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I am generally pro-union, but more for the private sector than public. I have been involved in contract negotiations for my private sector union. We literally have a long table w/ union people sitting on one side, and company people on the other side. We have opposite interests, and have to meet somewhere in the middle.
For public sector unions, on one side are the union people, but on the other side are representatives of politicos whom the union very likely helped into office. It actually amounts to a kickback scheme, which would be unethical and perhaps illegal in other contexts. This has had great negative effects for both education and law enforcement, which are now widely unionized.
Now there is a case, Janus v AFSCME that could make public union membership voluntary. Experience shows that when this is the case membership declines. Any thoughts on this, and what it might mean for the future? If Janus wins, it could mean an earthquake for public sector unionism, which IMO is one of the great under-reported stories of the past 30-50 years.
Hopefully, death. My wife is trapped in a public-sector union. They make things worse for employees, not better. And the union brass all have high six-figure salaries from the union in addition to their state salaries. It's a giant, stinking, rigged cesspit. There are enough useful idiots willing to shriek slogans and wear the silly purple shirts and listen to the tripe about how they'd all be chained on a galley deck somewhere if it wasn't for the union. Meanwhile, the union charges royally for their "services" while lowering and delaying raises through their obstructionism.
Anyone who thinks the union is on their side is lacking in several areas. They're the same people who believe government is on their side, then watch taxes and fees and costs go up, try to blame the private sector and capitalism, and usefully ignore the huge money that's involved. Union "leadership" is invariably corrupt and gorging themselves at a trough filled with the sweat of working people, and I have nothing but contempt for them and their lackeys.
Point. Federal unions have some differences. Membership is not required even in a union shop. Actual dues paying membership is lower than their reported numbers because of it. They can't strike ( PATCO anyone) and can't bargain over pay in most cases.
For the record I am not and never have been in a union. Just wanting the discussion to be clear.
why would it affect public sector unions? when did they become mandatory?
which Union do you know that forces you to join?
The case involves 'agency fees,' which are charged to employees who decline to join the union, and thus not pay dues. They are used in 22 states. Map of states here. The agency fee is supposed to cover services rendered by the union to non-members. The agency fee is usually not much less than dues, so most people just opt to join the union.
Suppose that to get a job in a certain sector, you HAD to join a union? That's how they'd force you!
Exactly. Go look at the map someone posted above. Those states are anti-choice. One is automatically enrolled in the public union and the state forced to collect the union dues for the d@mn unions. Yeah, they call it agency dues, but it is extortion, pure and simple.
Public service jobs are jobs like your DMV workers or community college secretaries, or nurses at the county hospital, or the janitor at the school, etc. They deserve to have a union just as the private sectors do. My issue with all of this, is saying they don't deserve representation because they work for a government. I very much disagree with that.
I disagree that when the parties are at the negotiating table that there are politicos on one side and the union on the other. The union would be at the table across from the employer, who would be the city or county or state administrator - the equal position that you'd find in the private sector. Not the local congressman or mayor or governor or senator. So, I don't understand where you were coming from on that, OP.
Unions can be corrupt, for sure. But, I think only people who are too young to remember life before unions could find total disregard for their benefits.
Location: Live:Downtown Phoenix, AZ/Work:Greater Los Angeles, CA
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Originally Posted by NoMoreSnowForMe
Public service jobs are jobs like your DMV workers or community college secretaries, or nurses at the county hospital, or the janitor at the school, etc. They deserve to have a union just as the private sectors do. My issue with all of this, is saying they don't deserve representation because they work for a government. I very much disagree with that.
I disagree that when the parties are at the negotiating table that there are politicos on one side and the union on the other. The union would be at the table across from the employer, who would be the city or county or state administrator - the equal position that you'd find in the private sector. Not the local congressman or mayor or governor or senator. So, I don't understand where you were coming from on that, OP.
Unions can be corrupt, for sure. But, I think only people who are too young to remember life before unions could find total disregard for their benefits.
There seems to be this mentality that because "muh taxes" pay govt workers salaries, that they should work for minimum wage with no benefits, and if they don't like it, then they can get a job in the private sector.
Now me, I want the police and fire fighters who protect us to be well paid, what they do is hard work, and don't want them searching for a new job while on a crime in progress or at a fire
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