Everything that Is Wrong with Public Sector Unions in Thirty Seconds
by Mike FlynnThis thirty second video will show you everything that is wrong with public sector unions.
The budget debate in Wisconsin has forced a long-overdue discussion about public sector unions. Always a questionable proposition, unionization of the public sector, for a period, seemed a luxury we could afford. Yeah, public workers had job security and great benefits, but their pay was lower, so it seemed a fair trade-off. Over the last couple decades that implicit understanding was upended…public sector pay moved much higher and those great benefits were jacked up on steroids. Worse, we’ve recently learned that the benefits aren’t actually ‘paid for.’ As a result, we face the prospect of far higher taxes to meet these past promises.
At the same time, globalization and the natural forces of competition changed the economic equation for many of us in the private sector. We have had to become more productive, shoulder a greater share of our benefits and assume greater responsibility over our retirement. We’ve also realized that past politicians’ promises about Social Security were checks that couldn’t be cashed.
For the past couple of years, we’ve stayed awake at night wondering whether we would keep our job or whether our employer would stay in business. We saw our take-home pay eroded by higher state and local taxes and higher contributions to our own benefits. We watched in December as politicians of both parties congratulated themselves that they weren’t going to take even more of our earnings–well, for at least a couple more years. After that, who knows…
But, that isn’t the worst of it.
While we adjusted to this new economic reality–which was largely the result of bad policy decisions by our government–a privileged political class had grown up around us. They felt they should be immune to the pressures we faced. Our national Democrat politicians even maxed out a trillion-dollar credit card from us to funnel money to state and local government workers to absorb them from the shocks we were feeling. It didn’t work.
Now, these government workers are being asked to face the same pressures we, the ones paying their salaries, face. No, that isn’t quite right. They still don’t have to worry about losing their jobs or whether their employer will close its doors. In the case of Wisconsin, they are being asked to pick up part of the tab for their benefits…a tab we in the private sector accepted years ago. In response, they’ve taken to the streets…while we keep going going to work.
But the talk about pay and benefits misses a crucial point.
The video above shows a representative of the United Healthcare Workers from a budget hearing in California in 2009. She makes it clear that the union got ‘democrats’ elected and that they [the union] ‘have long memories’ should the members deign to not support the union demands. If the officials support needed measures to cut spending, the representative will unleash her members to campaign against their reelection. And her threats are all legally sanctioned. And they are paid for by us.
This is the central problem with public sector unions. They get to use taxpayer money to elect their bosses and they get to use taxpayer money to convince their bosses to give them more taxpayer money.
Let’s recap where we are:
- We’ve allowed labor unions to become monopoly personnel providers for many state and local governments
- We force employees to make weekly payments to union leaders
- The union leaders use these payments to hire lobbyists to agitate for more government spending
- The union leaders use these payments to spend millions on campaigns to elect politicians
- The union leaders then negotiate with these politicians to set pay, benefits and work rules for their members
- The politicians know that if they cross the union leaders, their reelection plans are more complicated
- We fund the whole thing
If we can’t break this corrupt cycle, no other policy decisions we make will matter. Yes, it is that important.
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99 Comments
It's way past time to get unions out of government, all they do is add to the corruption.
Proof that goonions are the puppet masters of the Democrat-Socialist Party.
Mr Flynn, you nailed it!
Time to sweep unions out of government.
Unlimited power. A dream come true!
Dang…does Michelle know this big fat lady is in a position of leadership? Was this hearing given on the "rotunda"? Oh wait…Michelle doesn't eat her own advice…sorry…I forgot. That is just for the rest of us.
Watch "Fat Head" immediately…very good.
This is a classic “parasite – host” situation, either we modify their benefit/pay programs, or it will kill the host (the taxpayer). When it (CA, or other blue states) does collapse look for wilding in the streets by the parasitic class, be armed and ready.
It seems as though that SEIU spokes heifer has not gotten the dietary czar's (Mooshelle) message.
When did the democrats initially side with the unions? Anybody know the history? MSNBC always whines that if there were no unions than democrats wouldn't be voted in… GREAT… But you guys chose the unions… a bunch of corrupt thugs. Not our fault. We chose the American people!
Well well, look at the human billboard for SEIU! She definitely looks like the beneficiary of many free lunches. The message: do what we want or we will hurt you (either politically or physically as many SEIU members are known to do). The solution: vote out the dems who have any union ties. I am tired of this country being run by union thugs and welfare recipients. The more hands out mean less hands working and pretty soon the gov and the unions are going to run out of our money. It is happening now…
I thought Amy Bishop was in jail!!! Check that lady for guns, she is ready to start shooting and killing.
