Voting With Your Wallet: Are You Helping to Fund America’s Impending Bankruptcy?
by LaborUnionReportThe question in the title of this post is more rhetorical because, in answer to the question, we are all (to varying degrees) helping to fund the demise of America and, for most of us, we are doing it every day. In so many ways, we do it every time a decision is made to purchase something—anything—be it groceries, appliances, and even bigger ticket items like vehicles.
For example, the new Chevy Camaro is a hot looking car. By all accounts, in addition to its looks, the Camaro fast and affordable. But, despite all of its cool accouterments, I won’t buy one.
Moreover, despite owning two trucks that are American made (read: union-made), a significant principle was breached over these past two years that, for the foreseeable future, will not be undone. You see, it was bad enough when the UAW banned the marines from using the union parking lot (before the union quickly retracted it) a few years ago, but when the UAW’s new boss, Bob King, recently reiterated the UAW’s ban on nonunion-made vehicles in the union’s parking lot (even if made by Americans in American plants), that cinched it.
Much like those who refuse to buy British Petroleum because of the gulf oil spill, a personal decision was made to, whenever possible, not spend money on companies whose employees’ union dues are being used to help bankrupt America, whose union bosses shamelessly and egregiously are currying special favors from political puppets, transforming the nation to to a quasi-socialist state, all the while demonizing people who believe in freedom. It’s that simple.
As noted elsewhere, unions collect more than $13 billion per year in union dues and fees from workers*, the majority of whom have no choice but to pay the union or be fired from their jobs. As outrageous as that seems, it’s been the case for 75 years, when Congress enabled unions to mandate dues as a condition of employment with the passage of the National Labor Relations Act.
The Act permits, under certain conditions, a union and an employer to make an agreement, called a union-security agreement, that requires employees to make certain payments to the union in order to retain their jobs.
Democrats: America’s de facto Labor Party
While union bosses, like crony capitalists, have always curried special favors from bought-and-paid for politicians (think Boston’s “Big Dig“), their influence was mostly limited to a politician or two from certain areas. Until recently, however, unions never had a choke hold on an entire political party, let alone the country, as they do now with the Democrats and America.
Consider these few examples:
- Democrats (with some help from a few Republicans) pushed through a failed $862 billion “stimulus” package wherein artificial Davis-Bacon union wage rates were mandated, but also one third of the stimulus went to state and local governments “with the effect of propping up the pay and saving the jobs of public employee union members.”
- The $100 billion bailout of General Motors and Chrysler gave the United Auto Workers billions in company stock at the expense of stockholders and unpolitically-connected dealers
- The Obama Administration issued an Executive Order discriminating against union-free construction workers on federal projects
- Unions were the “prime movers” behind nationalizing health care, so much so that, on the day of ObamaCare’s signing, former SEIU boss Andy Stern boasted of changing America forever
- With nationalizing health care out of the way, and before moving on to nationalizing America’s retirement system, unions are heavily pushing a $165 billion bailout of their under-funded pension plans
- Union bosses were especially pleased with the recently passed financial reform where, for the very first time, union bosses now have the ability to sit on corporate boards of directors.
- And, if the nationalization of the private sector wasn’t quite firm enough, it will be when the Democrats try to push through Andy Stern’s idea of using the social security trust to invest in Wall Street.
- Then, of course, there’s the mother of all union bailouts, the hallucinogenically-named Employee Free Choice Act which gives unions the right to unionize companies without a secret-ballot election, but also places a government bureaucrat in control of dictating workers’ wages and benefits through a process called binding arbitration. While today’s union bosses and the vast majority of Democrats (including President Obama) are pushing EFCA, even the late AFL-CIO president George Meany viewed binding arbitration as an ‘abrogation of freedom.’
Union Thugs? If the shoe fits.
Last week, AFL-CIO boss Richard “the Fifth” Trumka tried to blast Sarah Palin for her use of the term “union thugs.” However, to discerning Americans, as well as American businesses, today’s union bosses are living up to the “union thug” imagery very well. Take, for example, Trumka who, with his own questionably thuggish past, remarked last year:
“We need to be a labor movement that stands by our friends, punishes its enemies and challenges those who, well, can’t seem to decide which side they’re on,”
If a corporate head had made the same statement, the leftist media would be in an uproar. However, despite the fact that unions spend hundreds of millions of dollars to influence elections, when the Target corporation contributed to an organization that backs a candidate who opposes gay marriage spawned outrage and a boycott from the Left, there was no uproar from the media. In fact, the hypocrisy is largely ignored.
