Labor Unions: Should the Federal Government Allow its Employees to Unionize?
Fef
2010/06/10 15:51:23
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Employee Unions originally served to protect employees from harsh and unfair labor conditions. Times have changed in the past hundred years -- the government has established labor workplace codes and oversights like OSHA. Companies have also changed and made the workplace safer.
As a result of the changes, employee/labor unions have shrunk in their membership except in membership by federal and local government employees. The SEIU and other labor unions have worked hard to increase their membership amongst federal employees because of their close relationship to politicians.
But, does the federal government treat its employees so poorly that they need a union to protect them?
Additionally, federal employee unions may create a conflict of interest since union members must pay dues that go to the union's political lobbying efforts. This means that taxpayers, who pay the wages of federal employees, pay for the lobbying efforts of Leftwing organizations like SEIU and AFL-CIO. Some Americans may agree with that, but others don't. Federal employee unions mean all Americans fund those organizations -- and some Rightwing organizations, too.
Should we have the SEIU unionize the Army to protect them on issues like "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"? Do postal delivery persons need the AFL-CIO to protect them? Should the NRA start a union to protect members of the CIA?
As a result of the changes, employee/labor unions have shrunk in their membership except in membership by federal and local government employees. The SEIU and other labor unions have worked hard to increase their membership amongst federal employees because of their close relationship to politicians.
But, does the federal government treat its employees so poorly that they need a union to protect them?
Additionally, federal employee unions may create a conflict of interest since union members must pay dues that go to the union's political lobbying efforts. This means that taxpayers, who pay the wages of federal employees, pay for the lobbying efforts of Leftwing organizations like SEIU and AFL-CIO. Some Americans may agree with that, but others don't. Federal employee unions mean all Americans fund those organizations -- and some Rightwing organizations, too.
Should we have the SEIU unionize the Army to protect them on issues like "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"? Do postal delivery persons need the AFL-CIO to protect them? Should the NRA start a union to protect members of the CIA?
Top Opinion
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cmdrbnd007 2010/06/10 15:59:36Don't Allow Federal Employee Labor Unions
+8It should never have happened. We now have federal government employees making more money than the private sector. Who pays these wages? You and I do with our taxes and they get to strike if they want more? Like I said, it should never have happened.
Think about it people. Do you think that having a Union benefits you? Who gets the money they accumulated. What percent has the Union given you...?
That statement is my main point of disagreement. That's kind of like saying that giving $5 to a homeless man is just assisting his alcohol problem. Even if he is an alcoholic, that's not the point. The left believes in entitlement--forced charity, regardless of the recipient--and the right does not. That's kind of what this issue boils down to. Not only that, but in this case, these are (potentially) hard-working government employees.
Unions are not mandatory, they are the decision of a paid employee. They are entitled to their income, and they are entitled to lobby with it.
However, I do think that lobbying is the source of a lot of problems. As is alcohol.
Unions are just as important today as they were 100 years ago...
"federal employee unions may create a conflict of interest since union members must pay dues that go to the union's political lobbying efforts. This means that taxpayers, who pay the wages of federal employees, pay for the lobbying efforts of Leftwing organizations like SEIU and AFL-CIO."
Sheer BS, their wages, not the peoples tax dollars...They earn the money just as everyone else does who work...Because they are Federal employees, RWNJ's think they have the right to say how they should spend their money? BS, Unions have Dues, the union worker works for a pay check just like most people, who the hell are RWNJ's to say how the money is spent? (this is a RW campaign to get rid of Unions and the money they give to politics, which is not much in the grand scheme of things)...
FYI Firefighters and Police are also Unionized, will the RWNJ's want to tell them as well that they cannot give money to RIGHT WING politicians and organization?
Unions built our country, the wages and benefits that everyone now enjoys, but RWNJ's get ...
Unions are just as important today as they were 100 years ago...
"federal employee unions may create a conflict of interest since union members must pay dues that go to the union's political lobbying efforts. This means that taxpayers, who pay the wages of federal employees, pay for the lobbying efforts of Leftwing organizations like SEIU and AFL-CIO."
Sheer BS, their wages, not the peoples tax dollars...They earn the money just as everyone else does who work...Because they are Federal employees, RWNJ's think they have the right to say how they should spend their money? BS, Unions have Dues, the union worker works for a pay check just like most people, who the hell are RWNJ's to say how the money is spent? (this is a RW campaign to get rid of Unions and the money they give to politics, which is not much in the grand scheme of things)...
FYI Firefighters and Police are also Unionized, will the RWNJ's want to tell them as well that they cannot give money to RIGHT WING politicians and organization?
