Mass. going after union benefits, unions leaders give up and workers get shafted again

Of course, nowhere in the news, it's only the ``bad republican in Wisconsin`` doing this... and not ALSO the democrats in Massachusetts... and then they tell me the medias aren't a joke and heavily biased towards whoever the president is.

When Bush is president, Bush is alright and the democrats are bad. When Obama is president, Obama is alright and the republicans are bad.

Guess what, BOTH PARTIES ARE SCREWING YOU.

Unions soften tone on health

Massachusetts labor leaders have given up their full-throated battle to protect certain collective bargaining rights amid an increasing likelihood that the Legislature will empower local governments to raise the health insurance costs of teachers, firefighters, and other municipal employees.

Today, the Senate is to open debate on a state budget that includes a proposal, long sought by mayors and other local officials, to allow them to shift workers into less expensive health plans, even if unions oppose the changes.

A month ago, before the House overwhelmingly approved a similar measure, labor leaders ran dramatic radio ads, held protests at the State House, and threatened to oust lawmakers. The standoff, they said, was a historic effort to ensure Massachusetts did not slide toward the tougher measures imposed in Wisconsin, Ohio, and elsewhere.

But now, as the Senate prepares to debate its bill, unions have issued a conciliatory press release, and tried to put a positive spin on the developments.

The changed tactics reflect shifting political ground and a tacit acknowledgement that their earlier hardball tactics did not work in an economy that has hit city and town budgets hard.

Although there are three proposals on the table, the House, the Senate, and Governor Deval Patrick are in broad agreement that local governments should be able either to switch their workers into the state’s health care plan or to design their own plan that similarly trims costs for management. Each plan would leave a window to discuss those changes with workers, but ultimately would let city and town governments alter their plans, regardless of whether workers oppose it.

The Unions leaders, as corrupt as the government. This is what happens when there's money involved and corrupt people rise in the union leadership... workers get screwed.

But really, there's no money to pay those benefits... the states/cities are bankrupt... most of it because of corruption and the banks/congress destroying the economy.

My union worked in the benefit of state employees this year. IT depends on the union. After three years of furloughs and salary cuts, the union told the state enough. Some parts of health insurance went up, others went down. But we can't get furloughed for three years.
This is a democratic state. The union is just very good.

The whole Citizens United vs FEC was a declaration of war on the human citizens of the US. The problem is, people didnt/dont realize how much impact allowing corporations to pour unlimited money into political advertising will have.

They are certain they can get their people elected no matter what those people do, and so they are openly going after our rights, our protections, etc.

We need to take political advertising OUT of the equation if we want our democracy back.

Some may recall this thread that died before it could walk: Mass Dems restrict union bargaining rights

By comparison this thread about Reps doing it went on for a good 15 pages: GOP cuts collective barganing

Cable news was all aflutter with images of rallies and protests for Wisconsin. Hell, they even showed Mass protests that were "in support" of Wisconsin unions.

So where are the Mass protests over attacking the unions in Mass?

Maybe they're protesting "in support" of Mass unions over in Wisconsin?

Seems crazy how one side of a coin incites rage and riot and the other side of the coin just gets ignored.

Will the last public union employee please turn out the light when you leave?

Originally posted by Illusionsaregrander
The whole Citizens United vs FEC was a declaration of war on the human citizens of the US. The problem is, people didnt/dont realize how much impact allowing corporations to pour unlimited money into political advertising will have.

They are certain they can get their people elected no matter what those people do, and so they are openly going after our rights, our protections, etc.

We need to take political advertising OUT of the equation if we want our democracy back.

Such sanity!

Until we address this, all the other talk is just a waste of air.

Originally posted by joyride0187
Will the last public union employee please turn out the light when you leave?

Hopefully the Lace boots will kickum to death before they make it to the door, a?

This stompout was brought to you by (your ad here)