Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

NBC Laments ‘Upper Class Has Just About Won’ Against Unions
Townhall.com ^ | January 25, 2013 | Kyle Olson

Posted on 01/25/2013 8:43:30 AM PST by Kaslin

The Detroit News recently reported that union membership has declined five-tenths of a percentage point – 11.8 to 11.3 – in the workforce.

“Total union membership fell by about 400,000 workers to 14.4 million. Teachers unions were among the hardest hit, with the ranks of public school teachers and educators falling sharply,” it noted.

The thinning union ranks are blamed on state budget cuts which have resulted job losses for teachers and other government sector employees, EAGnews.org found.

The AP report did not mention that some teachers are choosing to walk away from their union. But that’s exactly what’s happening in Wisconsin.


Thanks to Gov. Scott Walker’s 2011 collective bargaining reform law, public employees now have the choice of whether or not to join their local union. Wisconsin’s largest teachers’ union has publicly estimated it lost about 30 percent of its members as a result of the reform law.

An Associated Press report about the union membership drop has NBC Chicago singing the blues.

“Look out, Chicago Teachers Union,” wrote NBC Chicago’s Edward McClelland. “You had a big year in 2012, with a seven-day strike that won you a raise and more job security. But in the war on unions, you’re the next target.”

What? Giving workers a choice about whether to join a labor group equals on “war on unions”?

Nobody should be shedding tears for CTU members. During their strike last fall, it was widely reported that the average Chicago teacher earns much more than the average private sector worker.

If CTU leaders are genuinely concerned about preserving teacher jobs, they could ask their members to forego an automatic pay raise or two in exchange for a freeze on any potential layoffs.

But job preservation isn’t their goal. They’re only interested in playing up this supposed “war on unions” to keep their troops’ attention.

The union’s media allies at NBC Chicago are on board.

“The class war is just about over. And the upper class has just about won.” McClelland concluded at the end of his blog.

Only in the unions’ fevered dreams is that true.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial
KEYWORDS: nbcnews; unions

1 posted on 01/25/2013 8:43:35 AM PST by Kaslin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

Most of these journalists are also members of a union. So don’t expect neutral coverage on that issue.


2 posted on 01/25/2013 8:46:32 AM PST by Oldexpat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

“We are PRO-CHOICE! Wait, not this time!”


3 posted on 01/25/2013 8:48:39 AM PST by CSM (Keeper of the Dave Ramsey Ping list. FReepmail me if you want your beeber stuned.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Oldexpat

And if they aren’t they are mostly rats and we know who they support


4 posted on 01/25/2013 8:49:37 AM PST by Kaslin (He needed the ignorant to reelect him, and he got them. Now we all have to pay the consequenses)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin
“The class war is just about over. And the upper class has just about won.” McClelland concluded at the end of his blog.

No, taxpayers have just about won.

5 posted on 01/25/2013 8:50:22 AM PST by Vince Ferrer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

the whole government is commie now so who needs a union anyway


6 posted on 01/25/2013 8:52:02 AM PST by turdhopper
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Vince Ferrer

No, taxpayers have just about won.

Agree, the unions have priced themselves out of a job.


7 posted on 01/25/2013 8:52:37 AM PST by sanjuanbob
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

“Total union membership fell by about 400,000 workers to 14.4 million. Teachers unions were among the hardest hit”

“Hardest hit”.Wow wayto make ‘em sound like victims.

Choosing to not join a union or getting out of one is FREEDOM OF CHOICE!.............atleast for now.


8 posted on 01/25/2013 8:53:51 AM PST by V_TWIN (obama=where there's smoke, there's mirrors)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

It is to be expected to hear this garbage from the union brotherhood. The need and time for unions is long past and they will never admit that destruction of American business was at the hands of the unions not the “upper class”. And that upper class statement is the most telling of the reporters bias and commie beliefs.


9 posted on 01/25/2013 8:57:47 AM PST by Mastador1 (I'll take a bad dog over a good politician any day!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

what total bs.

because they don’t win 100% of what they want, they are somehow losing?

since when are they fighting the upper class, too?

why not just run a story where everyone is against the upper class. idiots.


10 posted on 01/25/2013 9:07:25 AM PST by Secret Agent Man (I can neither confirm or deny that; even if I could, I couldn't - it's classified.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

They think if they call it a “war” then they will win it. You know, like the war on drugs and the war on poverty.


11 posted on 01/25/2013 9:11:06 AM PST by cuban leaf (Were doomed! Details at eleven.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin
The union oligarchs, just like NBC reporters, are members of the upper ruling class. They protect their own turf by forcing people to join unions and skimming their dues.

Mafia insurance salesmen are at least honest about what they do.

I was once a card carrying union member. I even saw value in what they did and considered them an essential check and balance on abuse.

Now, I see them playing the same role as the pigs in Animal Farm. Eff 'em all!

12 posted on 01/25/2013 9:28:56 AM PST by Vigilanteman (Obama: Fake black man. Fake Messiah. Fake American. How many fakes can you fit in one Zer0?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

NBC Laments ‘WORKING Class Has Just About Won’ Against Unions.

Tranlation completed


13 posted on 01/25/2013 9:46:11 AM PST by Vaduz
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

Since the majority of people in Wisconsin voted for a Republican governor and legislature who would curb the power of the unions, does that mean the majority of people in Wisconsin are ‘’upper class’’?

Why is it laughable when Garrison Keillor says that all the children in Lake Wobegon are above average but not equally laughable when an MSM reporter states that more than half the people in Wisconsin are above average financially?


14 posted on 01/25/2013 9:46:45 AM PST by Bluestocking
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

What is the purpose of a labor union?!

Ensure good wages - we have a federal minimum wage law
Ensure safe working conditions - we have OSHA
Ensure worker retirement secutiry - we have Social Security
Ensure worker protection against discrimination - we have the EEOC.

Why pay a union when you already pay for it via your taxes?


15 posted on 01/25/2013 9:58:29 AM PST by Erik Latranyi (When religions have to beg the gov't for a waiver, we are already under socialism.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin
Teachers unions were among the hardest hit, with the ranks of public school teachers and educators falling sharply,”

The losses were attributed, in the article, to fewer teaching jobs but we can always hope they are bailing on the radical agenda of the NEA.

16 posted on 01/25/2013 10:13:26 AM PST by pfflier
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin
“Look out, Chicago Teachers Union,” wrote NBC Chicago’s Edward McClelland. “You had a big year in 2012, with a seven-day strike that won you a raise and more job security. But in the war on unions, you’re the next target.” What? Giving workers a choice about whether to join a labor group equals on “war on unions”?

Anyone know Edward McClelland's take on the human piece of filth called Bill Ayers?

17 posted on 01/25/2013 11:00:39 AM PST by GOPJ ( Do murder laws control murders?..freeper Red Badger Let's try Criminal control - Fr:MadMax)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Vaduz

Today’s Good News: a Federal appeals panel has struck down Obama’s recess appointments to the NRLB (which greatly complicates their effort to foist Card Check upon us via the back door)


18 posted on 01/25/2013 11:16:34 AM PST by Buckeye McFrog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Buckeye McFrog

Oh, today’s strike-down DOES affect the Card Check shenanigans, doesn’t it? I was already celebrating an Obama smack-down, but here’s another ‘salud.’


19 posted on 01/25/2013 5:00:40 PM PST by bboop (does not suffer fools gladly)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson