MI House Passes Right-to-Work Measure While Teachers Skip School to Protest

"Right to work" is a joke.

I work in a righ to twork state. So here's how they get around it: they lie to you.

That's right. When you get hired and sit down with the union steward, here's what he said to me. "If you don't join the union, the company will fire you anytime they want".

As a stupid 20 year old (32 years ago) I signed. Who want to get fired for not joining the union. That was the message. Join the union or you might get fired. FOR NOT JOINING.

Now, in a right to work state, the union is obligated to represent you should you file a greivance. So here's the drill. You file a grieavance. Union looks at the rolls and who belongs. You name isn't there. You get a form letter saying that they can't really help with your issue.

As a result of working for that very large company (tens of tousands if not more worldwide) I learned that unions are greedy and corrupt. I've seen security pictures of some strikes at our facility (I worked in the print shop so I saw all the photographs). Disgusting. Union members beatling the living crap ot of a guy on a bike who just wanted to come to work. Union members defecating on steps out in the factory night after night. And more. Disgusting.

I now work in a profession that is not unionized in my state. They try every few years. We're always smart enough to tell them to take their union and leave.

reply to post by marg6043


I cannot speak for the teachers union. But I can speak as an INFORMED anti union in regards to the UAW, the LUINA and a particular truckers union. Please do not label me as uniformed, for the unions in which I speak against.

There was a time when Unions were very much needed. That time has passed and the sad truth is that Unions have turned into pretty much the thing they were created to protect workers from. Every state now has a labor board and they work quite well most times. Unions are killing America. Especially Public Unions

Originally posted by marg6043
reply to post by tothetenthpower

 

Actually it has nothing to do, those people that are anti union think that this a good thing for teaches, it means that now lax laws on employment can now target at lowering cost and salaries of teachers in the state without repercussions.

Lower salaries next and worst working environment due to budget cut it has nothing to do with quality of education and for the good of the children, as usual the tax payer are the losers not the unions and neither the misinformed anti union crowd.

Way to go, one more for the government and the welfare state.

So do you think it is okay to be forced into a union?

Originally posted by chiefsmom
Yeah, I've been watching this on the local news every night.
I'm very surprised this past, with the unions screaming on the t.v. all the time, but I'm happy it did.
We sure need something to happen for the good in this state.

yeah,... get rid of those unions...don't want anyone protecting workers....those teachers are making entirely too much money, and the health benefits?...are you kidding me?....screw them, they can pay out of their own pocket the 500 to 600 dollars a month. that'll teach em'...pun intended

Originally posted by jimmiec
There was a time when Unions were very much needed. That time has passed and the sad truth is that Unions have turned into pretty much the thing they were created to protect workers from. Every state now has a labor board and they work quite well most times. Unions are killing America. Especially Public Unions

yeah... the entire 13% of workers that are in unions are sucking the life blood out of the country. remember that when you hit 50 and your boss decides to fire you for no apparent reason...happens all the time out here in california, which by the way is a right-to-work state. a company based in texas was paying me 17 bucks an hour plus benefits. i was a network computer specialist with 9 years of experience, and they fired me and hired a 22 year old, no experience, and paid him 10 bucks an hour, with no benefits......sounds like a plan to grow the economy, right?/...right?

Freedom of the individual absolutely lost .
Right to work means nothing of the sort.
In fact as in many corporate sweetheart deals
the name of the bill means the exact opposite.
"No rights at work"

You know like Americans for Freedom Prosperity
Freedom Works, Citizens United and Fair and Balanced.

I know a lot of people are against teacher unions, and I understand some of the anger. There's an idea that the union allows lousy teachers to keep their cushy, high-paying jobs without having to do any work. The nerve!

The truth is, I can't think of a single teaching position that could be considered "cushy." And tenure means very little; any teacher can be fired for cause (insubordination, failure to perform to expectations, etc). The only difference is if you are a member of the union, you have legal representation to help you.

My teacher's union does a lot of good in my state, not just good for the teachers but also for the children. For example, this year the unions managed to keep a cap on our class size (so that it didn't continue to climb; currently we can have 28 kids in a first grade classroom and that's too damn many). They also managed to get us our first pay raise in seven years; we haven't even had a cost of living increase. The pay raise was miniscule, but still nice to have.