There is something going on now that was impossible even a few years ago.
First, the new media has allowed us to capture–first hand–and distribute widely what the hard left really believes, but was always protected by the false narrative of the mainstream media monopoly. Up until BIG GOV and hundreds of other blogs and sites, this 30 second bit of reality would have been dust in the wind.
Second, decades of greed and legalized theft have so corrupted the unions and the rest of the hard left parasites, that their own idealism has largely been shattered. What’s remains is a pure power play. Their words about being for “working families”, “the children”, “social justice”, "the planet", etc., are not to be taken seriously anymore.
Ah, Jared's mother.
Everything wrong with public sector unions in one word… corruption !
OMG… Threats? What happened to civility? Actually, the unions use coercion to get more money to spend on elections to elect people who will give them more of our money. Then they use coercion to get more money to spend on elections to elect people who will give them more of our money. Then they use coercion… ad infinitum, ad nauseum.
That's why the hate the TEA Party so much…. we don't have to pay massive amounts of due's to get things done!
It's all about money for them. It's all about principle, ethics and the Constitution for us.
The quickest way to cripple the unions is not to deprive workers of union membership but to pass Right To Work legislation and stop payroll deduction of union dues. The Right To Work law should prohibit any union contract from compelling union membership as a condition of employment.
The ugly reality unmasked, stripped of all the faux-idealistic rhetoric.
The Communist movement is alive and well in the unions of America, especially the government employee unions. FDR did not want them, of all people. Ditto George Meaney, AFL/CIO.
Could not agree with you more, StanH. The welfare class has been brainwashed by liberals to actually believe those that work for a living have taken more than their fair share. They've been convinced that their misery is due to a system of corruption perpetrated by those in nice homes and nice cars. Somehow those that have a nice quality of life, stole it or cheated for it, instead of worked hard to achieve it. Once the free food stops for these people, they will riot. Too bad they can't figure out it's the liberals that have enslaved them to poverty. It's the Civil Rights Act that has been grotesquely twisted into block voting plantations. Any that work hard and succeed are called Uncle Tom's. How upside down is that!?
Ohio's public unions are in a bind even with their bought-and-paid-for Ohio Democratic Party and help from GOP squishes… and they do not like it! Cute how their fighting words become concern for "the middle class" and not just their members, now that collective bargaining is at risk: http://goo.gl/fb/knlQ0
The unions are corrupt. The government is corrupt. Maybe it's time for a revoltion.
It looks like there's some real weight behind her threats……
This is all a no-brainer. The job now is to ensure that the unions let go of their power. They won't go without a fight but we have to remember, there is no other way. We can no longer afford their way of life.
Look at the values, the work ethic, and the personal behavior of the Tea Party and compare that to the Unions and you get a pretty clear expample of good vs. evil.
The socialists learned how to get what they want long ago. It has to do with the-ends-justifies-the-means, whatever it takes. They accept liars, thieves, murderers, sexual deviants, etc… in their ranks if that person can serve the greater cause. They know their opponent works from the moral high-ground, so they use their opponent's flaws to destroy the most effective leaders. While the moralists look for perfection and regroup, they use corruption and deception to move socialism forward another baby step or another giant step, but they constantly move forward. An occasional set-back is expected, but working without a conscience has it's advantages as long as the opponent never organizes. The only way they fail is if the opponents come together for a common purpose, like the Constitution, for example. The Tea Party is their worst nightmare come true and the only way they can lose.
What a great clip. Public sector unions need to be controlled and all political activity of unions and businesses alike should be stopped. That includes lobbying.
She has, the week's menue has ice cream and BBQ ribs on it at least 3 times. Every week !
Oh yeah! You can mark the enslavement of generations of people with LBJ’s Great Society. Sadly the older people will have to remain, but the young people must be broken from the poison that is government cheese, by gradually stopping the payments, forcing these pitiful sad people out of the American dungeons, of Sec. 8 housing, etc. As far as unions are concerned, they’re nothing but a criminal organization, set up, it would seem to shakedown the taxpayer, this needs to come to screeching halt…and now!
Hear! Hear!
The right to work is as unalienable from the individual as the right to life, liberty and property!
