[quote=yogamom]It is true we have dismissed the idea of labor unions all too frequently and it is a very bad idea. Labor unions protect workers from abuses related to working hours and safety. They assure workers have a voice in pay and benefits and are not sacrificed for the benefit of the chosen few at the top.
We have to deal with the fact that a business will blame unions for high wages. It is the job of a union to protect the wages and benefits of workers who otherwise have no ability to bargain. It is time to recognize the propaganda that is circulated about the adverse consequences of unions by company management. It is also time to defend the rights of workers who are productive and critical to the success of the employer they work for.[/quote]
Uh, yeah. Speaking of propaganda, you’re the one spreading it. Heard of OSHA? Child labor laws? Anti-discrimination laws?
Yes, the unions were once necessary. No longer. Take a look at the demise of GM, which was caused in no small part to the self-destructive collective bargaining agreements that the UAW and AFL-CIO pushed through.
States throughout the Union are in huge trouble financially right now, and, again, due in no small part to pension obligations imposed by union deals.
Unions inflate wages to the point that businesses cannot afford to effectively compete, which then drives jobs elsewhere. I have to work with unions on a regular basis and, for my troubles, I get over-priced, under-skilled workers, who have nothing but contempt for those paying their wages. I’m told all about the “benefits” of employing union workers, but I have yet to see it. Instead, I’ve gotten shoddy workmanship, bad attitudes, and a sense of entitlement completely at odds with the skill level.