Making Choices.
While union members (and agency fee payers) can opt out of having their dues used on politics, many do not know how to go about having their dues withheld for such purposes. However, those members who do know that they have the right to demand that their dues not be used to fund union bosses’ agenda, yet do nothing about it, are tacitly approving their union bosses tactics, as well as their goals.
Therefore, as a consumer, while there may be no choice (except at the ballot box) in supporting the government appartchik through higher taxes (which unions are pushing for), there is a choice when it comes to how to spend a buck. And, whether supporting a company whose employees fund union bosses’ political agenda, or a company whose employees do not fund a union is a matter of knowledge and choice.
Unions have boycotts, Americans can have buycotts.
Last year, in the midst of the health care debate, Whole Foods’ CEO John Mackey had the apparent temerity to write an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal that offered free market-oriented alternatives to the health care debate. Rather than having his views considered, the UFCW quickly organized a boycott of Whole Foods. This was quickly countered with a Whole Foods “buycott.”
Two Votes: November 2nd and every day at the cash register.
Despite the concept of a buycott on behalf of Whole Foods having quickly taken hold, it was almost as quickly forgotten. However, the union crusade against America’s free enterprise system has not stopped.
As unions are projected to spend more than $200 million on their November 2nd Get Out the Vote efforts in order to save Democrats from defeat, that election will be over on November 3rd. Yet, every day, Americans make choices that enable unions to further their agenda, and that is at the cash register.
Here are a few examples:
Shipping:
- FedEx or UPS? There are two big shipping companies in the U.S., United Parcel Service (UPS), which is unionized by the Teamsters, and FedEx which is primarily non-union. At UPS, it is estimated that the Teamsters collect more than $10 million dollars every month in union dues. Where will you spend your money?
- YRC Trucking. Teamster-represented YRC Trucking, one of the companies lobbying for the $165 billion pension bailout and has been teetering on the brink of bankruptcy for nearly two years. Who does your company use in its LTL shipping?
Can you hear them now?
- AT&T Mobility, which supplies wireless phone service is largely unionized by the Communications Workers of America, a union attempting to get the government to fund high-speed internet as a “basic right.” Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon Wireless are among the wireless providers that are predominantly non-union.
Bagging the UFCW:
- The grocery stores are where most Americans spend a lot of their time and money. The grocery stores are also where consumers are getting more and more choices on where to shop. While there are many unionized grocers, there is also a growing number of non-union grocers as well.
The list of union versus non-union companies across most industries where consumers can make personal choices is vast. In some cases, there are even companies that are partially unionized, but also have non-union locations. But, knowing the difference is the key.
Earlier this year, Big Government blogger Liberty Chick made the case for Americans making a choice between union or non-union on her personal blog, as well as provided the resources to start discovering which companies are unionized:
Just as corrupt union bosses will shakedown companies that are not union shops, why can’t consumers do the same to put pressure on those companies that ARE corrupt union shops? If we don’t want these criminals taking over whatever remains of our shambles of an economy, we’re going to need to do it ourselves. Congress and the White House have prostituted themselves out to these pimp union bosses and it’s all gone too far for them to turn back now.
So go ahead. Take charge of it yourself. Check out this partial list of the companies (including government and other public sector employers) with labor union collective bargaining agreements registered with the Department of Labor. Look for those that employ the biggest union offenders, like SEIU, and the others in Andy Stern and Anna Burger’s Change to Win labor coalition. Then tell them you don’t appreciate their support for the same corrupt unions bosses who are taking our hard earned dollars from us and redistributing it to others, while they also get off tax-free with their Cadillac health care plans.