Generally speaking, what's good for teachers is also good for the students. I would be interested in finding out what those teachers were trying to accomplish. Reduced class size? More instructional material? Funds for technology?

reply to post by jimmyx


Unions do the same thing. They just go about it differently. There is a huge paper mill near where i live that is Union and when you get near retirement they work you to death to get you to retire early on less benefits. I have seen so many cases of people hanging on to collect full benefits that once they did retire they died within a year.

reply to post by marg6043


No, as the teachers still have the UEA on a federal Level.

I was in a union for a few years. The only thing they ever did was suck money out of me, and make me attend pointless meetings. I decided independent subcontracting was the way to go. Don't have to worry about morons on the jobsites who hire all subcontractors. You don't know what you are doing? Hit the road. You want to play around and act like an idiot? Hit the road. You want to endanger other people on the jobsite? Hit the road. Much safer work environment, and sometimes even a few intelligent people to converse with on lunch break is a bonus too.

reply to post by nuclear12346

This seems to be the will of the people, as a referendum regarding unions last month lost.

I'm not totally sure this will do much to bring jobs back to Michigan...but I don't see how it could hurt.

ballotpedia.org...
From the bill that Michigan residents voted down:

This proposal would:

Grant public and private employees the constitutional right to organize and bargain collectively through labor unions.

Invalidate existing or future state or local laws that limit the ability to join unions and bargain collectively, and to negotiate and enforce collective bargaining agreements, including employees’ financial support of their labor unions. Laws may be enacted to prohibit public employees from striking.

Override state laws that regulate hours and conditions of employment to the extent that those laws conflict with collective bargaining agreements.

Define “employer” as a person or entity employing one or more employees.

In 1932, the Hoover administration warred on WW I veterans, demanding promised bonuses. General Douglas MacArthur-led government troops burned their camps for marching peacefully for their rights.

this is from an article about union busting in america. corporate paid thugs, police, and national guard, killed or wounded thousands of protesting workers.
sjlendman.blogspot.com...

even the great general douglas macarthur in his early years, was ready to kill fellow americans in the name of corporate profits. people of today should look at history and see what it took just to keep from starving on the pay back then, or being killed on a job from hazardous conditions. hundreds of thousands of workers across america went on strike, just so they could eat, clothe, and shelter, their own families. and if you don't think this could happen again, workers are already being hung out to dry by corporations, and it's only a matter of time before it happens again. people need to go out and talk to the workers, old and well as young, trying to keep a roof over their head and food in their mouths, and pay all of the other bills. it's not all big screen TV's and smart phones, there are millions of people living paycheck to paycheck without any luxuries, whatsoever.
plenty of books have been written about this, and my own grandfather worked in the coal mines as a teenager, just to help put food on the table, because his father and mother, who both worked, couldn't make enough money to live on.
and trust me on this, it's hell of alot easier getting rid of unions, than it will be trying to get them back. people will get hurt and even killed for it.
people right now are robbing others just for the jewelry they have on. you don't think these same people would beat the crap out of some union organizers if he got paid to do it ???

reply to post by jimmyx


87% of Americans work in non- union jobs and what you ascribe is not happening. We have OSHA and State Labor boards to prevent that now.

Originally posted by jimmyx

Originally posted by chiefsmom
Yeah, I've been watching this on the local news every night.
I'm very surprised this past, with the unions screaming on the t.v. all the time, but I'm happy it did.
We sure need something to happen for the good in this state.

yeah,... get rid of those unions...don't want anyone protecting workers....those teachers are making entirely too much money, and the health benefits?...are you kidding me?....screw them, they can pay out of their own pocket the 500 to 600 dollars a month. that'll teach em'...pun intended

Not to worry.

Free heathcare is on the way.

I can't believe on ATS there are so many people buying up the media bull# on this subject. Spend 10 minutes and look up what right to work (for less) actually means and how it has effected the other 20 some states who are right to work. We took a blow to the middle class, there are no more jobs coming because of this. Proof is in the other 20 some states.

