[fwdude]

Thanks for reminding us. I’m afraid all of us to some degree absorb by osmosis the socialist propaganda that constantly surrounds us at times.

[sickoflibs]

Public sector unions are far more destructive than private sector ones because they can legally take your money for themselves. The exception is the GM bailouts. That is why there few private sector unions but mostly public sector ones.

[FrankR]

Well put and very true.

[madison10]

I disagree, and here is why:

There are still companies, and I know the people who work in them, where there is absolutely NO protection, that included medical care after injuries. The pay, the hours, the conditions are early-20th-century-like, or worse. Supervisors choose who gets to work overtime and that means their friends get lots of money. Many companies get warned when OSHA is going to come in so they clean up and straighten up prior to the visit, and then go back to their old ways. All employers/owners/management are not kind-hearted, fair people.

Sometimes you have to take the good with the bad. Unions have gotten out of hand, but they are still needed in some places as long as those in charge at companies act inhumane.

[goseminoles]

I like my credit union. :o)

[madison10]

Oh, and don’t tell me, “They can go work somewhere else.” That’s a cop-out and not always possible.

[loveliberty2]

"The moment the idea is admitted into society that proper is not as sacred as the laws of God. . . anarchy and tyranny commence. Property must be secured or liberty cannot exist." - John Adams

Government is instituted to protect property of every sort . . . This being the end of government, that is NOT a just government, . . . nor is property secure under it, where the property which a man has . . . is violated by arbitrary seizures of one class of citizens for the service of the rest." - James Madison

[oldbrowser]

Truth of the matter is that unions are no longer necessary in this country because employees are very well protected by numerous laws enforced by the labor boards, OSHA, EEO, and others.

[wtc911]

Now the one and ONLY way that such a thing could EVER take place is for the government to step in and say, “Mr. Employer (rich, white, capitalist, male), if you fire this union man, you are going to jail.”

_________________________________________________

A) Please provide actual examples of instances where the government jailed a business owner for firing a union member.

B) You reveal quite a bit by assuming that only white males are employers.

C) Shouting, or in this case screaming, only makes you look childish.

[Gabz]

I guess you didn’t get the “conservative” memo.........if you open your private property to the public (hire anyone, sell anything to the public, invite the public in, etc...) you are now a public place and thus they can tell you what to do with your private property.

[upsdriver]

Except that the unions in the private sector are dying off while government unions are growing. Let’s focus on getting rid of the one that is doing the most damage, government unions.

[rogue yam]

Public employee unions are a wholly separate problem from private sector unions.

The problem of private sector unions is solved by right-to-work laws.

Public employee unions must have their power limited by law as was done last week in Wisconsin.

[hosepipe]

UNIONS are not needed we have the internet, blogs and PAC's now.. many ways to form coalitions..

UNIONS are NOW obsolete.. was good for a time.. BUT that time has passed..
Unions have become political machines.. for sheep being FARMED.. FARMED........

[Old Teufel Hunden]

I think one of the reasons that there are so few private sector unions is because many of the things they fought for are now taken care of by the Feds (OSHA, EPA etc..). I would say this, private sector unions can only destroy the company that they work for. They ruin their own jobs as well as those of management. It behooves everyone to get along and make a profit. In the government union sector, they aren't playing with management/investors money. They are playing with taxpayer money. And the ones they bargain with for pay raises and benefits also depend on them for their own jobs. Public sector unions are completely out of whack.

Other than the ridiclous GM bailout (which should have never happened) private sector unions do not affect the public at large. I don't have a problem with employees at private companies having the freedom to get together to collectively bargain with management. It can be beneficial. I also don't mind that management can pull up stakes and go somewhere else where the union is not going to be formed. In other words, both sides put themselves at risk. Just the threat of union can be beneficial for management not to abuse workers. I know one thing, I'm glad that nurse unions fought against mandatory overtimes and putting limits on the amount of time a nurse can work without a break. I personnally would not want a nurse prepping me before surgery who was finishing up an 18 hour shift...