The right-to-work states are targeted by the media and by Hollywood for the most scathing stereotypes. Rednecks, hicks, inbred, ignorant, intolerant, unclean, etc… (Remember the Nazi-Germany posters depicting the Jews as rats) Sadly, many conservatives have bought into the stereotype propaganda and have actually helped perpetuate it. Sure, there are ignorant people that fit some of these descriptions, but they are everywhere. They aren't predisposed to the republican party, red states, or any particular part of the country. Yet, by spreading these lies, the socialists have successfully inhibited population expansion in strong conservative states and have kept the conservative movement fragmented in the larger blue states. If the conservatives were to leave the blue states in favor of the red states, the population shift would strip most of the power from the blues and from the emerging communist party. Not to mention the tax base. If you're conservative and live in a hopelessly blue state, you should rethink your priorities.
“Inch by inch, everything’s a cinch.” The Tea Party will save this nation despite the statist.
Union thugs threatening someone? Say it isn't so. It is way past time for these people to stand or fall on their own. I was of a mind that the unions could continue to exist without their collective bargaining rights and things would be okay. Now, after seeing this and the drivel coming out from liberal icon Michael Moore – the unions must be purged from the public sector. That is not going to be an easy thing to do though, and if tried it will result in more than a few broken heads on both sides of the argument. Do we have the stomach for that anymore in this country? Time will tell.
Has anyone wondered why private industry has moved away from pensions and into IRA's? They found they couldn't afford them.
" The GOP should be supporting legislation that increases the role of NON-UNIONIZED home-based care via Medicare reimbursements and/or giving tax credits to family members who choose to provide care for their elderly parents rather than plunking them in a nursing home for $4000 per month or more. This might encompass credits for elderly day care…"
Forget the tax credits and Medicare reimbursements etc, etc I'd rather keep more of money through less taxation overall and pay for whatever care my mother needs on my own!
I have always said that nothing but eliminating the deficit and reducing our national debt matters. While this is still true, it is apparent that public-sector unions are the tip of the sword in this fight.
Nice post, Mr. Flynn, it is the Tea Party vs. the Public Unions. At least now, we have a firm grasp of the adversary.
Here in WI, the Union owns the Health Insurance company, which are the State workers provider. The name of this provider is WEA Trust.
They make a profit….
A similar family plan, using Blue Cross/Blue Shield Health Ins. plans…are much, much less expensive than the WEA Trust plan.
We're getting scammed by a monopoly!
We can't negotiate with a Monopoly.
Lazy scumbags, you will face the wrath come 2012 as we have a better memory and will REMOVE the clowns that gave you so much power. Face it, as Christie stated, "the party's OVER!"
When a private sector union boss gets into a "collective bargaining" process,….
he is sitting across the table from a PRIVATE sector administrator but,………
when a public sector union boss is engaged in the same process,…
he is, in many instances, sitting across the table from a person he helped,…..
put into that position so the question that begs to be asked,……..
WHO IS REPRESENTING THE TAXPAYER,……
at these proceedings.
It is not dollar concessions unions are making that is the prize,……
it is, rather, the dismantling of the disparity that exists in these procedures.
I have it! Taxpayers should organize against the federal government. We are, in fact, working for the government now. Just think of the power we would have. We could go on a tax strike and with hold taxes until government did the right things.
"American Taxpayer Union"
now,…. that,……… was,……… not,……… nice.
Took me a while to say this on account of the laughing.
She is the perfect postergirl for bloated unions….
I find this a valuable tool when talking with the non Partisan crowd.
"All Government employees should realize that the process of collective bargaining, as usually understood, cannot be transplanted into the public service. It has its distinct and insurmountable limitations when applied to public personnel management. The very nature and purposes of Government make it impossible for administrative officials to represent fully or to bind the employer in mutual discussions with Government employee organizations. The employer is the whole people, who speak by means of laws enacted by their representatives in Congress. Accordingly, administrative officials and employees alike are governed and guided, and in many instances restricted, by laws which establish policies, procedures, or rules in personnel matters.
continued
Particularly, I want to emphasize my conviction that militant tactics have no place in the functions of any organization of Government employees. Upon employees in the Federal service rests the obligation to serve the whole people, whose interests and welfare require orderliness and continuity in the conduct of Government activities. This obligation is paramount. Since their own services have to do with the functioning of the Government, a strike of public employees manifests nothing less than an intent on their part to prevent or obstruct the operations of Government until their demands are satisfied. Such action, looking toward the paralysis of Government by those who have sworn to support it, is unthinkable and intolerable. It is, therefore, with a feeling of gratification that I have noted in the constitution of the National Federation of Federal Employees the provision that "under no circumstances shall this Federation engage in or support strikes against the United States Government." successful. " -FDR
Someone has a highly exagerated sense of self. Is threatening politicians legal?
Stop it,….!!!!!
