I used to think the Unions had a pair

[Toots]

The way they are responding (or not) to Bush* dismantling of Labor laws is sickening to me. Doing away with Davis-Bacon is an arrow straight to the heart of the Unions and they are sitting on their hands. There should be a National walk out of every single Union. If they fail to reply with anything other than a few words we can kiss the Unions good bye and the Republicans will Glory in their demise. The same goes for the Democratic leaders. There is no way in hell I will vote for or follow anyone who will not defend themselves or their base. This is serious shit and no one seems at all concerned.

[rocktivity]

1. This DU thread

might cheer you up.

:headbang:
rocknation

[Toots]

3. Words are not very effective now are they?

Action is what is called for not Gee Wiz he is being mean to us....

[Zinfandel]

2. They get around it because the companies like Halliburton are non union...

They won't even consider talking with unions, it hurts their corporate profit margin to even consider workers needs, like fair pay, health insurance and worker safety. Shit, hire illegals, or the poor out of work, so the companies can reap in the profits from our tax dollars...Fuck the workers and fuck the unions! Unions would absolutely insist corporations look after workers concerns...Can't have any of that, takes away from profits...Unions are not considered nor allowed under republican fascism!

[Toots]

5. It isn't necessarily about being a Union shop it is about Prevailing Wage

The government requires any contractor to pay prevailing wage to anybody that gets work on Government money. Unions help establish Prevailing Wage.

[Zinfandel]

8. Don't understand what your saying?

That the wages and benefits are fair because a weaken union has made concessions? Or that it's all fair and corporations can pay whatever this republican anti worker administration declares is the prevailing wage...and since even that has been thrown out the window...what do the union have to do with any of it or what say or power do they really have...ZERO!!!

AGAIN, UNIONS ARE NOT ALLOWED UNDER REPUBLICAN FASCISM IN WHICH WE LIVE UNDER IN THIS COUNTRY! Or don't you see that either?

[Toots]

9. Do you understand Davis-Bacon Act at all?

Prevailing wage is established by Union shops throughout the land. When companies who receive government funding do not have to pay Prevailing Wage then they reduce or eliminate the Union advances that have been fought for. Why would any Union shop ever get a contract if the Government wasn't required to pay Prevailing Wage? No Union need apply for any job in reconstruction. They certainly will not be considered. The wages and securities the Unions have fought for far so many years are not to be honored by the Government. Only scabs will be hired.

[txaslftist]

4. The Unions are toast for now.

Once wages drop below a living wage nationally and owner/director profits skyrocket ala the late 1800s we'll see them make a comeback...

...oh wait. That's happening now, isn't it?

Well, maybe when all the regulations requiring a safe work environment are either scrapped or go unenforced, we'll see a resurgence...

...oh wait. That's happening now, isn't it?

Maybe when all the manufacturing jobs are shipped overseas to cheaper laborers and the jobs that built this nation are lost...

hmmm. Well, nevermind. Forget the "for now" part. They're just toast.

[GreenPartyVoter]

6. Half the trouble is like with everything else the RW has convinced the

people who most need the unions that they are evil and relics of an age gone by.

Until the workers rebel against the crappy syatem they are stuck in (again) the unions will be a much diminished power in this nation. :cry:

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[JDPriestly]

7. And Delta and Northwest going into Chapt. 11,

probably hoping to get rid of their pension obligations a la United. That, too, should be putting union members on notice and on the streets. The problem is that, although all employees including union members are living on the brink of economic disaster, they are lulled into complacency by several factors. They feel they can't afford to take the risk of protesting and don't feel the urgent need to change things. They have false hopes that somehow things will get better.

One cause of the inertia is the fact that our dollar still buys lots of cheap imports. As a result, working people enjoy the illusion of economic well-being. They can still afford basic school supplies like shoes, etc., provided they can keep their jobs. The reality is that all of us in the U.S. are buying the cheap imports on credit, running up the trade deficit. When our creditors starting calling our debt, we're going to be in a pretty pickle. Just you wait and see.

Another cause is the press drum beat that supports the idea that things are improving and that Bush is doing a great job leading the country, "free trade" is a great thing, etc. Lies, lies and more lies.

Also, there is utter silence about the fact that just about the only things the U.S. produces for sale to other countries are weapons, movies and entertainment (which are increasingly made in other countries) and food. If the currency exchange rate changes, and we can't buy imports as cheaply, we will be in big trouble.

I have a pessimistic, even dismal, view of where our economy is going. Our union leaders have no idea. They are not seeing the big picture. God help us all.