There is no reason that public employees should have union representation, the potential for abuse has been show too many times. Public employee unions, ala AFSCME, have used their muscle to not only get better wages for their members but have transformed into powerful political entitles that extort politicians into doing their bidding. They have driven up the cost of government so much in many locals that its high time they were put in their place.

Originally posted by SirMike

.....transformed into powerful political entitles that extort politicians into doing their bidding. They have driven up the cost of government so much in many locals that its high time they were put in their place.

If I didn't know better, I'd think you were describing corporations and their lobbyist. My union didn't even have a PAC until the corporate anti-union/labor lobbying in Washington got to the point that to do nothing would be suicidal. Our Pac was formed as a last ditch effort once we realized that no one other than paid lobbyist could get the ear of our representatives. Prior to that, our sole political power lied in our ability to get out the vote. Corporate greed created this mess, not unions.

Labor unions are good overall. Carpenters, Plumbers, Iron Workers etc.
(you gonna get on a beam 20 stories high?)The bad things are highly complex to deconstruct in a simple thread.

Public unions are the ones causing alot of trouble in a lot of states. $60,000.00 yr motor vehicle clerks are hard to justify. That list is huge.

Originally posted by Analyze76
Labor unions are good overall. Carpenters, Plumbers, Iron Workers etc.
(you gonna get on a beam 20 stories high?)The bad things are highly complex to deconstruct in a simple thread.

Public unions are the ones causing alot of trouble in a lot of states. $60,000.00 yr motor vehicle clerks are hard to justify. That list is huge.

I'll tell you what's hard to justify, how about $500.00 a month electric bill or a $2500.00 a month house note or $1200.00 a month for health insurance not to mention $30,000.00 automobiles or rising college tuition rates. $60,000.00 a year is nothing compared to multi million dollar bonuses. Come on now, who's really bringing down the house. It sure as hell ain't working people.

The fact that there are unions set up for government employees is, in itself, wrong.

Why do bad cops get away with everything they get away with? F.O.P.

Why does the DMV suck?
Unions.

I could continue on, but won't.

Perhaps unions once served a purpose, I don't know,
but I do know that one of the major reasons the U.S. is losing jobs, gone forever, never coming back, forever, is because companies can no longer be competitive in the world economy while attempting to meet union demands.

Unions are known for their strong arm tactics when they don't get their way, and since law enforcement is also represented by a union, I don't see a lot of options other than The Guard.

I certainly don't like the precedent it sets, though.

People please. This is insane. Do you see how they are toying with us?

Look, people who know me on here have read what I am about. I come from the crash of the dot coms, and enlisted in the construction industry with a collage education. I work in the trades, and am unionized – yes there is a lot of corruption, but where isn't there (not that I support corruption)?

I see all of you people that are attacking unions because of corruption as the pot calling the proverbial kettle black. Everything is corrupt these days, don't focus on one entity – that is ignorant. Focus on the corruption of the machine that brought you to where you currently are, not the innocents that are trying to survive just like you are.

What is so wrong with me having a living wage so that I can support my family? I see posts on here that say people in unions make way too much money? What justifies the money that you make?

I can sit in an office and type 80+ words a minute, I can design web pages, I can build servers from scratch – but yet because I do manual labor some of you people are actually saying I make too much money? I won't even go into the hazards or the training that justify such pay. Put your life on the line for your job in a skyscraper – I bet the people complaining about unions would want a pay increase.

What is the justification in stating that unions pay their employees too much?

I just love the division here – it just goes to show how un-evolved people still are in their thinking. How can a people push forward to progress when parts of humanity still do not understand the turmoil?

It isn't about how much money they make – it is about these people being human.

Go after the politicians who put you in this place of decent. Go after the banks who tore the USA apart and killed our country... don't down your fellow man who is in the same place you and I are.

The proposal would effectively remove unions' right to negotiate in any meaningful way. Local law enforcement and fire employees, as well as state troopers and inspectors would be exempt.

You have to read that... READ IT... SEE HOW THEY ARE PLAYING US? Give me a break people - I don't care if you are democrat or republican, or whatever... people need to open their eyes and LOOK.
They are playing with US... you and me.

LOL!!! I would like to see a National Guardsman take over my job as a mental health case manager! Dealing with one of my bipolar clients throwing a tantrum, trying to find a bed in a facility for a schizophrenic, or wading through the bureaucracy of SSI paperwork! LOL!!!

Originally posted by 1088no5
I'm curious as to which unions. That could make a big difference as to why the national guard is being called in. Maybe DOT workers are going on strike and they're gonna need road crews for snow plows and sanders... and maybe the snow budget is running low. It's been a wicked winter, yannow. And we've got more snow coming!!!

edit on 14/2/11 by 1088no5 because: (no reason given)

It's very interested that you brought this up. As a matter of fact, the National Guard was called up for this past winter storm. They were called up to help residents remove snow from driveways, shovel walkways, and aid the city with snow removal.

Originally posted by MMPI2
The unions as they currently exist are nothing more than highly organized criminal enterprises.

Unions are no different from political organizations or advocacy organizations like the NRA. I respect the freedoms of peopleto gather a petition their rights or their views, I'd even go so far as to respect the right of KKK members and black panther members to gather around and spew whatever the hell they want. When the tea parties gathered, all we heard was "freedom" and what not. So because these are Unions, you want to criminalize them? Really? I wonder which members starred that post of yours because clearly they are not interested in the constitution, clearly it is not with their agenda and yours.

To all the Union-bashers on this thread, without Unions you would be working 80 hours/week, no days off, horrible pay, no pension, no vacation and you would work for the rest of your life. People brave enough to get the Labour movement going back in the day paid with blood and some their lives so you could have a decent wage, workplace safety, vacations, weekends off, medical benefits, etc.

You non-union people should be kissing unions asses for giving you decent jobs to work at. Without them you'd be making nothing and have no rights! Are all Unions good?... of course not. Are they better than having no workplace representation? Of course they are, "United we stand, divided we fall".

This Governors actions are going to backfire bigtime.

Greedy corporations have taken jobs offshore, not Unions.

Originally posted by Flatfish

Finally, the truth comes out!

Ya


Unions eat children and Obama is a taoist SW???