Either you people are not from Michigan or never read your history books.. Because if you had you would know that this is how we came to be what we are today and how many died paving this road for you and your family. Do you honestly think the government or your company really gives a rat -# about you as an individual they are a business and make money most don't even care how they get it just work your ass off for it.
Looking back to the depression era what people had to do just to get a fair wage do you think our government really cared hell no it was the team steers that started the uproar with human rights not the government!
Alot of people died for what you have today 'freedom and protection' As of today still people are not treated fairly and the union does protect those people. I have heard so many ppl on here saying # bout how bad and corrupt the unions are but where are the great stories that have saved many and offered them fair wages and benefits for their time.

Civil War in Michigan is on the rise mark my words .... On a final note... WHY DIDN'T THE PEOPLE GET TO VOTE FOR THIS LAW.... Hummmm Big money big brother big government corruption...

reply to post by trinityalways

On a final note... WHY DIDN'T THE PEOPLE GET TO VOTE FOR THIS LAW....

They did.

In November...just a few weeks ago...the unions backed a proposal to get a pro-union amendment to the state Constitution...it lost...the citizens have spoken.
www.abovetopsecret.com...
www.huffingtonpost.com...

Originally posted by DontTreadOnMe
reply to post by trinityalways

 

On a final note... WHY DIDN'T THE PEOPLE GET TO VOTE FOR THIS LAW....

They did.

In November...just a few weeks ago...the unions backed a proposal to get a pro-union amendment to the state Constitution...it lost...the citizens have spoken.

Oh beep... you are taking about the proposal 2 when half the ppl forgot to flip over their voter cards and didn't even read the jargon on the ballot due to the BLANK AND BLANK PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION... AND Gov. Rick Snyder, State Attorney General Bill Schuette and the Michigan Chamber of Commerce were among those who opposed the union-backed measure. Ya now he passes is what a few weeks later... GET REAL PEOPLE...

58 percent of voters opposing the measure and only 42 percent supporting it.

Get the story right. Michigan voters support collective bargaining, and simply did not want to add collective bargaining to the state constitution. Many see it as a civil liberty issues ............ gezzzz I #ing moving to Texas

edit on 11-12-2012 by trinityalways because: FORGOT MORE BEEPS ... LMAO

Originally posted by DarthMuerte
Link

The Republican-controlled Michigan House has passed one of two contentious "right-to-work" bills, as union protesters flooded the capital and hundreds of teachers called out of work to participate in the demonstrations. The measure approved Tuesday morning deals with public-sector workers. Another bill focusing on the private sector was approved last week, when the Senate OK'd both bills. When final versions have cleared the House, they'll go to Republican Gov. Rick Snyder for his expected signature as early as Wednesday. Coinciding with the votes were massive and noisy protests both inside and outside the Capitol from pro-union demonstrators. Thousands descended upon downtown Lansing to rally against the legislation that prohibits requiring nonunion employees to financially support unions at their workplace. The move would make Michigan the 24th "right-to-work" state and strike a blow to organized labor in the heart of the U.S. auto industry. Earlier in the day, two state school districts closed after hundreds of teachers called out.

Congratulations to Michigan. They have both the largest union membership and the worst unemployment numbers in the country. Hopefully, this will bring some employers back to the state.
Regarding the teachers calling out; fire them all. Every union teacher that called out and robbed the children they are supposed to be educating needs to be fired on the spot. There are many unemployed teachers all over the country who would be happy to take their jobs. There are even more unemployed college graduates that would gladly fill any remaining open positions. Fire them all and hire only non-unio teachers from that point forward. The children will thank you for getting those leeches out of the system and replacing them with people who actually want to teach.

edit on Tue Dec 11 2012 by DontTreadOnMe because: added MI to title

Yes. Teachers are the villians.

It's not the CIA who introduced crack coc aine and machine guns into our cities to break up the civil rights movement. It's not the politicians who only passed this bill because they were bribed to do so. It's not the oil companies.

It's school teachers. THEY are the one's WHO MUST BE STOPPED!!