I’m willing to bet that it’s not really about the budget deficit. That’s the excuse. The real goal is to break the union and continue the dismantling of the American middle class.
I don’t know that there’s anything inherently wrong with unions contributing to political candidates. But I think we need to recognize that when it comes to public employee unions, that action is sometimes used to become both labor and management. It might not be true everywhere, but for a very large part teachers’ unions elect their own “bosses”, in effect. Consequently, “management” often has a conflict of interest that wouldn’t be tolerated in the private sector at all. We really can’t equate the public and private sectors on all fours.
Speak for your own state! My state, Arkansas, is one of the states that has a balanced budget, is not in the red, and whose public retirement is in the black.
As a rule its generally adversarial by cause of management. Rather then form a working partnership with unions whereby both benefit, management generally fights the unions tooth and nail on everything from working conditions to wages and benefits.
I’m sorry, but I don’t buy that when it comes to public employee unions who can and do contribute to the political campaigns of those who are on the other side of the negotiating table. Besides, if the union gave, the state wouldn’t have to take.
See my answer above. When the “give and take” takes place with someone on the other side of the table who is beholden to you for their political job, it taints the process.
Different story for private or publicly traded corporations. As Ridgerunner explained, a corporation can always go some else if they don’t like or or can’t live with the laborforce, union or otherwise. Local, state and federal governments can’t do that. We HAVE to have law enforcement, fire fighters, etc.
I don’t have a problem with the workers (other than workers like the teachers, who should be in the classrooms) demonstrating. That is as American as it gets. Doesn’t mean they are right, but they do have the right.
C’mon. Somebody inside would have ratted them out by now. Several somebodies, including some who are believable. The only “dismantling of the American middle class” I am seeing is the attempt to put most wage earners on welfare via Obamacare, and pushing prices up by preventing the exploration for, and use of fossil fuels. But even those actions that are anti-middle class are probably not directly intended to “dismantle the middle class”. They just have that effect.
Don’t you think the same standard applies to politicians who promote the agenda of the US Chamber of Commerce? They are de facto members of that organization.
It’s a “right to work” state, isn’t it?
Give me a break!!!
. You know what I meant by hiring people. There are no guarantees when you hire someone and it is a big problem when you can’t get rid of employees who don’t do the job.As I said people would adapt and overcome. Those things are being paid for now. The building are already built. The only thing that would change is the logistics. Your claim that civilization would end is hilarious. We have plenty of empty school buildings around here that have been closed over the last twenty years, people would band together and educate their children long before civilization would come to an end.
Those politicians pay the salaries and benefits of the US Chamber of Commerce? No? Apples and oranges, my friend.
AnneTeresa, most if not all union contracts with teachers have langauge in them for discharge for just cause. If the school districts feel that the process is too long, then they should negotiate changes in the language when the current contract expires. Remember, no one forced school officials to agree to this; if it was so horrible, then why did they agree to it initially??Give me a break!!!
Last I heard the only state that wasn’t doing that bad was North Dakota. The fact is all states including yours have had a budget shortfall. What will happen this year? We really don’t know yet. It’s too early to tell. Wisconsin is also one of those states with a shortfall and they have to make it up some how. That means making cuts to the budget.
Yep, so is Oklahoma.It’s a “right to work” state, isn’t it?
Can’t agree with you on that one; The US Chamber of Commerce is showing support for these candidates who eventually vote on laws involving labor/business.
We in the labor circles refer to it and other right-to-work states as a “right-to-starve”" states.It’s a “right to work” state, isn’t it?
And that is the same as being on the other side of the table during salary and benefit negotiations? You have to be kidding, right?
In a de facto way, yes.
Well, “your other state”, New York State is just about bankrupt and is losing Congressional seats owing to loss of population.