So then explain why it took an entire social movement to get these better working conditions? Why capitalists join forces whenever there has been an effort to improve work conditions?

Not to totally dismiss the role of work force regulations, however, no law says a worker should be paid more than minimum wage, yet somehow nearly all get paid more, even those who are not unionized. Why is that?

If I’m following your logic correctly, any company that provides a safe workplace, benefits, and so on to its workers would be effectively undermining their competition, correct? Then why hasn’t this happened?

It has. Perhaps not to the extent that socialists would want, if they want workers to have 10 hour work-weeks and retire after 10 years with full pensions…

That would be because the primary focus of capitalists is to their investors, not their workers.

Wouldn’t undermining the competition be beneficial to investors’ profits?

Capitalists currently outsource millions of jobs annually to countries with lower working standards(thus lower costs and higher profits), that are close to slavery, such as China, India, Vietnam. Your argument here goes against the entire history of labor.

Some jobs are outsourced, but most cannot be. And in many instances, companies that outsource run into problems due to quality, language, and time zone differences. And while certain individuals are hurt by outsourced jobs, outsourcing does not result in a total net loss of jobs. Other jobs take their place. Up until the current recession (whose impetus had nothing to do with outsourcing) we’ve had full employment despite the outsourcing.

Outsourcing is akin to automation in many ways. Technology has caused many jobs to be eliminated, yet it has not shrunk the number of available jobs overall.

And China, India, Vietnam, those countries whose workers “are close to slavery,” just all happen to be socialist/communist nations. You should be happy that their workers have such great systems that look out for their needs.

If I’m following your logic correctly, any company that provides a safe workplace, benefits, and so on to its workers would be effectively undermining their competition, correct? Then why hasn’t this happened? That would be because the primary focus of capitalists is to their investors, not their workers. That is, to maximize profits. Profits are much lower when you begin to meet workers demands, that’s why outsourcing is becoming so popular.

Capitalists currently outsource millions of jobs annually to countries with lower working standards(thus lower costs and higher profits), that are close to slavery, such as China, India, Vietnam. Your argument here goes against the entire history of labor.