Public Employee Unions are a problem

[nadinbrzezinski]

and this guy on tweety would like to get rid of unions.

Thanks for at least being honest.

[cynatnite]

1. Think he'll get re-elected after saying that? n/t

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. Depends on his district

But to these people this is a religion.

[HereSince1628]

2. Some how I think Tweety would too. B^(

That segment was pretty galling.

[nadinbrzezinski]

6. Today the weather vane would not go there

tomorrow perhaps... and I was glad he got that out of that Repub though.

[mike_c]

3. public employee unions ARE a real problem...

...but only for the people who want us to live like serfs and work like slaves while they steal all the wealth that accrues from our labor.

Oh wait, that's our economic model, isn't it?

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. That is where they want to go

it's not there YET.

In their little world slavery, indentured servitude and children working is just damn good and well

[Maine_Nurse]

8. In some places they are not that great...

Some cover multitudes of employee types and don't really represent any of them well.

[mike_c]

9. that *might* be-- but I'm a public employee and my union has my back...

...and it's the primary reason that I have decent working conditions and a livable salary, even if it's somewhat lower than average compensation for private sector employees with similar qualifications. That's actually the state's fault, not the union. We're in bargaining presently (our contract expired last year) and my employer's positions on every contract article bargained so far make it clear that without our union, we would be screwed badly. Actually, I wouldn't work here under the conditions management seeks, so it's fair to say that my job exists and affords me some dignity BECAUSE my union keeps them honest.

Solidarity!

[Maine_Nurse]

15. Ours is so-so

We also get paid less than private sector nurses. Part of our problem is that nurses are a pretty tiny segment of the state union so we have nearly no say in things and the union won't act like a nurses union (won't work for patient issues and such). Our management are state employees and part of our union so we don't have the us vs. them issues at least.

[Liberal In Texas]

12. Like a lot of things, nothing is ever perfect.

And like a lot of things, unions are only as good as the amount of involvement the membership is willing to put in. It's the same for political parties and homeowner associations. Often just a few people set the agenda because other people are too busy. Unions are also only as effective as the number of people who join (once organized) and pay their dues.

Too many people think the job is over once they sign the cards and vote in the union. They attend a couple of meetings and many lose interest. Until they need back-up to fight some manager who has turned on them.

I can't tell you how difficult it is to find people who want to serve as shop stewards or represent the local in meetings with the national or regional union organization.

[Maine_Nurse]

16. Our problem is a bit different...

I think it is that our state union represents all state workers. Some employee types (teachers, Dept. of Trans. workers, etc) are large in number and the union represents their interests. For all of the other types of workers like nurses who are a very tiny part of the union, we don't get that at all.

[Liberal In Texas]

17. I don't know much about these particular union types.

I just know when we organized with AFTRA/SAG I found out that like any organization there are different political factions. Many of the actors/movie people of SAG looked down their noses at the TV people in AFTRA.

I don't know if there is another union that might serve your interests better or what the procedure is to change from one to another, but know that the squeaky wheel get the grease. The more people you have lobbying union officials for the interests of nurses, in your case, the more attention you'll get. And try to talk co-workers that don't belong into joining and supporting the union. The more members the more clout.

That's about all I can suggest with my limited knowledge.

[Maine_Nurse]

20. Not an option, unfortunately.

There is no way to have a different union, this covers all state employees, teachers, most municipal workers, etc., no matter what their job or whether they are management or not(up to agency head level at least). And everyone employed either belongs to the union, or must pay the union dues anyway for "negotiation services", so pretty much everyone belongs. Its just not great for smaller groups, especially ones like nurses that like their unions to work for things other than employee benefits.

[classof56]

10. Actually, public employees period are a problem to those people.

I spent my career in public service--and yes, I subscribed to the "public service is a public trust" meme. However, I was not in a union but rather in management, which trust me does not necessarily translate to a higher salary. I was happy for the benefits and pay scale receive by those of us in management, and fully understood they were due to the contracts negotiated by the unions. However, I did not qualify for overtime nor did I have any job security, part of the deal with mgt/exec service. I loved my job, worked hard to make sure the citizens of my state were well served, and I used to say if I had been reimbursed for the long hours I put it making sure things worked the way they should for my bosses and staff, I'd be a millionaire today. But no matter to those that hated me and my compatriots, union or not, because we were government employees. And they hate me still, me and all my retired compatriots, because we have decent incomes (worked hard for that, believe me) and health benefits. I'm pretty sure if those who hate had their way, they'd rip my pension and bennies away in a millisecond, reducing me to that serf/slave status they think I deserve. Well, I may be old and gray but I ain't goin' down without a fight. To those in the unions who are standing strong and proud I say--keep up the fight. You are not alone!

As Norma Rae said--UNION!

Oh, and peace and blessings.

[trayfoot]

19. You are absolutely right about that!

We need Unions - and we need stronger unions!

[Riftaxe]

7. FDR was vehemently against public sector unions

Yet no one would ever consider him anti-labor. So was FDR a union buster?

[mike_c]

11. well, he was certainly WRONG about the need for public employees to organize....

FDR was a liberal lion. That doesn't make him infallible. He opposed public employee unions BEFORE they became widespread, and certainly before they were the major remaining core of the labor movement. I chose to think that FDR would sing a different tune today, but whether he would or not doesn't change the fact that my union is a bulwark against employers who would steal every shred of dignity and joy from work if it were in their power.

[EC]

13. No he wasn't

he merely said (in a letter) that private sector collective bargaining could not be the same as in a government sector. The reasoning was that the government could not force terms on employees because that would be tyranny. It's not tyranny for a private employer so the bargaining would be of a different sort.

[Kingofalldems]

22. That's the meme from all the right wingers lately

That Roosevelt was against Public Employee Unions. It's a concerted effort. And it made it's way to DU. Thanks for the rebuttal.

[Brickbat]

14. He was worried about public unions that were as militant as the other unions during that time.

He didn't believe that kind of militancy was appropriate for government workers. He was also worried about communists.

[nadinbrzezinski]

18. Kick for the repeat

[AsahinaKimi]

21. Republicans are so bold.. they are bullies..

The best way to deal with a bully is to chase them away!

[MattBaggins]

23. How come no one ever makes them hew and haw by asking if they also mean police and firefighters?

How fast would most of them backpedal?