I started by not renewing my Verizon account (sorry to my brother in law…). And instead of food shopping at my local Change to Win supported A&P, I shopped at a different supermarket. One whose workers’ union doesn’t abuse its members’ union dues to purchase Congressional votes. One that doesn’t swindle the American people and make a mockery of our political system. Wherever I can, I’ll make that conscious choice now. And I feel better already. Perhaps we should all combine forces and do it – including you union members who yourselves are tired of the abuse and corruption. That might be the only thing strong enough to actually change anything.
Download the complete list of collective bargaining agreements in PDF
View the list online at the Department of Labor website
While unions and their allies may decry that an American “union-free buycott” of products and services offered by non-union companies hurts workers, on the whole that is misleading. While unionized companies and their workers may lose in an American union-free buycott, other Americans will be helped. Ultimately, it is the consumers choice and, if consumers choose to support the unions’ political agenda, they can. If not, then they can take their business elsewhere.
In the early 1900s, Samuel Gompers, the father of the modern American labor movement, fought both socialism and government interference in labor unions. He knew that both would eventually ruin the movement. He knew that, were unions to become too reliant on government, that the pendulum would swing and, history has proven he was right.
On November 2nd, Americans will have the choice at the polls whether or not to support unions’ political agenda. However, Americans also make that choice every day when they make the decision to buy goods and services. The question is, are you helping to fund the demise of America?
* Note: This number ($13 billion per year) is an extremely conservative estimate that only includes private-sector (not government workers). If government workers dues are included, union dues collected may actually surpass $26 billion per year.
__________________
“I bring reason to your ears, and, in language as plain as ABC, hold up truth to your eyes.” Thomas Paine, December 23, 1776
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170 Comments
Thank You for finally saying what I have been saying all along!
If you buy union, you're buying socialism!
AVOID THE UNION LABEL!
I always try to avoid the union label.
Sometimes when we're ready to check out of the grocery store a cashier will catch us before we get to the self-checkout line. When the cashier invites me over, I say, "Nope, the machine is non-union.!
One way to stop the unions from misusing union dues is to oppose the union pension fund bailout. Either the unions replenish their retirement funds from dues or go bust. BO and congress are going to attempt to pass legislation to bail out the pension funds after the Nov elections during the lame duck session to reward them for funding the 2008 election campaign. We have to derail this program. The unions need to clean up their own house. Call, fax, E-mail your representatives in the senate and house to not allow this to happen. It's time for union management to take responsibility for their frivolous actions.
Just to let you know Toyota is non union. Buy Toyota. I did and am a proud owner of a very, well build vehicle. That's another reason Toyota is under heavy heat. The unions want in and the employees wont allow them through the door. Toyota, you rock.
I always thought the "stimulus" was really a union bailout.
My Honda is 13 years old… no major problems.
AWESOME!
The Dems are in BIS trouble and they know it!
http://www.gallup.com/poll/142718/GOP-Unprecedent...
The GOP had better not disappoint the American people again, or we just might have to storm Washington, with as many people as showed up on Saturday!!!
I avoid the union label whenever possible strictly for the reason that they make Crappy stuff
Its easy for me …If you took buy-off $$$…I mean bail-out $$$ I don't buy your product
It was for all unions, both public and private.
Buying Union = Socialism
Already there, whenever possible, no union goods for me.
The Unions are NOT socialist. They are communist.
I intend to boycott anything connected to a union. My children will go to private schools, I will not buy a vehicle made by union labor, will not shop in a grocery store with union employees or patronize any business using union labor.
Oh, don't forget Stern's SEIU that Obama worked most of his life.
Screw a damned thug union. If a union is there to truly protect employees, fine. But this crap of intimidation, strangling a company, giving money to crooked politicians will stop.
What happened to "Jimmy Hoffa" Mr Trumka? Unions be cautious for a backlash may be coming.
Music to my ears. Unions are sucking the life blood out of our economy and destroying the initiative of every worker in the country.
Trash the UNION label and END PUBLIC UNIONS ALTOGETHER
I'm lucky, I can buy all my groceries from an open-air market on saturdays and local farmers, even my meat. Since I don't buy any junk food or canned products, I don't support any unions. Small town living has it's advantages and my next car will be a toyota or something that was NOT union made.
Unfortunately, I am in the minority because I know people living in big cities don't have too many choices. We need to get rid of the unions. They are an anathema to our society and totally irrelevant in these times. They're only corrupt blood sucking enitites.
