ABSTRACT
The story of the Sunset scavengers illustrates certain basic social and economic problems in our society. At the same time, it symbolizes or suggests solutions to at least some of these problems. Immediately, for example, the experience of the scavengers in a dirty work occupation should help us to think about the future of all kinds of low-level work throughout the society. Also, energetic younger people have been relied upon in the past for the hard distasteful work, but long-term population trends toward a decreasing proportion of youth in America mean that fewer of them will be available to take the dirty jobs. There are a number of reasons why we must expect a continuing high demand for workers in just those jobs which are less and less sought. The unions are the tools by which a worker demands his share from the managers and owners of public and private enterprises.
