Labor unions

Labor Unions in and of themselves are good. But the left has taken them over and as a result they are as corrupt as anything else. And government employees to not need to organize.

The AFL-CIO and the NEA being the two worst offenders.

When I was Union I belong the the National Elevators Constructors Union. At the time it was very good. I have not kept up with them.

 

They serve a good reason in keeping employers accountable to their workers. A simple survey of the working conditions 150-100 years ago shows why they were needed. Even today they are a needed device to improve wages and worker safety. One of the benefits of a good union system is lower government involvement through regulation.

However, they are prone to corruption and seem to press a more liberal agenda. Workers end up being controled by a board of leaders who are detached from the employees they represent. For instance, I don't know too many people that look at the UAW a say that is a union which continues to offer benefits to its workers.

They are a necessary evil, but tend to be more evil than good.

 

My wife's a union member out of necessity, not by choice.

 

Labor unions started off being a good thing, improving benefits, safe working conditions and wages. Over the years, laws have been passed to reflect this. Where labor unions cross the line is when they become a political tool of the left, and go too far in protecting workers that will not do their job. At times, they are a good check against abusive and inept management.

 

Well, private unions still provide a service that can be helpful for workers. With many government labor laws on the books and manufacturing being less due to automation, I feel that the private unions would be wise to reinvent themselves. Workers need them less.

On the other hand, public government unions should not have been allowed. The public unions are able to vote into office politicians that do their bidding. In essence what has happened is public unions have been able to negotiate contracts with government employees they voted into office. These officials have been eager to provide generous pay and benefit to the unions, in return for votes and campaign donations. It is a cozy relationship. It is the tax payers that get the worst of the deal.

One problem seen with the public unions has been the underfunding of their pensions by trillions. The issue has been going on for decades. Instead of adjusting investment strategies or asking government workers to contribute more, unrealistic investment returns where projected year after year. The end result is likely to be much higher taxes to pay for this ~

"Pension Woes Could Lead To Tax Spike"

http://blogs.the-american-interest.com/wrm/2012/10/20/pension-woes-could-lead-to-tax-spike/

 

Actually the problem is with Federal Labor Laws. We live in Texas, a 'Right-To-Work" state, which means she would usually have the option of joining the union or paying dues.

However, since she works in a "Federal Enclave", she HAS TO pay dues to the union- a wasted and unnecessary expense. The union has done zilch for our family. We do get a nice glossy magazine (with articles in it that are of no interest to anyone but union heavies) from them once a quarter or so but that's about it.

 

As an employee, I've been both union and nonunion. I preferred to be nonunion. Unions stifle ambition, and I did better without the weight of so-called "brotherhood".

 

I posted the following on the trickle down thread.

I would also note that my father was a proponent of the Taft Hartley Law which allowed states to pass right to work laws. Some may recall that the National Labor Relations Board is giving SC a hard time over Boeing coming hear! An excellent example of corrupt unions and corrupt politicians!