Union Busting in Wisconsin

[the-one-free-man]

Governor Scott Walker is currently trying to pass a bill that will strip public employees in Wisconsin of almost all their union rights.

One thing people need to get straight, is that this is not about balancing the budget, fiscal responsibility, or "sharing the pain", this is about taking away the voice of the workers. And it's wrong.

Over 70,000 people were at the capital today to protest, including me. As a proud Madisonian, I think this bill is completely unnecessary, and it accomplishes nothing. What do you think?

 

[ríomhaire]

Is that even legal?

 

[Shakermaker]

Is that even legal?

The whole Union situation in the US has always been somewhat different from how things are going over here on the old Continent.

 

[Krynn72]

**** yeah Republicans!

 

[lord_raken]

Unions can be a double edged sword. When they started they were vital in getting large companies to treat its employees like human beings, and today the provide a voice for workers. But Unions can also hurt more than they help. I have first and second hand accounts of unions workers purposefully slaking off because they had an agreement ot be paid for a 5 day job they could finish in 2. They would show up the first day, unload their tools (they were electricians who worked on skyscrapers), wait, then pack up when the day was done. I have another story where an airplane mechanic (not a union member) was approached by the union leadership and told to slow down because he was making the union workers look bad. he refused to do anything less than his best and the union got him fired.

Unions are still important, but some have become part of the problem, and a hindrance to our economy. Some try to squeeze every last dime they can out of the companies while forcing the companies to increase benefits for less work.

Unions are great for insuring the workers are treated well, but they can become tyrannical and even cult like in their obsession for control. I've heard stories that make the leadership of unions every-bit as corrupt as politics and CEOs.

tl;dr
Unions can be good when they are reasonable, but they can also be F**king monsters.

 

[Eejit]

tl;dr
Unions can be good when they are reasonable, but they can also be F**king monsters.

Sure, but busting them just lets the employers act like ****ing monsters.

 

[lord_raken]

Sure, but busting them just lets the employers act like ****ing monsters.

Very true. I'm not sure what they are trying to do to the Unions so I'll assume that the Reps are being assholes again.

But, it might be time to put some regulations on Unions. The problem is that the Unions will complain if you try to limit them at all... even if the limits are reasonable.

 

[the-one-free-man]

Yes, there I agree that some unions are corrupt, and definitely don't do the right thing, so there should be regulation, but taking away the collective bargaining rights of all public employees is way too far.

And one thing that possibly pisses me off even more than what's in the bill, is the way that Walker is trying to pass it. Here's what I'm talking about:

 

[No Limit]

I'm not sure who here watches Rachel Maddow but she did an awesome job last week exposing how this isn't about budget but about using public policy to destroy political opposition to the republican party.

There were 3 unions exluded from this union busting bill, all 3 (and the only 3) backed republicans in the last election.

 

[Ennui]

Excellent. I'm going to bring this up at the next meeting of my American Labor History class and get brownie points.

 

[Krynn72]

I'm not sure who here watches Rachel Maddow but she did an awesome job last week exposing how this isn't about budget but about using public policy to destroy political opposition to the republican party.

There were 3 unions exluded from this union busting bill, all 3 (and the only 3) backed republicans in the last election.

Did that even really need exposing? I thought it was obvious.

 

[BabyHeadCrab]

One group of people you don't want to **** with in the United States (and I can say this completely un-ironically) is Wisconsin's labor force. If you thought anonymous was willing to go through lengths...

I've never met a workman/woman with a personality that was unwilling to stand up on their own two-feet here. Makes me proud that Milwaukee was founded by German Socialists and we've always held our workforce with the utmost pride and admiration.

 

[CptStern]

this is as good as any place to post this:

"A CEO, a Teabagger and a union worker are all sitting at a table when a plate with a dozen cookies arrives. Before anyone else can make a move the CEO reaches out to rake in eleven biscuits. When the other two look at him in surprise, the CEO locks eyes with the Teabagger. "You better watch him," the executive says to the Teabagger with a nod toward the union worker. "He wants a piece of your cookie.""

 

[Warped]

I dislike Unions but only from my limited viewpoint. On a personal note, I paid Union dues when I was getting paid minimum wage and I got fired over the stupidest reason (I was 15 at the time) and basically the Union did jack shit for me when I needed them most. Regardless I think some Unions are really good, but otherwise many are a scam. This is juts my personal experience with them though, I am sure someone here has the complete opposite viewpoint as I so I can't say it works for everyone like this. One thing I hate most though, is seeing ****ing 10 guys crowding around 1 working person shooting the shit on the Freeway when any other company would have finished the Construction job months in advance. I hate Unions for the fact that many who are heavily invested simply don't work as effectively as others who are not in a Union, but yet again this is just my opinion on the matter. Workers rights are very important as well, and I think there should be Unions in play just like OSHA and other important checks and balances in our own Government. OVersight is one of the best tools for the job in this country, whether its from the blue collar all the way to the white collar.

 

[GreatEmperor]

This event might prove the worth of unions, otherwise Republicans will try to use the "tightening our belts" bullshit to sell state assets wholesale to private firms that pay them off, as well as bust unions

 

[delusional]

This event might prove the worth of unions, otherwise Republicans will try to use the "tightening our belts" bullshit to sell state assets wholesale to private firms that pay them off, as well as bust unions

Republicans are already there. Part of the Bill would allow Wisconsin to sell public power plants in a no-bid process.

Under the budget-repair bill passed by the Assembly on Friday, no bids would be required for the state to sell up to 37 heating and cooling plants across the state.

The bill would empower the secretary of the state Department of Administration to sell the plants, which primarily serve University of Wisconsin campuses, including those in Madison and Milwaukee, as well as state prisons and other facilities.