Sad way to have to shop, but the unions and the dims and rinos they support–a circle jerk, have brought it on themselves–boycott the unions–write them an email and tell them you are boycotting. To bad it also hurts the businesses, email them and tell them to let the rank and file know what is happening, tell the rank and file America is sick of the corruption and Alinsky tactics.
Please use an upper-case M when spelling Marines. They have earned it.
Thank You.
Sorry, I'm not sure I can endorse this overall idea. I mean, we're in a fight for our lives and the survival of our country. And I agree, Unions are wielding undue influence and I'm gonna get bleeped if I expound on that and what I think of union bosses. (fat bleepin' hypocrites..) But union folks are for the most part good people like us. And ok some are not. Every union is different. Look.. let's just put our faith in capitalism, and buy the products we like. People have a right to work and a right to unionize. If they want a government bailout, THEN I won't buy from them.
I for one am likely to buy Japanese. Mm.. gotta love those Hondas.
I sure hope Richard Trumka gets a link to this entire Thread in his Email Box. Be nice to see him blow a gasket, I hope he does it on TV.
I'll hazard a guess and say that there are a few Flaming Liberal Posters on this Site who are on Trumka's mailing list.
I had a heated "discussion" with a union worker. He informed me that unions were needed to defend workers rights. I ask him if he really thought in this day in time people really needed protection? And if you could find a place were people needed protection I can without a doubt guarantee that it wouldn't be a government worker. It takes an act of god to fire the ones who are totally worthless. We've all seen it. I then said well if you're right then all Americans should get union salaries and benefits as well as retirement. Whats good for one is good for all of us right. And to this I got "that doesn't make any sense"…lol The truth is the Unions are breaking us now and I know he knows the bailouts have been for him. I respected this guy a lot until this conversation I always thought he was a common sense guy…sigh
i have worked with union workers for 26yrs… the only thing they are efficient at is avoiding work
Point taken.
Thanks for the correction.
For anybody that wants to better understand "unions" consider the following:
From the dictionary of REAL Americans: union = 1. a collection of goons and thugs organized to extort the maximum possible wages, benefits and pensions for doing the minimum possible amount of actual work. 2. a subsidiary of the lunatic-left d-crat socialist party that provides hundreds of millions of dollars in mandatory union dues as campaign contributions in payback for the billions of dollars of taxpayer money the d-crat socialists funnel to the unions. 3. an entity designed to make any company non-competitive and any state, city or local municipality bankrupt. 4. a collection of goons and thugs focused on voter intimidation, unless the voter votes for the d-crat socialist party. 5. a tool of the d-crat socialist party to implement its anti-democracy ideology by preventing workers from having a secret ballot as to whether they want to join a union, and instead subjecting them to what is called "card check" that allows union goons and thugs to harass, intimidate and threaten workers to join their union.
Unless Americans live in a Right to Work State, Americans have no Right to Work….. unless they join a Union, even they are joining against their will.
Japanese? Sure the Japanese are good people now, after a whole bunch were killed for going down the wrong path in life.
Same with the Germans, they are good people now, but, only after they were shown the error of their ways in World War II.
This is me, green with envy, sigh. However I am a firm "city dweller" as I am very fretful about the loss of so much good agricultural land, that may be the only thing I believe the Europeans did better, little dense towns, surrounded by farmland. However, you are correct, the Unions are merely "big business" in blue collar clothes. My father, born in 1907, thought Unions had outlived there "usefulness" in his FATHER'S lifetime, he would have no truck with them. My father has been proven correct time after time since. And even us city dwellers have options, the internet and shipping are a great tool.
CorporalO:
Just as workers have the right to unionize, consumers also have the right to make choices, as you suggest.
Today's unions are nothing like what they were established for, nor are they what the original founders like Gompers intended.
You are correct that most union members are good people, which is why there is a delineation between union members and union bosses. Additionally, as was stated in the post, many unionized workers are required to pay the union as a condition of employment. However, if they do not believe in the union bosses' agenda, they can demand that their dues not be used for those purposes. That is the reason for this paragraph:
If enough members withhold their dues for political purposes, it will choke off the money supply.
