobs based on skills and industry needs.

• Manage public projects and coordinate industry-specific workforce demands.

• Ensure that local economies receive adequate labor support for growth and sustainability.

📌 Example: A San Diego Construction Labor Council ensures that unionized workers are assigned to public housing projects at fair wages, balancing workloads across the region.

3. The Council of Commons (National Administration Body)

Function:

• Oversees national economic planning and cross-industry cooperation.

• Sets automation guidelines and ensures labor transitions in response to technological changes.

• Balances the needs of different industries to maintain a stable and sustainable economy.

📌 Example: The Council of Commons mandates a nationwide 30-hour workweek, ensuring that automation reduces working hours instead of causing mass unemployment.

How Decisions Are Made: Democratic Worker Governance

In contrast to the corporate model where executives dictate policies from the top, PIAM ensures that workers democratically control industry governance through direct participation and transparent decision-making.

✅ All major decisions—wages, automation approvals, and project funding—are subject to worker votes within their unions.
✅ Industry Unions create policy frameworks, which are then implemented by Regional Labor Councils.
✅ The Council of Commons ensures national coordination, making sure industries function cohesively.

📌 Example: If automation reduces the need for labor in manufacturing, The Council of Commons mandates work-hour reductions instead of layoffs, allowing all workers to keep their jobs while enjoying a shorter workweek.

How EFI’s Union System Prevents Corporate Exploitation & Bureaucracy

A common concern with large union structures is the risk of bureaucracy, inefficiency, or even corruption. PIAM is designed to prevent these issues through transparent governance and worker-led decision-making.

🚨 Concerns: What if unions become top-heavy and act like corporations, benefiting only leadership?
✅ Solution: PIAM ensures direct worker voting, rotating leadership, and public transparency to prevent elite capture.

• No lifetime union leaders → Leadership rotates based on worker elections.

• Decentralized governance → No single entity holds unchecked power.

• Public decision logs & audits → Prevent corruption and ensure accountability.

📌 Example: Instead of corporations lobbying for policies, workers directly vote on wage structures, work hours, and industry regulations through transparent digital platforms.

What This Means for Workers & Society

✅ No more reliance on CEOs and shareholders—Industries are controlled by those who work in them.
✅ Automation benefits workers, not corporations—All AI implementation must be approved by worker-led unions.
✅ Public projects & industries serve the people—No more corporate-driven economic policies; decisions are made collectively.

📌 Example: Instead of a pharmaceutical CEO deciding drug prices, The National Healthcare Union determines fair pricing based on actual production costs.

Workers Should Control Their Industries

Under EFI’s PIAM model, unions are not just bargaining groups—they are the governing bodies of the economy. With worker-led governance at all levels, the economy functions to benefit all people, not just the wealthy elite.

• Would you rather have CEOs or workers making economic decisions?

• What industries do you think would benefit most from worker control?

• Join the conversation and help shape the future of worker-led governance.

🚀 EFI is building a system where economic decisions are made by those who do the work. Let’s make it happen.