Schwarzenegger criticizes state unions

[caligirl]

(03-14) 19:45 PST STANFORD, Calif. (AP) --


Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger criticized state unions for not acting in the public interest and said he does not have a gripe with nurses or teachers, just the unions that represent them.


In an interview on MSNBC's "Hardball," California's Republican governor complained about a state law that prohibits schools from contracting out to mow lawns, repair roofs and do other fixes at schools.


"It cost the California school system, our education system, $300 million extra," Schwarzenegger said. "Do you think that's to the public's interest or is it to the unions' interest? Think about that."


The California Teachers Association and the Education Coalition — an association of unions, school administrators and others — have opposed the governor's proposal for merit pay for teachers and accuse him of breaking a promise he made last year, shorting $2 billion.


Schwarzenegger also has had a long-running political battle with the 60,000-member California Nurses Association over the nation's only mandatory staffing levels for hospitals. The new rules, passed by the Legislature in 1999 <snip>


http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2005/03/14/state/n194540S85.DTL

[rpannier]

1. If Arnie needs emergency care he knows he'll get it

So why should he care -- He's an ass

[Sandpiper]

2. I sure hope Arnold never belonged to SAG

You know, that evil actors' union.

[jeffgad]

10. He does belong to SAG. It's possible he even gets his health

insurance through them. Ironic, huh?

[K8-EEE]

18. Yeah, SAG/IATSE have the best insurance

I'm sure he thinks it's TOO good for HIS family? He should give it up then...hypocrite!

[jeffgad]

21. It's pretty much off topic, but SAG's health insurance ain't all that

hot anymore. I've had it for 20 years, and (like most healthcare) now has tough qualifications , high deductibles and you have to argue over every claim. Arnie's coverage aside, I think the economic train wreck comingis health care. One modest health problem, and many middle-class Americans are fucked big-time.

[K8-EEE]

32. I agree, since your health coverage is tied to work...

and if you get really sick you can't work DOH!!!

LISTEN UP EVERYONE -=- EVERYBODY IS ONE HEALTH CARE CRISIS AWAY FROM A HUGE FINANCIAL MELTDOWN!!

I compare my hub's IATSE coverage to what I used to have before we were married and it's like a thousand times better. My old ins. I had to go to the creepiest "network" of drs!! I had to drive all over and pay high deductibles....I had two kids on his ins. and paid NOTHING! ZERO! Of course, I had easy deliveries, no pain meds, overnight stay etc. but still I'm sure they bilked the ins. for thousands of $$$....just walking in a hospital is thousands of $$$, it's ridiculous!

[LiberalFighter]

22. He's following in Reagan's footsteps

[caligirl]

3. $300 million his buddies at the Chamber of Commerce want in

revenue. He's arguing to let contractors do this, (with undocumented workes likely)and they are the folks in Citizens to Save California. Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, California Chamber of Commerce as well as all local Chambers of commerce. Why keep middle income people employed by keeping this task within the union. Lets just let any unknown contractor or contractors come and go as none district employees with huge exposure to students at school or coming to or leaving school without backround checks, with little supervision from the district.

This is a money fight for his business supporters who want $$$$ from the schools, flowing into their pockets.

[roguevalley]

4. He really has a death wish doesn't he?

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. Arnie ye are playing with fire...

[kevinmc]

6. It's in his genes.......

The Nazi's went after the Trade Unionist.

[bunkerbuster1]

11. And I did not speak up because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Ok, I just felt like saying that.

[shanti]

7. digging himself

a deeper and deeper hole......that's it, pigboy, keep on keeping on!!!

[merwin]

8. Every time I think of Arnie, I think of Kindergarden Cop and his

completely hilarious accent: 'Its not a tumor!'

[xchrom]

9. arnie -- blech.

just -- yuck, gross.

[NVMojo]

12. the little repuke wind-up doll speaks!!!

[Guckert]

13. Yea Arny, Paying teachers a living wage with benefits really sucks.

Why cant we get back to the good old days
poverty level pay
16 hour shifts
7 day work week
No Benefits
No vacation
child labor
poor work conditions

i hate Unions too. DUH!!!!