Love my Tundra!!! It is the 6th Toyota I have purchased. With the help of some friends, I built my current motorcycle instead of buying another HD. It has more torque and horsepower, plus I never have to worry about seeing another bike like mine on the road.
Eliminating Right to Work States is high on the union agenda.
See the post here: http://biggovernment.com/laborunionreport/2010/06...
Tomorrow I will be informing ATT that I am switching carriers because ATT is union and I don't want my money supporting socialism.
I agree corporal, lets give it a try until Nov. 3rd,…union folkes need to start looking at what they are supporting, it isn't our fault that they allow this to happen.
Spanky, that's a great idea, would you mind if I stole it for a bit of satire on my blog?
Hi Oldman, you got the nail on the head. It is the retirement/bust/dues issue that should be shouted to the rooftop. Unions are not "too big to fail" in need of tax dollars, end of story. The Union Boss who has busted his union's retirement fund is the one to hold accountable. Maybe they need to have some "townhall time" with their dues payers?
Always has been, but, the Non-Government Unions are not very big in Right to Work States.
I do not worry about Brad Sherman, as he does not speak for me, or the people of my State.
I'll say this though, Brad Sherman had better think hard and long about the 2nd, 9th, and 10th Amendments before trying to take over Right to Work States.
Personally I think businesses are the (relatively) innocent victims in all this. They are being pressured from both sides, when all they want to do is work hard and make more money. As I pointed out on LibertyChick's blog, they are completely defenseless when it comes to fighting the unions – that duty should fall to all of us.
The Toyota factory pays and treats its employees quite well. The only reason the unions want in is to siphon off more dues to elect pro union, socialist politicos. Best part is that the employees say "no".
I'm buying a Toyota or Nissan for my next car. I am sick of having poorly placed cup holders like the ones I keep getting in union made cars. If it wasn't for the Japanese, we'd still be driving all steel cars with gas guzzling engines and no cup holders.
I always look for the union label, and make sure I put it back on the shelf.
Gotta luv those unions.
Here is an old Union ditty, from about thirty years ago, when I was crossing picket lines. We had to fight our way in, and out of work every day.
Here's to the Union,
divided we fall!
Better give in now,
'fore they phuck us all.
It was true then.
It is truer now.
Funny, 10 years ago everyone was keeling over and dying from dehydration on the way to the grocery store because they didn't carry some oral fixation device with them.
Why?
I do not shop at Walmart.
I was in one once, just to make sure I knew what I was talking about.
Pretty obvious even to the blind that the Unions are full bore in the pocket of the left. Perhaps Boehner, if he does become Majority leader in January, can have some nice public hearings to explore how deep these ties run between the Obamateur Administration and Wall Street firms that received bailout funds. Lots of nice public hearings would help restore trust in government from the public. And, you darn right, DO NOT MAKE A PURCHASE FROM A UNION AFFILIATED BUSINESS. Thank you for the .pdf list.
Did you have the enema tube attached to your mouth?
Word. We've been a Toyota family for over 25 years. Our first Toyota was a 1981 Tercel that got 45 mpg. My '01 Camry runs like a top, and my hubby's '05 Tundra is actually more comfortable than the Camry for long trips. We bought them used. Toyotas are awesome!
I say BAN the UNIONS …from the NEA to SEIU, Food Workers to ALL Gov't Workers. This alone would help America get out of economic debacle.
Unions can produce NOTHING without the corporations. Corporations can produce EVERYTHING without unions.
Who is the creator and producer? Not the unions.
Try again.
The unions and the Dems are responsible for American jobs being forced overseas. This unholy alliance of corruption must be stopped for good.
Repeal the National Labor Relations Act. Strong right to work laws in all states. Bust the unions. Prohibit ALL public employees from union membership. Vote all Dems out of office. Then we can start to get our country back on track.
Let me know if "zero" gets back to you… As usual, he's got nothing. Nice way to slam the door…
They passed the Union bailout before they went on break …to the tune of about $26 BILLION …and Obama wants more.
I have been asking for lists like this, but would like to take it one step further. Name companies that are heavily democratic in their dealings such as Heinz, Progressive etc. Boycott them if possible. I do.