"those in nice homes and nice cars"
4Liberty, that description would be of public employees these days. We have a nice home (because we take care of it), but I'm still driving my '97 F150 because someone has to pay the bills and send the young-uns to (public) college. Public college where they have to resist collectivism indoctrination. Public college we pay the tab for on our own because our AGI is too high. But when I park that increasingly rickety truck in the permit building lot, and look like Lil' Abner there to pick up my welfare check compared to those vehicles in the employee parking lot, you can't help to feel a growing resentment. My favorite political cartoon in recent years was a pig stopping from slurping an ice cream cone (with "Public Employee Union" written across the pig's gut) to tell a skinny emaciated "Taxpayer" that he'll just have to "cut back.". The cow in this video could have been the model for that cartoon.
and the unions & politicians are P!$$ED OFF AT US for no longer wanting to politely, willingly, & gratefully bend over and hold the can of 80 grit grinding compound. go figure….
She also looks a little tired….
from all those trips to the government trough…..
This demonstates perfectly, that taxpayer money is the most dangerous drug of all. Extraordinary.
I wanna hear her say "moooooo..ve on"
its "I'm a bad lil pixie" day. oh, wait…that's every day
This pretty well sums up who thinks they are running the tax payers, country, congress and president. Obama has blood on his hands over this line o thought! Hoax and Shame!
Other than demands, what does SEIU bring to the table?
and why wasn't I told about this.
REMEMBER COLLECTIVE BARGANING MEANS ,COLLECT YOUR KIDS HOSTAGE ,SQUEEZE YOUR JEWELS, TILL THEY GET WHAT THEY WANT….throw all the bums out,replace with non-union qualified unemployed??(anyone who can show up,do nothing positive,collect a paycheck,at half the cost) then when these union mutts try to jump into our unemployment,tell them were broke,suck off of your unions??
Where do I sign up to get one of these "jobs" with the gubmint? Sounds like the promised land! Until the parasite kills the host, that is.
I wonder if she managed to 'cow' the commitee?
need to know?
oh…umm….Hi!! <innocent look>
<whispering>….i'm bad. but on the bright side, i do tend to annoy liberals, doesn't that kinda…even the balance? ; )
I bet she has to shower at the self-service car wash……
It's taxation without representation. The battle cry of the colonists in May of 1773. I say it's HIGH TIME we tell these "tax collectors" Unionists to get off the backs of our hard working average American who is footing the bill for these collusionists.
You are *so* generous….you think she bathes ; )
Why are the SEIU people so hideously obese. Did Andy Stern buy the Grossly Unfortunately Looking Stick?
They don't add to it–they ARE the corruption.
at least one a month, when she changes her underwear…..
yeah, with our money.
Okay, you win, I have no snappy comeback to that…
Pardon me whilst I heave…ewwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!
Fat, purple, and stupid is no way to go through life, lady.
Oh, I forgot to mention they were made from 32 gallon trash can liners….
the scented ones…..
"Is threatening politicians legal? "
Yes, if the person doing the threatening is liberal or black.
ROFLMAO!!!
thank God for scented trash can liners!
and there's the 'Fresh Step' cat litter that she adds on those heavy days…..
I don't think it takes even thirty seconds…
And a dash of "Eau de Pine Sol" to spruce up a bit?
(straight to perdition, I swear…)
Yup, straight to perdition….
The world's going to Hell, anyway. We'll just just have a head start….
Well…we get there first, and take over. I always did want a house on a lake, I'm guess the lake of fire would have a cool damn view…
I say we call her bluff. If all politicians were to break the shackles of union bondage, they would actually have to vote on the issues rather than what can this politician give to me, me, me.
Come to think of it, I heard that the Devil is not looking forward to George Soros's arrival. He fears a hostile take-over…
On second thought, we should start being on our best behavior…..
I have faith in our ability, dear Deuse. No, not to behave <snort> but if we take over something, we're keeping it.
No matter what.
My mama told me my first word was "mine"….my dad muttered "her next was probably 'gimme' " ; )
Yeah, no matter what….
Seriously, Pix, I'm a little worried about the next two years…..
Executive order by JFK permitting collective bargaining by public employees circa 1962.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Frontier
How about they are stealing our money?
My number one priority is to have a job. My job in here in the People's Republik of New Jersey where I will stay until I retire. But then bye, bye to No Joy!!
I am not sure that THIS is the problem. The problem is what backs this group. That is money taken from members who have no choice in membership or what the group does (supposedly on their behalf).
You make individuals who are forced into paying dues to these groups and make them understand that they can take their power back and how this sort of thing is not in their own best interest then you have something. You drive a wedge between the thugs and the ones forced to fund them THEN we have made an inroad to breaking down the corruption in unions and in government. The symbiotic relationship between corrupting influences of unions on government officials will have to be severed.
