We Don't Need No Stinkin Unions! (Bush, vote, wage , security)

[KevK]

This of course is one of the conservatives favourite targets of attack- the American labour movement. And I must say they have done a good job of destroying it. I feel fortunate to be a UNION employee but to those who hate the unions, I wonder how this now dead man and his destitute and bankrupt family feel about unions. After all, just relax and the boss will watch out for you, right? And if the boss won't watch out for you then the law will watch out for you, right?

Employers use federal law to deny benefits - Yahoo! News

[LML]

The destruction of the unions has led to the destruction of the middle class in this country. I don't know how long it is going to take for people to figure this out.

[doc1]

I'd say there's plenty of blame to be spread around and you could start with the unions (particularly their leaders) themselves.

My dad ended up with no pension whatsoever because of the fund being looted by rather unsavory types that proved to be no "friends o' the workin' man".

[Mike from back east]

Pension funds were looted by all sorts of low-lifes, from unsavory union bosses to corporate raiders, mostly the latter, especially in the 1980's during Reagan/Bush. The wealthy won't be happy until they have ALL the pension money and all the Social Security money to themselves and until all working people are ground into the dirt. See George Carlin on YouTube about Who Owns America.

The unions were sorely needed to bring safety and dignity to the workforce when robber barons and corporate greed ran amuck, and many long hard battles were fought but it finally came about. Both labor and management got fat in the 1950's and 1960's, but those days are gone now for both sides. IMO, unions are needed as much as ever to provide a balance to corporate power and greed, to make sure that the working stiff can at least have a living wage and a few benefits.

Once we get a Democrat in the white house, I hope to see federal emphasis on apprentice programs for skilled trades to rebuild the our workforce, we shouldn't have to rely on unskilled illegal immigrants as the workforce for our building, food and factory trades.

[silas777]

Well as we know if we look hard enough we can always find one or two sob stories to reinforce our political view on just about any issue, however that doesnt, nescessarilly prove our point! Unions in general are dying because they have generally become worthless, because of the lack of need , people grew to understand what they are really about (MONEY,POWER & POLITICS).They are usefull in lining the pockets of a powerful few at the top while providing welfare to the rank and file, all at the expense of the majority of Americans! As the old saying goes you can fool some of the people some of the time but you cant fool all of the people all of the time! In the real working mans world union has become synonomous with lazy, slacker, poor quality and expensive! The unions are growing in government sector jobs, which only strengthens the incestous relationship between the unions and the big government Democrat party!

[silas777]

Originally Posted by delusianne

It would be perfect if workers in every company would learn and read on their own and be able to navigate without a union but that's not a practical idea.

I really dont even know what this means!
learn and read on their own? navigate? If a person doesnt know how to learn and read they dont need a union! they need a education!

[Nomander]

I always saw unions in this way. The people realized that if they banded together, they could stop injustice and unfairness. Then, after they succeeded in doing so, they found out that this power was useful for personal gain.

So, while I see the "good" of a union, a union is only as good as its members and those members combined with the power of the union can be just as unjust as the company to which they claim to protect themselves from.

[paullySC]

Originally Posted by delusianne

But it's important workers be protected, have the legal right to organize and to collectively bargain. How do you propose that be accomplished? It would be perfect if workers in every company would learn and read on their own and be able to navigate without a union but that's not a practical idea.

Unions, what a joke. All they do is drive jobs out of the country. Unions are a business and take others for ride that don't know any better. Union leaders make millions a year. But you never hear liberals complain about unions and union leaders. What a bunch of naive hypocrites. When I worked in manufacturing UAW got voted into one of the plants. They ended up with less money, less benefits and regret the decision every day. Unions are parasites, it's sad people are so scared to make there own decisions.

[delusianne]

Originally Posted by silas777

I really dont even know what this means!
learn and read on their own? navigate? If a person doesnt know how to learn and read they dont need a union! they need a education!

In the immortal words of Laura Petrie, "If you don't know, I'm certainly not going to tell you."

Seriously, never mind.

[delusianne]

Originally Posted by Nomander

I always saw unions in this way. The people realized that if they banded together, they could stop injustice and unfairness. Then, after they succeeded in doing so, they found out that this power was useful for personal gain.

So, while I see the "good" of a union, a union is only as good as its members and those members combined with the power of the union can be just as unjust as the company to which they claim to protect themselves from.

Workers can protect themselves with (what remains of) the labor laws, without having to sign with a union. But it's treacherous to try to stand firm and together against a company which will always have greater resources, union-busting resources, than the workers can scrounge up for themselves on their own.