Republicans survive Recall effort in WI, what will happen in PA, PGH? (Pittsburgh: wages, money)

[hempfield mania]

Democrats fall short in Wisconsin recall elections - politics - More politics - msnbc.com

Think there will a renewed effort to "break" unions collective bargaining power in PA/PGH now that it seems the "backlash" as some members on here have discussed, does not really seem to be there?

[BrianTH]

Um, two Republican state senators who were elected in 2008 (an overall Democratic year) just got recalled. I think there has only been something like a dozen recalls of state legislators in the entire history of the U.S. until now.

It is true the Democrats happened to need a net of three successful recalls to take back control of the Wisconsin Senate, so in that sense they fell short of their goal (note, by the way, that only half the Senate was eligible for recall). But if you were a state legislator in another state watching this process, I don't think you would take particular comfort in that fact.

[MeinGlanzendMotorrad]

I see no problem with crippling unions that are strangling industry.

[BrianTH]

Since this is apparently going to be a "bash the unions" thread, I'd note the following study:

Labor's Decline and Wage Inequality - NYTimes.com

The basic result:

The study, “Unions, Norms and the Rise in U.S. Wage Inequality,” found that the decline in union power and density since 1973 explained a third of the increase in wage inequality among men since then, and a fifth of the increased inequality among women.

Part of what is interesting about the study is they found that not only did unions increase union wages, but they also increased non-union wages.

Personally, I think unions can be and have been problematic in various ways. On the other hand, the fundamental logic of collective bargaining remains pretty sound. I don't know if it is possible or desirable to turn back the clock, but I think all workers should think carefully about the implications of a world in which no workers are collectively bargaining.

[SammyKhalifa]

Originally Posted by MeinGlanzendMotorrad

I see no problem with crippling unions that are strangling industry.

Odd choice of words in a Pittsburgh forum.

[creepsinc]

A unionized public employee, a Tea Partier, and a CEO are sitting at a table. In the middle of the table sits a plate of a dozen cookies. The CEO reaches across, takes 11 cookies, looks at the tea partier and says,"Look out for that union guy, he wants a piece of your cookie."

[JoeP]

I see no problem with supporting unions (who helped create a middle class in this country and are one of the few voices for the middle class) from attacks from political extremists and from industry who at times wants to strangle the middle class.

[Aqua Teen Carl]

Originally Posted by creepsinc

A unionized public employee, a Tea Partier, and a CEO are sitting at a table. In the middle of the table sits a plate of a dozen cookies. The CEO reaches across, takes 11 cookies, looks at the tea partier and says,"Look out for that union guy, he wants a piece of your cookie."

Repped.

[bradjl2009]

Originally Posted by creepsinc

a unionized public employee, a tea partier, and a ceo are sitting at a table. In the middle of the table sits a plate of a dozen cookies. The ceo reaches across, takes 11 cookies, looks at the tea partier and says,"look out for that union guy, he wants a piece of your cookie."

:d

[Aqua Teen Carl]

Originally Posted by JoeP

I see no problem with supporting unions (who helped create a middle class in this country and are one of the few voices for the middle class) from attacks from political extremists and from industry who at times wants to strangle the middle class.

BUT THEY MAKE TOO MUCH MONEY (ignore CEOs awarded for failure) THEIR BENEFITS ARE TOO GOOD (cry about someone else's benefits instead of fighting for your own) AND THEY'RE ALL CORRUPT (disregard rampant corporate corruption that has driven our country into the ground)HOW CAN YOU SUPPORT THEM!?!?!