Unions had their place. Sweatshops, no minimum wage, and ridiculous hours are now a thing of the past. We have laws that cover all of the injustices unions were brought in to eradicate.
Let's take a look at how unions have "helped" our economy recently.
The Big 3 want a bailout. Here they come with their hands out for our tax dollars. Next the unions, who've not only had their hands out, but down into the auto maker's pockets for a while now, refuse to tighten their belts. After all, their union members only make a measly 70 plus dollars and hour in wages and benefits. (1) (Hold up a sec while I wipe the mist out of my eyes. Sniff)
So, the automakers get their bailouts...kinda...and how much good is it going to do? Well, the union workers will get a few more months of being overpaid before they have to go back to college (or to college) and get that doctorate degree in order to find a job with comparable pay to what they're making now.
The poor worker isn't getting a chance to vote these unions in. Here they are slaving for a measly $20 dollars and hour with a GED or a High School diploma. If only they had a union to save them. After all, most workers, when asked, want unions. If only there were a way.
Wait, I know, let's hold a vote for the union and make sure the ballots aren't secret. (The workers still have to go to the trouble of shaking down a few workers to get over 50% asking for the unions for the ballots not to be secret, however,this hurdle can easily be overcome).
How can that help to bring in unions? Well, let's think in real people terms for a moment. You've got a wife (or husband) and a couple of kids you're pretty fond of. Along come the union organizers. "Now," they say "you don't have to vote for us. I mean, we'll know if you didn't, but that's OK. How is your wife/husband feeling? Are Johnny and Sally enjoying their new school? That's good. That's good. I don't think there's enough security there myself, but, ahhh, that's just me. Well, have a good week, and don't forget to vote." No intimidation there. Seems to me the only thing we'd be missing is a wedding and a line of people asking favors.
Unions are what America needs to pull us out of this recession. Right. OK. Phew,that just boggles the mind. Of course, it shouldn't. This is from the same type of people who believe we can tax and spend ourselves out of a recession. I've seen it on both sides of the isle. Here are seemingly intelligent human beings that either are using no grey cells whatsoever (saving them up for the one big moment) or perhaps just too busy stuffing those hundred dollar bills in their pockets to push the voting button.
How can an organization truly wish to be there for the people when they
#1 have forced membership (example...if you want a government job, you have to join the union. Side note...could this perhaps be one of the real reasons this country is in the mess it's in?)
#2 In a job like, I don't know, let's see, perhaps teaching our children, the union insists on tenure. A teacher can be doing everything but their job, "Tenure, can't fire them." Yeah, that's helping America.
#3 This takes me back to #2 If you are a subcontractor and win a bid for a job for a union company you have to pay union wages. This means that typically are going to be paying out up to 3 times the going wage. If it's normally $10 dollars and hour, now it's $20 to $30. Oh, and you have to make sure that you don't work to0 hard, or do "someone else's" work.
Ever wonder why the guy holding the sign on the side of the road is watching the three guys who are watching the one guy who is digging the hole? Yeah, it's not their job to dig the hole.
To pay for these union specified labor practices, the government has to raise our taxes. Now we have less to spend. Now the companies dependant on our dollars close up shop. Now people are out of a job. Now they can't pay their mortgage. Now they're on government assistance. Now the government has to tax us more to pay for these guys. And on and on and on.
Yeah. America needs unions like it needs obesity. It doesn't.
(1)http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2008-12-01-automakers-bailout_N.htm
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