1000 Nurses March on Whitman's House (Oakland, Alameda: unemployment benefits, buy, camp)

[SickOfCalifornia]

The problem isn't with the nurses - it's their goon union. The biggest misconception being peddled is that Whitman is anti-nurse. She's not. She's opposed to their union. That's a huge difference, and luckily one that the voting public seems to understand. Marching on her house isn't going to win the union any pr points - stupid move.

[clongirl]

I want to see photos of her house. Didn't she just mock Brown's 1.8 million dollar pad in Oakland? I want to see visually what hypocrisy looks like.

[mysticaltyger]

What a bunch of selfish b*tches. Nurses in CA make far more than nurses anywhere else. It's about time someone stand up to them.

[mysticaltyger]

Originally Posted by ferretkona

Those were nurses not thugs, quite the opposite treatment.
What is it with people wanting others to make less than a working wage?
You might want to get educated on unions before making the odd statement.

I'm a union member myself and EscapeCalifornia is quite accurate in what he/she is saying.

Unions have no concept of economic reality and really don't care.

Sure they say they do, but they lie.

[mysticaltyger]

Originally Posted by smh1

If I am not mistaken-the vast majority of nurses are in the private sector??? Not sure why the union angle is as important. It would be if it were public sector employees, like teachers or police or some such-but not nurses?

Most nurses are in the private sector but most are also unionized and get the legislature to pass laws favorable to them. Of course, it's all done in the name of patient care. Just like everything the teachers want is "for the children". It's time for voters to see through the smokescreens.

[Fontucky]

Originally Posted by smh1

If I am not mistaken-the vast majority of nurses are in the private sector??? Not sure why the union angle is as important. It would be if it were public sector employees, like teachers or police or some such-but not nurses?

There are a number of nurse's unions in the State, but I have no idea how many they represent.

[EscapeCalifornia]

Originally Posted by mysticaltyger

I'm a union member myself and EscapeCalifornia is quite accurate in what he/she is saying.

I was in union years ago and every election, they reflexively endorsed the democrat and gave him or her my dues money. They sure as hell weren't representing my wishes but they said they were speaking for me as a union member. How many union members do you think are in the position I was in? Those are the people Meg's trying to attract according to the story. Of course the union doesn't like that because they want to fool the public into thinking that their endorsements speak for the entire membership.

[ZhugeLiang]

**Yawn** Nothing to see here, move along. On a side note, I sure hope people keep events like these in mind the next time unions start crying foul about their poor members and their rights.

Looks like the unions have plenty of money to burn.

[ZhugeLiang]

Originally Posted by mysticaltyger

What a bunch of selfish b*tches. Nurses in CA make far more than nurses anywhere else. It's about time someone stand up to them.

No kidding. Unions for people making starting wages of $40+ per hour, yeah man, times are tough bro.

[smh1]

Massive deregulation and free trade policies open up our economy to anybody in the world-even though they cheat by manipulating their currencies or not giving similar access. Their citizens maybe making a dollar a day-but that doesn't seem to matter-they still have access. Companies rush headlong to those cheap lands for the savings-resulting in the loss of millions of jobs.

Massive deregulation in the financial sector results in products that enable a man making 14,000 a year to qualify and move into a $714,000 house. The resultant collapse almost drags down the entire economy and the firms responsible for it get a trillion dollars or more in bailouts. Fed uses another trillion to buy junk products that the bank would otherwise not be able to sell. So they get saved and all their senior magmt continue getting their million dollar bonus.

But who is to blame for this mess- the unions. In China the labour is actually beginning to strike and call for better wages and living conditions -the early stages of unions. In India unions are extremely entrenched and for firms over a certain number of employees-you need permission from the federal/central government to fire them. Those countries are doing just fine.

Now I am not pro union- never been a member in one and don't care much for them either. In today's America and the legal system-I think we really don't need them as much-we have enough legal protections and a nice safety net. In Alameda county, where I used to live, the public voted down a tax increase for teachers -and I am willing to bet the same will be the case in pretty much any county today. The governor already negotiated down benefits for several unions and if a city goes bust-well so does their obligations tot he public servants.

But blaming the unions for the dire straits our country is in is kinda odd. It is the corporatist free marketers that led to this mess. Meg Whitman calls for abolishing 40,000 govt jobs. but right next to that in her plan-she wants more H1B workers. Why-can't find any qualified Americans to work for a dollar a day?? I think we really need to look at the living wage situation in different countries and set our market/trade policies according to that.

Oh well, I am more or less decided on moving to Spain. Both parties really have no solutions-although the republicans and their broken record of more free markets seem to be even more dangerous. I think if I have to sit and watch a country crumble around me-at least I won't be bothered if it is another country!