Unions built our country, the wages and benefits that everyone now enjoys, but RWNJ's get all bitchy because Unions for the most part back democrats...Well, SCOTUS just ruled that Unions can continue, but they also ruled that Corporations are People, and they too can give, even more than they use to...And in any given election year corporations give 100 times the amount of money to politicians and PAC's then Unions because Unions do not have the deep pockets that the corporations have...
Go Unions, Buy American...
Slaves also built this country, but we don't want slavery back.
I support our country and laborers, but not at the expense of our freedoms.
I make a lot of money and don't have any jealousy issues. I love it when other people make a lot of money. It means they won't have to borrow from me, and maybe they'll take me to dinner. And I don't have to support them with my taxes. I, and most people, love to have rich friends.
You also wrote:
I know they have unions. But why? Unions go on strike when they don't get what they want -- do you want fire and police to strike or walk off the job?
You don't have to call me or others "nut jobs" -- and you don't understand my point. I don't want to restrict their freedom of giving money voluntarily to whichever organization they want (i.e. NRA or PETA). I don't want a union to force them to pay membership dues that go to causes they don't support.
First ,... the original reason that a Union "way back when" , might of been attractive still stands to this day . There are 117 points of interest (if I remember correctly maybe 120 , it's been over a decade since I looked into their history) , that people like about America (and flock here in groves) , that "we the people" associate with either our Constitution or Bill of Rights , which were NOT given to us thru those 2 documents , but indeed were things that Organized Labor got for the American people .
Texas still doesn't abide in the mandatory minumum wage that the rest of the country recognizes - (seems to me a certain family is from there ?) . Outsourced jobs (which represented "at least" 12 million of the foreclosures during Bush Jr.s' attempt to eliminate the middle class) were because there is NO OSHA at the foreign location , so the money NOT spent on safety could go directly into the CEOs' pockets (the 2% , "their buddies" , the word "representatives " in Websters' definition of what a republic is) . The average wage increase given to a CEO of an outsourced company was a minimum of 2 million dollars / a year .
People that really want to know who is who in Washington , simple follow the money trail , which is hidde...
First ,... the original reason that a Union "way back when" , might of been attractive still stands to this day . There are 117 points of interest (if I remember correctly maybe 120 , it's been over a decade since I looked into their history) , that people like about America (and flock here in groves) , that "we the people" associate with either our Constitution or Bill of Rights , which were NOT given to us thru those 2 documents , but indeed were things that Organized Labor got for the American people .
Texas still doesn't abide in the mandatory minumum wage that the rest of the country recognizes - (seems to me a certain family is from there ?) . Outsourced jobs (which represented "at least" 12 million of the foreclosures during Bush Jr.s' attempt to eliminate the middle class) were because there is NO OSHA at the foreign location , so the money NOT spent on safety could go directly into the CEOs' pockets (the 2% , "their buddies" , the word "representatives " in Websters' definition of what a republic is) . The average wage increase given to a CEO of an outsourced company was a minimum of 2 million dollars / a year .
People that really want to know who is who in Washington , simple follow the money trail , which is hidden in all kinds of ways . The lobbists go down the street to a bar (Quorum) and give vacation packages in someone elses name , in order to get what they want done , as just a small example . Transparent funds given in support , has a little less deviousness involved (if at all) because everyone can see it including the IRS .
Our worker rights are always under attack and must be defended , or your lunch break would of been done away with back when Reagan was in office . Remember ,... the last time a 3rd of our banks closed their doors .
Although I am Pro-Labor , Not everything needs to be organized . First : if the company has fewer employees than 28 (including the office staff) , guess what , many of us just need a Mom & Pop shop to service our needs ; a 10 employee plumbing service can fix my preexisting plumbing issue , without calling out the big boys . Their 10 employees (which didn't go to the manditory Trade school) can do a good job from experience & having some ethics , at my house - but their total number of wage earners (receiving substandard wages) , and then having less to spend = (to drive the economy) won't effect our economy to the extent of damaging it . But if there are 100s' of "schooled employees" NOT earning the prevailing wage , = now we have a weaker driving force behind our economy . Plus , somethings just have to be done correctly the first time around or can you imagine tearing out all the walls in a new 15 story condominium to redo the plumbing , electrical , elevator shaft , concrete poured ,etc. ??
We allowed that once in my metropolitan area , and the screw ups were so severe , just that occured . All the people living there had to move temporarily (because they owned the condo) , and the whole interior of the building had to be striped and redone
by workers that had 5 years of electrical schooling , 4 years of painting school , etc. trained and experienced Journeyman . A huge undertaking , that was recompleted UNDER the estimated cost of the job .
Are there crap workers on both sides of the fence - YES !
little mark
for the next forty years curtesy of our children and grand children . Sounds like a plan.
A Greek one.