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TexasTowelie

(111,317 posts)
Sat Apr 6, 2013, 07:30 AM Apr 2013

State Supreme Court limits union rights in Texas

Source: Austin American-Statesman

Unionized government workers in Texas — including firefighters, police and teachers — don’t have the right to be accompanied by a union representative while being questioned during internal investigations, a divided Texas Supreme Court ruled Friday.

Such representation is a basic right for unionized private sector and federal government employees.

But in a case begun by a Round Rock firefighter disciplined in 2008, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that state labor law doesn’t specifically confer a similar right to workers employed by state, county, city or local governments in Texas.

“On its face, (Texas law) confers only one explicit right: the right to organize into a trade union or other organization,” Justice Paul Green wrote for the majority. “It says nothing about any rights that may attach once such unions are formed.”

Read more: http://www.statesman.com/news/news/state-regional-govt-politics/state-supreme-court-limits-union-rights-in-texas/nXD2p/

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UBEEDelusional

(54 posts)
3. The firefighters, police and teachers could fight back and strike
Sat Apr 6, 2013, 07:41 AM
Apr 2013

but they won't yet they should.

I say let a few cites know what it is like to have no police or firefighters working for a few days.

Once the fires are burning out of control and crime is rampant, people will get the message.

The workers have the power they just lack the will to use it.



Omaha Steve

(99,077 posts)
8. Public workers in Nebraska CAN'T strike by state law
Sat Apr 6, 2013, 10:03 AM
Apr 2013

Last edited Sat Apr 6, 2013, 01:12 PM - Edit history (1)


Many other states have the same law on the books. There was a wildcat strike of some Omaha bus drivers in the early 70's. They all got fired legally.

This decision kills a long time right of public employees, the Loudermill Right.

The Loudermill Right: One of an Employee’s Most Important Rights: http://www.pte17.org/member_resources/archive/loudermill_right.pdf

 

UBEEDelusional

(54 posts)
10. Then the workers need to just break the law.
Sat Apr 6, 2013, 10:14 AM
Apr 2013

Workers need to look at what it took to form a union in the first place and do the same things again.

Those before them stood up and fought for the right to form a union today’s workers need to stand and fight to keep it.

cstanleytech

(26,085 posts)
15. They cant strike at all or they cant do a wildcat strike? I ask because a wildcat strike I thought
Sat Apr 6, 2013, 02:21 PM
Apr 2013

was one in which wasnt authorized by the union leaders which is a huge difference over one imo where say the workers strike with the support of the union leadership due to say contract negotiations failing.

NHLabor

(70 posts)
4. This is completely wrong
Sat Apr 6, 2013, 07:44 AM
Apr 2013

The NLRB has ruled in many cases and found that in cases of discipline, the employee always has a right to union representation!

madrchsod

(58,162 posts)
5. yes..it is a violation of federal law.
Sat Apr 6, 2013, 08:04 AM
Apr 2013

since texas does`t want to abide by the rules and regulations of our country maybe they should leave our union

mtasselin

(666 posts)
6. Time
Sat Apr 6, 2013, 08:10 AM
Apr 2013

There is going to come a TIME when these right wing courts are going to say unions are illegal, then what. I am retired but how I fear for the future of this country with these asshole rwnj convincing people to vote against their own best interest.

 

graham4anything

(11,464 posts)
9. Work to make Texas Blue, and to any reading this antiObama whiners out there
Sat Apr 6, 2013, 10:09 AM
Apr 2013

protesting and not voting for all the democratic candidates in 2010, and other elections and in 2013 and 2014 and 2015 and 2016, yeah, how does that protest help anything?

former9thward

(31,805 posts)
14. Weingarden rights come from the National Labor Relations Act.
Sat Apr 6, 2013, 11:26 AM
Apr 2013

The NLRA only applies to the private sector. Federal law does not apply to state public sector employees.

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