I'd be honored!
Think of how high the economy would soar
and how many jobs would be created
next Monday morning
if all Democrats in office
resigned
Sunday night
I don't understand how unions went fom being defenders of their member's working conditions to a political arm of socialism! but they did!
-I will not buy or support anything connected with the Unions, SEIU, AFL/CIO UAW, etc.
-DON'T LOOK FOR THE UNION LABEL unless you want to help socialism & marxism!
…and supporting extortion and gangsterism.
So what makes a "real" American exactly? Do I have to own a gun and live in flyover country? I exercise my rights, I burn the American flag every chance I get.
"Today's unions are nothing like what they were established for, nor are they what the original founders like Gompers intended. "
I"m not so sure of that.
When you look back at news articles about the days when unions were organizing, even early on there was a huge influence of organized crime and the unions were quite violent. Yes, the employers were also violent, but unions have never been free from intimidation.
Whats_Up, It's not Government Workers, that is a contradiction in terms, they are Government Employees. sorry to have to correct you, no hard feelings?
That 26 billion was for the states to keep their teachers and public servants solvent. The pension fund bailout is still to come. That is estimated to cost the taxpayer between 8 to 10 billion with future costs up to 165 billion, if memory serves.
http://michellemalkin.com/2010/08/17/the-next-big...
http://www.cnsnews.com/news/article/71234
"When you say avoid corporate labels let me know. "
Don't worry, the way Obama and the Democrats are taking this country, we won't have to "worry" about large businesses of any type.
He's apply named. A divide by zero is an irrational number as are his comments.
Oh!! Dreams of the common man.
I also have a 1997 Honda, it's a Civic DX, standard tranny, this time of year I get 45 to48 MPG on the highway. too bad Chevy can't make a car as good as the Honda
You obviously don't know union workers.
I've been around them all my adult life and the things that have been consistent is that they avoid work whenever possible, created inefficiencies at every turn, protect incompetent workers, put companies out of business, funnel union dues to corrupt politicians and union leaders, use extortion and intimidation whenever they can, and generally don't care about the damage they do to society.
The unions of the 60s-90s were very racist. It's only the last 15 years or so that they've bought into the diversity thing, and that's only because union membership has been concentrated in lower paying jobs. If you talked to someone in the IBEW, UAW, CWA, Teamsters, just two decades ago, you would have seen the horrors of racism at their worst.
Unions create tension and disharmony between management and worker. They thrive on that conflict. They oppose innovation.
Example:
It used to be that the entire US auto industry would shut their factories for model/year changeover. Some UAW workers would get an extra paid vacation while others made double-time to triple-time pay working on changing the line over.
Honda came along with the split assembly line. They'd have two assembly lines right next to each other. At changeover time, they'd switch just one of the lines to next year's model. Then as demand for last year's model dried up, they'd switch that second line over to the new year.
Because they kept at least one line working all the time, they did not need to shut down. No extra paid vacations and no double/triple pay.
This also meant that dealers did not have to take on extra inventory of the old model year – which they'd end up discounting heavily to get them off the lot, which could hurt profitability.
How do you think the UAW reacted to that? They stonewalled the US auto makers for many years, preventing us from doing the same thing.
That's just one example of how unions reduce competitiveness. There is an infinite number of similar examples.
I still worry that they will shove the next Standard Bearer Mitt Romney down our throats in 2012, they will go around all the talent that is available as candidates, Obama could have been beaten if they had not shoved McCain at us.
How do you become a small business owner under the Obamugabe administration?
Buy a big business and wait 6 months.
Get the list, let's do it.
We agree on a lot, sir, not to downplay my original dissent. You are a conservative, I have been a rock-ribbed conservative for a long time, going as far back as when I worked once at a job which was unionized. Allow me to give you my own anecdotal story.
Now, this was a technician's job at NYU, and I knew union leadership was bound to be dominated by liberals. I grew into the unionized position after first working at the place part-time, it was a promotion that was organic and therefore when I found out it was a union job, I took the job anyway. I was given only two options: To either become a dues-paying member of the union, or to become a dues-paying non-member of the union. Of course, I chose the latter. I asked them directly if I could simply not pay dues and forgo union benefits, and I was told no. Quid pro quo, you either pay the dues or you're ineligible. When I asked around if I could choose how my dues were being spent, my fellow workers did not know.
