Meet Your Friendly Neighborhood Union Boss
Posted by Chris Connolly on 10.21.2008
Coming soon to a workplace near you...
One of the many things on Obama's wishlist if he gets elected is passing the terribly misnamed Employee Free Choice Act. A provision in that bill essentially takes away the right to vote on union representation by secret ballot and allows wonderful people like AFL-CIO boss Bill Londrigan of Kentucky (the jackass in the video) to "influence" your vote. Another provision would allow the Feds to come in and impose a contract on both sides in order to end a labor dispute. Hell, this bill is so out of touch with traditional American values that George McGovern thinks it needs to be stopped.
Unions are dying in this country, especially in the private sector. Considering the damage they have done to the automotive and airline industries, this shouldn't come as a shock. The EFCA is nothing more than an attempt by the Democrats to pay back their union backers by expanding union influence (by force if necessary), which gives the unions more dues to funnel to their Democratic-leaning PACs and puppets in Congress.
pls elaborate on the damages done. This is not being sarcastic. i actually want more clarity on the issue
Posted By: Guest#1217 (Guest) on October 22, 2008 at 03:08 AM
Even if your scaremongering was bang on the money - which it isn't - you're basically saying that the Democrats will kowtow to unions. Y'know, the guys that represent the workers. As opposed to Republicans, who kowtow to multimillionnaires who are only looking to stay rich. The former really is the lesser of two evils.
Posted By: Ian (Guest) on October 22, 2008 at 06:06 AM
Only Republicans could demonize entities that defend workers' rights and protect American jobs and then somehow expect blue collar workers to go along for that ride.
Simple: Republicans favor large businesses and corporate backers, and oppose anything that protects jobs or favors workers.
Let me put it another way: Wal-Mart management constantly runs anti-Union videos. Let me ask you this, "little guys" out there--do you *really* want to be on WAL-MART'S side on this issue? Y'know, the company that rakes in bajillions in profits, pays its store managers large thousands in bonuses each year, yet pays the people who work the floor and earn all that money for them a whopping $6.50 an hour, and jerks them around by keeping them part-time (yet still working 28-32 hours a week) and denying them health insurance?
That's the side you take when you "rally" against Unions. Just so you know.
That's okay, though...soon enough, the election will bring a cleansing rain to the Republicans and their corporate masters, at least for a little while. Let's enjoy it while we can.
Posted By: Ken B. (Guest) on October 22, 2008 at 06:53 AM
I just don't understand how anyone could be against private voting for unions. You're basically endorsing scaring people in joining unions. I think the current regulations for unions are way overprotective, for example if by unionizing a factory the costs would be increased to the point where the company would close the factory and send it oversees, the company is not allowed to tell their employees that and instead potentially let them vote themselves out of their jobs.
If your in favor of this then why not say we should do all of our elections this way. Can you really imagine having to post who your voting for in every election?
Posted By: ChErikS (Guest) on October 22, 2008 at 08:35 AM
As someone who works in a non-unionized industry, I can tell you first hand how important unions are.
There is a balance between employee exploitation and letting the inmates run the asylum that we still need to find.
Posted By: BH (Guest) on October 22, 2008 at 09:08 AM
"out of touch"
QFT.
Posted By: JO (Guest) on October 22, 2008 at 09:27 AM
Another insightful commentary from the affirmative action of the political section.
Posted By: BK (Guest) on October 22, 2008 at 09:57 AM
Here is a link to more info on the EFCA:
http://www.heritage.org/research/Labor/bg2027.cfm
And Ian, the unions stopped representing the best interests of the working class a long time ago. Their only concern now is regaining their political power.
Posted By: Chris Connolly (Registered) on October 22, 2008 at 10:01 AM
You want damages? Look no further than the Big 3 automakers, who are suffocating under the weight of benefits they agreed to, in order to avoid crippling labor strikes.
Either take your pain now (strike) or take your pain later (entitlements that no company can possibly afford).
You can thank the unions for killing Detroit.
Posted By: Eric (Guest) on October 22, 2008 at 10:20 AM
Tick Tock Chris... Tick Tock..
Posted By: The Rock (Guest) on October 22, 2008 at 10:58 AM
Hey there Ken B.
The Big 3 automakers are nearly bankrupt. A huge reason are the ominous pension and health expenses they have to cover, per union agreements.
How exactly is that protecting ANYONE'S job up in Michigan?
Posted By: Eric (Guest) on October 22, 2008 at 12:46 PM
"You can thank the unions for killing Detroit."
While having to pay higher wages/benefits probably contributed to their collapse, the real problem with Detroit was their lack of vision and wanting government to protect their interests without expanding their products to meet the changing market.
Posted By: J.D. Dunn (Registered) on October 22, 2008 at 12:49 PM
Connolly, you're just so small and pitiful. I bet if someone were to prick you with a pin you'd start leaking Kool-Aid. Red Kool-Aid, of course, because that's Grandpa McCain's favourite kind.
OMG BIG SCARY UNIONS ARE COMING TO GET YOU!
Posted By: EPIC CAT (Guest) on October 22, 2008 at 01:11 PM
Being a member of the UFCW Local 204 and a shop steward in my workplace, I can tell you from firsthand experience that UNIONS PROTECT WORKERS. It is because of a union that I have free health care, a good pension, and a multitude of other benefits. None of these benefits cripple the company because, well, the company has foresight. The auto industry did not.
Right-to-work states and companies looking to Wal-mart's business model for insight to success are killing labor unions. And labor unions are VITAL right now.
Posted By: Joe (Guest) on October 22, 2008 at 03:22 PM
Joe, not to be an ass, but you don't get free health care. Someone is paying for it.
Posted By: Chris Connolly (Registered) on October 22, 2008 at 09:39 PM
It's free to ME. Your observation completely takes my remark out of context and you know it. But I also work hard for what I get from my job, so it's hardly like I don't deserve it.
Posted By: Joe (Guest) on October 22, 2008 at 10:57 PM
Joe,
I wasn't trying to be a jackass, I just hate it when people use the word "free" so, uh, freely. I don't doubt that you bust your ass and deserve everything you earn.
I do have a question though: does your health care coverage come out pretax or is it provided through an arrangement between the union and your employer?
Posted By: Chris Connolly (Registered) on October 22, 2008 at 11:49 PM
STAY CURRENT