[shantipriya]

14. Arnie?!?!!!?!?!?!?!?

I hope this piece of meat gets defeated in the next election. The Dems should pull out all stops to defeat this lump of shit!

[gratuitous]

15. Yeah, imagine $300 million in taxpayer money paying living wages!

That money could be lining the overstuffed pockets of Arnie's wealthy political benefactors! How does that serve the public to pay school custodians and groundskeepers a living wage that gives them a good job, decent salary, allows them to buy and maintain their own homes, and participate in society just like anyone else?

Someone might also mention to Arnie that the unions he's so upset about are simply the bargaining arm of the nurses and the teachers he's trying not to upset. Of course he knows this, but he's hoping that average Californians don't -- so he's playing them for suckers and rubes.

[okawari22]

16. Necessary steps in bringing prison-labor assets online

Wage-freeze brilliance.

[Neecy]

17. I watched some of this...

...as much as I could stomach. What's disgusting is when he attacked labor unions, the spoiled rich kids at Stanford gave him a rousing ovation. I guess their parents don't need the wage, benefit and work rules protection that many middle and working class families get from union membership.

This oaf is doubtless too frightened to have his little Hardball segment at Cal. They would have heckled him throughout.

[LiberalFighter]

23. What else can we expect from Stanford?

Condi?

Who else just got into the admin?

[K8-EEE]

19. Yeah But Millionaires Can Register Their Yachts In MX

That's OK -- because we don't want to hurt the yacht sales, however never miss an opporutnity to pay poverty wages to people if you can help it. I still can't beleive this idiot is my Governor. I hope he gets voted out and run out of the movie business and CA all together.

[earth mom]

20. Maria needs to kick the bum to the curb...he's an embarrASSment! nt

[LiberalFighter]

24. Teachers and Nurses Unions need to respond immediately

That the members are the union!!

And when anyone attacks any union member he is attacking them all.

[driver8]

26. Exactly!!

Ahnuld doesn't get that, though...you would think that after being on all of those union movie sets, he would have an idea of what unions do for their people. I would love to see the reaction he gets from IATSE members on the next film he does. (I am an IATSE member, by the way.)

Fuck the Terminator!

[LiberalFighter]

28. I don't watch any of his movies

[leesa]

34. I know the nurse's union (CNA) is being very aggressive. I must get 5 or

6 e-mails a day exposing his hypocrisy

[driver8]

25. This guys is so freakin' out of touch with reality...just like the rest

of the republicans. They don't give a shit about people making a decent wage and living a decent life. All they care about is lining the pockets of their friends and campaign contributors.

How did we citizens of California get stuck with this idiot?

[Disturbed]

30. CA got stuck with this Nazi because

the Dems are as corporate as the Rethugs in CA. Also, because Enron conned the Dems and stole billions of $$$ from CA. while the Bush Junta looked the other way. The Gropenator should be investigated regarding his ties to Enron. Californians were duped by star power on top of all of that. I supect that he will get a bigger shove and keep digging. We shall see if Californians will be dupped again.

[VegasWolf]

27. Republican to the core. Can't let the rights of the little people get

in the way of profits for large corporations.

[The_Casual_Observer]

29. He is blaming the unions now, because he can't collect

the "Car Tax" money, or any other new tax money. His sole issue was the car tax, he foolishly and shortsightedly rejected it out of hand in order to win the election. I don't think he will run again, and will have left the state in a very bad situation.

[yurbud]

31. We won't tell him how to shave his nipples if he won't tell us how to ....

run our schools.

http://mysite.verizon.net/myk15/art.html

http://professorsmartass.blogspot.com/

[olddad56]

33. ARNOLD IS A KNUCKLE DRAGGING NEANDERTHAL NAZI GOON

Other than that, he's okay

[Andromeda]

35. Rob Reiner is....

thinking about throwing his hat in the ring in the next gubernatorial race.

So far, Phil Angelides and Bill Lockyear have announced their candidacy but they are both somewhat charismatically challenged.

[Barkley]

36. What about 'male' unions like Prison Guard union and the Police Union?

Why is it that only unions with lots of females such as teachers and nurses are costing California and not the 'male' dominated unions like prison guards and the police unions?