Expose the theft, drive the wedge and then you win.
excellent read Mike…totally spot on
So am I. Okay, more than a little, but I'm a paranoid wench in general. On the up side, we finally have 5 years worth of "staples" gathered and stored. I'm not gonna get into the down side right now.
My joking here is just "whistling past the graveyard" so to speak. Takes my mind off of the worry- at least for a moment or two.
Informative!!! That is deserving a little bit of union style medicine, although not a ball bat, but an "ugly stick!!!"
There's no reason to panic, but there is reason to be prepared….
We're dealing with people who truly believe that we're nothing but 'livestock'…
Livestock, hmm?Well, I'd dearly love to show *them* how we here at home treat our livestock- no wait. My cattle are treated quite humanely.
Can't promise I'd be as "humane" to…."them". As Mr Pix likes to say "never piss off a girl that hunts, AND raises beef cattle- she knows how to field dress" <eg>
I agree, a good way to break the cycle is
1) allow PS unions to choose between collective bargaining and political contributions (money AND time) – cannot do both
2) If they choose the latter, they must allow members to choose for discounted dues, if the member does not want to follow the union political contributions.
Right, that should read, "It's way past time to get unions out, all they do is add to the corruption."
Just make the unions collect the dues directly from the members. Again stop all political activity of the unions and the businesses. No contributions to election campaigns, no Company or Union PAC's. Stop all organized lobbying by Unions and businesses. To paraphrase " Its the money, stupid. Money corrupts and lots of money corrupts absolutely. "
There was an unholy alliance between the Government and the Unions, where the Democrat/Statists gave into the demands of the Unions in return for campaign contributions so that the Democrat/Statists can stay in power so the Democrat/Statists can give into the demands of the Unions and so on. Some of the demands were pension and lifetime healthcare benefits, which the employees paid little to none into and now the States and Cities cannot afford. In other words, the Statists promised some things they could not deliver on. Therefore, the contracts need to be renegotiated, because if the State or City goes bankrupt the contract may become null and void and the pensions are taken over by the Federal Pension Guaranty Corporation. This is why I say individuals should get paid for the work they do and manage their retirement and healthcare themselves, i.e. people should get paid for the work they do and buy what they want to buy.
Hey Andrew Breitbart if you are out there:
Some talented 20 something at the BIG GOV site should do a "mash up video" with this gal vs the Obumbler. Juxtaposition obumbler spouting off about the states stripping away union rights with all of the unionist threats we have seen lately. mix in some special effects, black and white soup kitchen depression era still photos and add a sound track with some catchy soviet era BIG Soviet Government Red Army Chorus type music.
Has anyone at the RNC heard we are in an information war with the left yet? Make a spoof video and get it out on YOUTUBE already. Jeez you can hire a college kid for a pizza and 6-pack of mountain dew already.
Entitlement whores and Blackmail goons…. this needs to stop all across the nation – for corporations as well.
I hope she is truly unhappy after the 2012 elections! There are other people, even in California, with longer memories–and more votes!
I don't think the government should force businesses to be uncompensated collectors for either the unions, or the federal government. People should get paid what they earn then have to write checks for all taxes and fees.
You've got THAT right Doc! Get unions out COMPLETELY! Out of EVERYWHERE! Their time is over.
Arrogant bitch! Why is she dressed like Barney the purple dinosaur?
To my many conservative friends: It is very important that we tone down, or even abandon the anti-union message that we seem to hear grow each day. Instead, let us acknowledge the right for all workers to collective bargaining with the limitation that it is a right, but should not be a condition of employment. The results of collective bargaining are often to the detriment of the workers. The UAW got sweetheart deals, and management looking the other way when workers got less and less productive. Result? Check out the nearest lot for Hondas, Nissans and Toyotas, and check out Detroit's dismal streets or available manufacturing space here in Fenton. The public sector is much the same in that the negotiators across the table from the unions are as spineless, perhaps even more corrupt, then those of the Big Three who gave away the store to the UAW.So let us seek legislation that would require public sector contracts be put to the vote of the taxpayers, just as the UAW contracts and member behavior were put to the vote of the car buyer. Unions' and management''s last best offers go on the ballot for a binding vote by the electorate. And, should we feel the politicians charged with representing us are too spineless, have too generous an offer to the unions, we need only look down the ballot to find the opportunity to throw them out. If these thoughts make sense, pass them on. If you have suggestions to improve, speak out and please send me your thoughts.
Tom Beebe tbeebe6535@yahoo.com
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