should be completely eliminated

1/24/2006 1:00:33 PM

omg, yes!

awesome evidence! amazing testimony!

thank you for that

1/24/2006 1:01:12 PM

no problem

1/24/2006 1:01:49 PM

can we get rid of the AARP while we're at it?

1/24/2006 1:03:56 PM

Note to self:

Never take scottncst8 seriously.

1/24/2006 1:07:09 PM

We should rethink unions, but not abolish them.

I have a problem with their excessive influence, not with the concept of collective bargaining.

1/24/2006 1:11:08 PM

^I agree

It might be hard to artificially define what constitutes excessive influence, but enough rethinking to make sure unions in the short term immediate desire for benefits don't kill themselves in the long term. I think this could happen easier through educating union officials about the effects their influence could have on companies, rather than trying to have the government get more involved with limiting the bargaining power of unions.

1/24/2006 1:17:51 PM

Aren't some unions just straight up dirty/corrupt, as well?

1/24/2006 1:19:03 PM

unions need to globalize or disband themselves for the good of their own members

if the union is not global and fights tooth and nail for the kind of things that the auto workers and manufacturing unions have gotten their employees, the company will either collapse (hello GM) or completely outsource all the jobs (hello manufacturing)

in my opinion, right now, american unions are shooting their goose


[Edited on January 24, 2006 at 1:23 PM. Reason : s]

1/24/2006 1:19:43 PM

Quote :

"Aren't some unions just straight up dirty/corrupt, as well?"

Yes. And I'm a member of one, wishing it was realistic to opt out.

1/24/2006 1:22:41 PM

Quote :

"unions need to globalize or disband themselves for the good of their own members if the union is not global and fights tooth and nail for the kind of things that the auto workers and manufacturing unions have gotten their employees, the company will either collapse (hello GM) or completely outsource all the jobs (hello manufacturing) in my opinion, right now, american unions are shooting their goose"

agreed 100%

1/24/2006 1:24:29 PM

if this can be done w/o sending people into poverty or chinese like conditions, then sure.

lowered wages and retention of health care, while maintaining a living standard.

1/24/2006 4:12:09 PM

this is one issue im a bit conservative on. i dont think they should be abolished, but overhauled some (like others have said). maybe i just hate that the bus drivers had to strike EVERY fucking year in phili or that teachers went on strike every year in my school system. i know the burden isnt solely on the unions to agree on quality contracts/benefits/etc, but you'd think they could do better than this since that is their primary function.

1/24/2006 4:31:04 PM

mob rule

they ruin all the good things

had it not been for the mob, we might still be able to go to cuba and people wouldnt hate unions like they do

1/24/2006 4:41:15 PM

People should be free to organize, sure enough. So I have nothing against the concept of a union. What I object to is the use of government to force employers to negotiate. It is government sanctioned extortion and a violation of my right to contract freely. If I wish to cross a picket line to return to work or take a new job from an employer eager to hire me then that is my right.

And if I sign a contract promising not to strike then it is grounds for being fired if I do so.

All that said, I don't know if a company really enjoys having a common contract among all its employees. Surely some employees have learned to do the job better than fresh labor, clearly deserving of a higher wage than his peers.

1/24/2006 10:48:10 PM

common contract is easy to see both sides of.

on one hand ppl will be lazy or less motivated b/c they get the same as everyone else. they are ensured of it and they know that there wont be major changes if they do better.

on the other hand, certain types of raises/bonuses are so subjective that people just get pissed or cheated all the time. gotta love favorites.

good combo of the 2 is the best bet, no doubt.

1/24/2006 11:03:42 PM

Unions (just like big business) have too much of an influence in politics. National "opt-in" requirements for public union dues used in politics would go a long way, as would campaign finance and lobbying reform.

1/25/2006 12:07:07 AM

well, opt-in, opt-out, it doesn't matter. They just need to be able to opt, which they are currently prevented from doing by law.

1/25/2006 9:41:45 AM