Democrats delay Indiana House amid Union protests

Tribune-Star ^ | Feb. 22, 2011 | AP

[Military family member]

INDIANAPOLIS — The absence of Democratic legislators from the Indiana House extended into the afternoon with several hundred union members at the Statehouse protesting Republican-backed labor bills.

Speakers at a midday rally today told the union members that Republicans had declared a “war on labor” with proposals restricting teacher collective bargaining and so-called right-to-work legislation.

[Paladin2]

"“war on labor” "

I thought teachers were "professionals".

[henkster]

I think this is all going to backfire on the unions and the democrats.

“Union member” now has a pretty negative ring to most American’s ears. The stereotype is the image of an under-educated, overweight, overpaid, selfish, lazy slob who would rather see their plant close and go unemployed than make a reasonable wage/benefit concession.

Which is pretty much what they putting on display in our various state capitols right now.

[Palmetto Patriot]

This is the second shutdown of a state government by Democrats.

This is a War on the Democratic Process.

[Military family member]

Here's the beef: The Indiana Teachers object to Mitch Daniels wanting to establish merit pay for teachers and eliminate tenure.

So paying good teachers more money, and eliminating bad teachers is wrong?

Am I missing something here?

[Ouderkirk]

it’s not a war on labor...it’s a war on UNIONS!!!

[olezip]

The absence of Democratic legislators from the Indiana House extended into the afternoon with several hundred union members at the Statehouse protesting Republican-backed labor bills.

We are all watching and waiting to see whether mob rule again prevails over the will of the voters, their duly elected representatives, and taxpayers. We have mob rule by communists versus governance by elected officials via principles of democracy. Which will it be in Wisconsin?

[AFreeBird]

Pretty much nailed an accurate description.

There’s a GM plant here in Indy that GM was going to shut down, or sell to another company. The other company would have wanted some wage concessions from the UAW as part of the purchase agreement. Guess how the UAW voted?

Yep, GM is going to shut the plant. Some of the employees will probably get to relocate, but the rest will be out of a job.

The shear stupidity of the unions is a thing to behold.

[FunkyZero]

I'd have to 100% agree about this backfiring.
Reading various articles and user comments regarding this subject shows union apologists are outnumbered about 20-1.
Heck, even on yahoo news the comments are mostly calls to fire every one of them.
All I can say is I hope the republicans don't freekin cave on this one.
It's really too bad there is no way to deem their positions abandoned and vote without them. It was all fun and games when they were the majority... now look at em; acting like children.

[scooby321]

what war room is Obama in. Unions or Middle East.

[paulycy]

This is the second shutdown of a state government by Democrats. This is a War on the Democratic Process.

Absolutely. The democrats are not allowing the peaceful transfer of power. They are a hair's breadth away from violence and are physically disrupting the workings of the government. That is the definition of anti-democratic behavior.

They are barbarians.

[A_Former_Democrat]

It’s only retaliation for Big Labor’s “War on America”

[traditional1]

"Yep, GM is going to shut the plant. Some of the employees will probably get to relocate, but the rest will be out of a job"

I believer Caterpillar did the same thing in Decatur, IL, and moved their production down South, to a Right-to-Work State. Unions price themselves out of a job, but keep funneling money to the DNC from the FORCED Union dues.....the BIG issue now is that the SEIU and AFSCME and the NEA/AFT are on the public dole, and the public is FED UP with being raped for these asses who don't want to lose their "Tenure" protections, while TOTALLY OPPOSING MERIT PAY SYSTEMS.....too many are incompetent and ONLY have a job because of Union Rules.

[Doctor 2Brains]

You have accurately described what a union member IS, but I fear that the ignorant-pig-dog American voter (Obama in White House, US Senate in Dem hands) has a soft spot for union filth in their hearts. I remember even G. Gordon Liddy once saying on his radio show, “Now they’ll go on strike and engage in collective bargaining and that’s all fine and good, because it’s part of American history...” (paraphrase). I nearly fainted.

[popdonnelly]

I’m a Hoosier. The Democrats can get out and stay the Hell out. We’re taking names, Dems, and will see you next election.

[JPG]

What really has union brains spinning is that the usual thug tactics, that have always worked and been successful before, are not working this time around. OH SH**!! Now what do we do??????

[Puppage]

“Union member” now has a pretty negative ring to most American’s ears

Well, after 10 year old kids were stopped from working 12 hour days, 6 days a week, the unions pretty much jumped the shark

Jimmy Hoffa et al not withstanding.

[EnigmaticAnomaly]

"So paying good teachers more money, and eliminating bad teachers is wrong?

Am I missing something here?"

Well, yes and no. Tenure is an archaic and failed beast that needs to be put down, but basing teachers' salaries on merit pay is akin to "epic fail" itself...

If you need details, I will be happy to provide them...;-)

[jeffc]

...and so-called right-to-work legislation.

Using the phrase "so-called" makes this "report" an opinion piece and not a straight report, but it is not labeled as opinion. Either the reporter or the editor is playing fast and loose with how things should be reported, but I guess the "media" can get away with this as the article is liberal-spin.

[dforest]

These people are not honoring the will of the people.

We cannot give them their way or we are done.