So, I'm afraid that a lot of union members are being kept unaware of their ability to have a say in how their dues are spent, and they have been resigned to this — in most cases, years ago. Those that get up the guts to ask their thuggish Union reps about this are simply lied to.
So what can they do? They remain at their jobs, many are working paycheck to paycheck. They don't want to face this job market. The poignancy of this problem, which really isn't their fault (just like workers at BP gas stations did not cause the spill), I think this point is obliterated by the the banner that reads "Avoid the Union Label." Sure, my knee jerk reaction is to jump up and cheer for you AND this banner. We need to take a stand!
But you know what .. I'm not sure we are at that point yet. First we should drive the point home to all those union members out there that THEY CAN CHOOSE how their dues are spent. (this is news to me but of course I trust you and the editors here) So, armed with this information, members can challenge the unions when they lie.
I will however avoid the union label in terms of searching for a job, when I go back to the private sector. In fact, I don't much believe in unions, they're not for me. But as long as they are voluntary.. they're ok.
LOL!
At least I wish I could laugh about it.
Being non-union means that Toyota can be more flexible and creative and they can have higher quality.
The UAW doesn't like that, because if means fewer jobs at the plants they control – because fewer people will buy their POS-union cars.
Well, Chuck Norris could divide by zero.
But he's the only one.
The key is educating workers about what their rights are, sans unions. Which is the purpose for some of the statements in this post and the post last week (link below). Most workers do not realize that they have every single right without a union that they do with a union, as long as there are two or more involved.
Key point in your comment that needs clarification: Workers cannot choose how their dues are spent, with the exception that they can demand that their dues not be used for political purposes. They become what is known as a Beck Objector (named after the case CWA vs. Harry Beck). See post here for more clarification.
http://biggovernment.com/laborunionreport/2010/08...
You have that backwards except it isn't just unionized labor but ALL labor.
Another dim bulb, I see. Big Business RUNS Big Government and they support even more big government. They love it – the bigger the government the less competition.
Spanky, please correct me if I'm wrong in this assumption, but the articles you're referring to are probably from the 1930s 40s, etc. and likely involved the CIO at the time, right?
The time period referenced in the post is primarily pre-CIO (which was 1933), and specifically the 1890s until Gompers died (1924). Unions, until the break off of the CIO were primarily craft unions.
After a big fight in the AF of L, John L. Lewis (of the Mineworkers) led the CIO out of the federation and the CIO brought about the rise of industrial unionism through the 40s and 50s. It was following Gompers' death that the growth of socialism began to take root within the union movement (even though there were always elements of it in the movement).
Though socialism (and communism) was kept in check for decades due to the Cold War, it began to re-emerge (quietly at first) in the unions in the 60s and 70s through to the 90s. In 1995, when John Sweeney ousted Lane Kirkland as president of the AFL-CIO, the leftist push went into high gear. You are now seeing the results.
Also, it is true there has always been violence throughout labor's history, from the Haymarket Square riot, through the Homestead Strike, but it usually was not involving organized crime.
No, much simpler than that. Be Black.
my 2000 toyota has 152000 and I just had it inspected and needed nothing. when it goes….I'll be going to my toyota dealer.
I'm in one of those forced union shops.. It is a joke.. They come around when they want to up your dues.. Don't worry, they'll all be gone soon. Just need to get the Dems out of office. w/o their source of funding, they wither on the vine
?
All our vehicles have been made in the USA, but we decided last year
when we buy a new vechicle if it's Union made, we will not even take
a look at it……
Psst!
Unions ARE corporations….
Go read a book.
Another message we really need to get through to people is when we go to a movie we're supporting the RICHEST union in the world!
When you buy a movie ticket, you're enabling outrageously wealthy political sycophants to point their ignorantly slimy finger of blame at the USA and corrupt the kids at the same time.
DE FUND THE HOLLYWOOD HILLBILLIES!
I don't think boycotting unions will make a difference — economically or principally. The reason is that as long as Democrats hold power, they will bail out the unions using your tax dollar. If the unions suffer, the tax payers will be forced to hand out the cash.
