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I don't like unions or even the concept of them. But this issue goes far beyond what the personal preferences of someone like me might be. The decline of the Unions has brought about an era of uncontrolled power by big business and corporations. The fact is, that as the unions go, so goes it for everyone, except for the wealthy. When it comes down to a choice for me, to support either the unions or the corporations, I have to put aside my lifelong disdain and recognize that unions provide an essential check on the unlimited greed and power, the corporations would seize, if left unopposed. I see the overwhelming vote in Missouri, as a shot across the bow, of the Right-wingers who have been fantasizing about gaining dictatorial powers.
With only 6% union membership...… I think the corporations have already won.
Forcing someone to join a union or pay dues even if they don't is extortion.
Businesses have a choice to be a union shop or not and workers have a choice whether to work at a union shop or not. No one is being forced to do anything. If anything, the government is interfering in the negotiations between employees and employers by trying to implement such statutes
I don't like unions or even the concept of them. But this issue goes far beyond what the personal preferences of someone like me might be. The decline of the Unions has brought about an era of uncontrolled power by big business and corporations. The fact is, that as the unions go, so goes it for everyone, except for the wealthy. When it comes down to a choice for me, to support either the unions or the corporations, I have to put aside my lifelong disdain and recognize that unions provide an essential check on the unlimited greed and power, the corporations would seize, if left unopposed. I see the overwhelming vote in Missouri, as a shot across the bow, of the Right-wingers who have been fantasizing about gaining dictatorial powers.
This is kinda what was figured out 100 years ago or more.....
Why do we have to keep learning the same lessons after hurting so many people?
That's a sad fact here in the USA....we don't learn from mistakes nor model behavior that works. For example, a Union German Auto worker makes 70K or so and has incredible vacation and benefits, yet Germany makes twice as many cars as the USA....
The whole idea in life is to see what is possible and follow along...not to take the roads which you know lead to the swamp.
The idea of unions is very simple. As you say it's simply two negotiators sitting across the table, one for the corporation and one for the PEOPLE who work there. In Germany and many other places they both have the same goals in mind. To me that is win-win.
But in the USA everything is about scapegoating. So brainwashing (marketing, fake news, jealousy) is used to turn people against having a seat at the table...effectively turning the clock back to indentured servitude...without even the guaranteed work that provided!
This is all done under the guise of "free markets" - you know, that thing the GOP turned 100% against as soon as they took the reins.
I would only want the larger operations to be (optionally) union...of course! Smaller enterprises can negotiate one-to-one. Employees that were valuable to me told me what they wanted and needed and they got it - most of the time without having to spell it out.
I get the idea of liberty but since workers rely on a steady income to live, I believe the government should regulate when and why businesses can fire their employees. Libertarians will scream at me, but that's the way I feel.
What are you suggesting, that human beings are more than just resources to be exploited?
A study showed that Oklahoma lost thousands of jobs after it passed there. And the average family has $8700 less in income per year.
For starters, GM closed its plant in Oklahoma City. The right to work hucksters said more manufacturing jobs would come to Oklahoma, if right to work passed. Instead, more of such jobs were lost than gained.
Forcing someone to join a union or pay dues even if they don't is extortion.
Yet, they reap the benefits that unions negotiate on their behalf.
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