Introduction
There is no birth without suffering since yesterday gave birth to today. The Inheritance begins with the narrator saying the first few lines. The 1964 film tells the tale of American workers and their battles to create organized unions for better living and working circumstances (“The Corporation – Documentary”). Therefore, the labor relations system in place today is the result of injustices, bloodshed, and sacrifices dating back to the founding of the labor movement in 1866. The campaign demanded more wages, flexible and acceptable work schedules, and safer working environments. It also sparked efforts to outlaw child labor, provide health benefits, and aid injured or retired employees.
Discussion
Therefore, several types of child labor have been used throughout American history. Children transitioned from field labor to factory jobs in urban areas during industrialization. Because kids were less likely to strike and were less expensive than adult labor, big businesses saw youngsters as easier to control. However, research indicated that in 2021, there were 160 million children working worldwide (“The Corporation – Documentary”). According to reports, youngsters aged 5 to 17 engage in hazardous labor that is bad for their physical and mental health (“The Corporation – Documentary”). Young children now frequently work as hostesses at their neighborhood restaurants, fast food restaurants, and retail establishments.
However, since the epidemic began in early 2020, many schools have switched to online instruction, depriving minority children. Particularly African Americans and Latinxs—of an education because they lack access to the internet and other forms of technology. After the epidemic, unions have grown more tenacious and forceful when seeking more excellent pay and benefits. According to evidence, there have been approximately 40 workplace strikes in the United States since August 1st of, 2021, about twice as many as in 2020 (“The Corporation – Documentary”). They recover the political will in Washington and the respect for vital employees they previously forfeited. In summary, the epidemic caused workers to reevaluate their objectives and values.
Furthermore, the 1910 Chicago strike, during which primarily immigrant men wanted more fantastic pay, better working conditions, and respectful treatment, is mentioned in the Inheritance. After visiting the facility, Shaffner was taken aback by how long it took for personnel to speak. The tension between the strikers and the local authorities rose as the strike progressed. After six months, the union and employer agreed, and the employees returned to work. However, Kellogg’s employees wanted pay raises, more excellent health coverage, and an enhanced retirement plan in October 2021 (“The Corporation – Documentary”). In its initial response, Kellogg’s claimed it could substitute the 1,400 striking workers with salaried staff and third-party resources. However, the union persisted, and conflict developed between Kellogg’s, the union, and the local government. After 11 weeks, the business agreed to a 5-year contract with increased pay and cost-of-living increases, better health and retirement benefits, and prospects for employee promotion.
Additionally, in the modern workplace, employees continue to expect the same advantages: more pay so they can afford a good standard of life, health advantages, pensions, and retirement savings. In other respects, a respectable wage and benefits. The labor movement still has the same objectives in mind. Because their boss silences their voice, workers continue to walk out in protest. The conflict between strikers and employers is still caused by local authorities interfering in protests. Spreading the message and organizing the disorganized has become more straightforward thanks to technology.
Additionally, those still having difficulty with collective bargaining get inspiration from reading, listening to, and seeing other successful unions win. In addition, unions are receiving political and financial backing for the first time in a long time. Companies will haggle because they are required to do so. However, the problems with labor relations will not end here. They are passed down from one generation to the next. To avoid repeating history, younger workers must grasp it. They will have to battle day and night to maintain their independence and each generation has the opportunity to win it once more.
The documentary has a narrative with interviews from various sources, including senior executives in a wide range of commercial companies and critics of “The Corporation.” Contextual analyses and meetings with individuals negatively impacted by large companies’ actions are used to support their claims. By referring to “The Corporation” as a psychopath, the film’s central theme—how companies have been given the same rights as people—is presented. It is an example of how organizations misinterpret the amendment to treat all businesses as individuals by granting them the same rights as men. Therefore, it removes responsibility from the many individuals that drive a company and instead views them as one unit. It explains in plain terms where a corporation comes from and how it can lose all control.
Furthermore, the filmmakers argue that corporations are self-contradictory entities that appear to be making a lot of money while secretly causing enormous harm. It lists characteristics that make the Corporation a psychopath. These traits show the shortcomings of what you find in modern “Corporate America,” such as self-interest, dishonesty, and callous contempt for others. Numerous incidents involving Monsanto’s animal hormones have been linked to these undesirable characteristics (“The Corporation – Documentary”) The story includes details showing the detrimental effects of the widespread use of Monsanto products, the injustice of a Fox News employee’s incapability to report the truth regarding Monsanto, IBM making money off the Nazis during World War II, and a large multinational corporation buying Bolivia’s water supply and forcing locals to pay for it.
The Inheritance
The movie clarifies one crucial piece of knowledge that real corporate social responsibility will be carried out via people’s activities. The foundation is characterized by the character and integrity of the people who stand in for the companies. On the other side, corporate social responsibility is assigned to the corporation, and each employee in the business must personally uphold it because of concern that it could spread the “Corporation” notion of existence. Businesses can avoid these infractions due to their significant economic involvement and high wealth (“The Inheritance”). The main objectives of a corporation are to make money and accomplish its bottom line. Companies are required by law to put the interests of the shareholders first, and in doing so, they will exchange their concerns with the broader public. The movie refers to this as “externalities,” businesses are compared to a monster machine that will externalize the costs of their successes to the rest of the planet.
Moreover, one element of this story is that it may apply to virtually any organization; it is not required to be a corporation. Similar activities may be observed in government regulatory organizations like the USDA and FDA. These organizations exist only to expand and gain more power. The same is true for several charity groups, as well. Many charitable organizations exist solely to increase earnings and have a more considerable influence on society. Ironically and hypocritically, they accomplish this by granting membership to the same groups responsible for the sickness.
Furthermore, if an employee works for a nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting cancer, diabetes, or AIDS and finding a cure for the disease, these organizations will theoretically go out of business. However, sometimes feel that finding a cure for these diseases is not their top concern. Instead, they prioritize researching the causes of these diseases and developing effective remedies (“The Inheritance”). The pharmaceutical industry pays them so much since they rely on pharmaceuticals to treat diseases. If individuals were to discover a tumor treatment, these businesses—which currently dominate a multibillion-dollar industry—would be destroyed.
Conclusion
There is no doubt that companies play a positive role in society. In addition, there are many economic benefits that would not have today if it were not for corporations. That means individuals must reconsider what is happening to these businesses, though. Corporate interest groups are in control of our legislation. Corporate interests, which have sway over the government, determine every decision about the environment, international affairs, and a wide variety of legal reforms that will benefit commercial interests (“The Inheritance”). For instance, making it more difficult for people to file for bankruptcy or restricting consumers from suing businesses over the wellness of humanity concerning unfavorable side effects brought on by using their product. Occasionally believe that finding a treatment for these illnesses is not their number one priority.
Works Cited
“The Inheritance”. National Film Preservation Foundation, Web.
“The Corporation – Documentary.” YouTube, Web.