Big Labor Should Learn From Big Blue

Forbes ^ | Sept. 8, 2009 | Bret Jacobson

[AtlasStalled]

Big Labor resisted change and now remains stuck with a 1960s operating model. * * * Its coverage of America's non-governmental employees still holds steady in absolute numbers but has decreased dramatically in share of the workforce over the last four decades. Its culture is sclerotic, and its leaders blame their failures on the world, Republicans, free trade, right-to-work laws and any number of other red herrings. Organized labor continues to rely on a model of using friendly politicians to set rules that maintain the status quo. Employees in 28 states can be compelled to pay for union representation. * * * [Labor myst change]the way union officials are paid and hired and fired. It means eliminating lifetime jobs, kicking out the remnants of organized crime and rewarding organizers for successfully landing sustainable employment for employees (not for landing company-killing contracts).

[colorado tanker]

I disagree with the article. Big labor has made a common sense decision to abandon big manufacturing in favor of big government as the growing employer with stable profits to suck money out of for their leadership, in the name of their membership. As Deep Throat said, follow the money . . .

[camle]

perhaps if big labor did their job of looking after the interests of the working people instead of carrying the democrats water, people would have more faith in them.

as it is, I wonder how any member can support a union that bargained hard for the health care bennies that the members enjoy, then fights to make those sacrifices moot by having the government provide ‘free’ healthcare for all.

kinda like kicking their own membership in the teeth. unions went south when they went ‘left’.