The bailout of the unions is blatantly unconstitutional. However, there is no enforcer of Constitutional principles. Only after a change in Congress can some sort of accountability be realized. However, I am confident that sooner or later, lawmakers and President Obama will be held accountable.
The union-politician connection resembles pay-to-play. If the issue was investigated, there most certainly be an unveiling of corruption throughout the Progressive Caucus and the White House. Investigations of how unions are using their money should also be investigated.
Zero, your missing an important factor there. Big Unions RUNS Big Government and they continue to support each other more at the cost of our freedoms and paychecks. If you havent noticed, Big Unions/Big Labor have been getting most of the bailouts and stimulus money over the past year and half, and on top of that, they are still demanding more as everyone else is cutting back.
One of the worst things about Big Unions and Big Government, neither are capable of producing anything on their own to aid our country or economy. The unions are just leaches and nothing more, and the government has fallen to the demand of the worthless leaches.
Without the innovators creating products and services, ALL labor has nothing to do.
Try again.
And don't do it indoors!
<img title="demotivational posters WARNING" src="http://verydemotivational.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/129152509185804670.jpg" alt="demotivational posters" />
I agree, the government is the bigger problem, I don't see why the unions don't protest the government taxing everybody to death and spending the country into oblivion. The problem is the unions are just like so many of the corporations, they are in bed with big government, they are one and the same creating a govion.
Everyone should boycott government spending and demand lower taxes–flat tax–put our idiot government on a starvation diet.
They still work for businesses and if the businesses are being damaged from boycotts they may make some changes…like 401Ks replacing pensions, that way the 401Ks are fully funded and not backed by tax payer bailouts.
"Look for the union label . . ." so you can AVOID it.
Since 1962, I've always bought a car made by Chevrolet.
Since the United States government now owns General Motors Company, I will never buy a vehicle from them.
I will buy my next vehicle from Ford. If Ford's prices are unreasonable, my next vehicle will be a Hyundai.
American Motors came to an end after poor management blew things and the union pretty much took over. Quality went right down the toilet and after a few years of that Chrysler bought the plant and ended up shutting it down. Rest in hell, Rudy Kuzel. The same will happen to GM and Chrysler if they don't tell the unions to take a hike.
I will always buy American, non-union when I can.
Now, that's not too bad for some who's only been in 57 states and needs a telepromter to speak to kindergartners! But would someone in the administration please tell him it's corpsman not corpse man! I mean he did say he's not a retard. Right?
You are not alone….many of us country folk grow our own produce, can, freeze, dehydrate, etc. and depend little on union products from mega-stores. I agree….unions no longer serve an honorable purpose.
Now wait a second. You call yourself dividing by zero. You know only Chuck Norris can divide by zero. Infact, he has counted to infinity – twice. When Chuck does push ups, he pushes the the earth down. He's also the reason Waldo is hiding and he can do a wheelie on a unicycle. So if I were you, I'd shut that ID down. You don't want to make Chuck mad! BTW when God said let there be light, Chuck said OK and then there was light.
That is a such a vital point Missy, and I've been doing just that for years.
Another dumbass actor with a vile point of view, John Cusack, wishing ill on Fox news and all republicans.
What a sweetheart!
Wondering, where is the Big Education that was talked about? How about devoting a page to Big Unions?!
With their track record of reckless spending/favors/backdoor bullcrap and shoving crap where the sun don't shine, is there any doubt this will pass as well? They are NUTS!
Here it is: http://www.hired-mind.com/2010/08/self-checkout-m...
Not my best work, but it's getting late…
So true billy, and so sad. As for storming Washington, the numbers will far far far greater than the Restoring Honor rally -
You do know why they left the columns up in front of Soldier's Field! It has the be the ugliest stadium in the entire world, but dang we got our columns – yea, it's cuz they were history, cough cough -
Spoken like the true marxist lover you are – good job sweets
Very nice! Thanks!
I was doing some genealogical research on family members who lived in Ohio just before WWI. I was surprised to read about that much labor violence back then.
I saved the images of the newspaper articles about union violence but I can't find them now. If I recall correctly, this was in Sandusky or Cleveland.
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