Why the GOP Really Hates Unions

[Life_Long_Dem!]

By Art Levine, Huffington Post
Posted on February 23, 2009, Printed on February 24, 2009
Why the GOP Really Hates Unions | | AlterNet

The Hoover-like GOP has been working overtime to oppose President Obama's stimulus package while hoping he fails. Meanwhile, a report released yesterday by the Center for American Progress Action Fund essentially underscores the real reasons Republicans and the business community have taken another equally short-sighted economic stance: fighting workers' right to organize. As Unions Are Good For the American Economy points out with irrefutable statistics, unionization raises wages and boosts the economy because it puts more money in the pockets of American workers.

(The report itself, of course, doesn't directly accuse the GOP and corporate interests of opposing economic growth and recovery, but reading its measured analysis of the economic benefit of unions leads to the inescapable conclusion that anti-union business leaders have a misguided zeal for low wages at all cost -- regardless of the impact on their own workers, their firms' productivity, their own long-term profits or the broader economy.)

full story here; Why the GOP Really Hates Unions | Corporate Accountability and WorkPlace | AlterNet

 

[Truthmatters]

They dont trust the workers to be fair to the Corporations.

They do however trust the corporations to be fair to the worker.

Now either they think workers are too stupid or they think the corporations are inherently more moral than people.

Why anyone buys that line I will never know.

 

[Harry Dresden]

They dont trust the workers to be fair to the Corporations.

They do however trust the corporations to be fair to the worker.

Now either they think workers are too stupid or they think the corporations are inherently more moral than people.

Why anyone buys that line I will never know.

where the hell do you dig up this shit Truth.....you are ANYTHING but truthful....you should really try changing your name to maybe.....BULLSHITmatters....

 

[Alpha1]

Why would unions oppose a secret ballot for workers to organize or not organize.....???
Why do they feel they must confront and intimidate a worker face to face with a open vote???

THATS what the GOP is opposed to ...... nothing more?

And the rest is strawman type bullshit lies from the left ..... as usual..

 

[Alpha1]

Somewhere in Los Vegas is a young lady with 2 brains....thanks to Desh (truthmatters)

 

[Gunnen4u]

Because the GOP is traditionally opposed to entities that have become socialistic thugs?

Unions now aren't the Unions of say, 80 years ago.

Everything I hear from the left in support of Unions, is always some anti-capitalist or anti-business shit pissed out their ass.

Tell what is the point of a Union these days with minimum wage, right-to-work laws, and a slew of other gov't regulations imposed on business?

What, you want to work somewhere, but it's not to your liking, well, it's not your business!

I just want to kick a puppy every time I deal with the increasing number of leftist morons out there.

 

[Truthmatters]

They dont trust the workers to be fair to the Corporations.

They do however trust the corporations to be fair to the worker.

Now either they think workers are too stupid or they think the corporations are inherently more moral than people.

Why anyone buys that line I will never know.

where the hell do you dig up this shit Truth.....you are ANYTHING but truthful....you should really try changing your name to maybe.....BULLSHITmatters....

Why does the right not like unions?

Unions are workers joining together to protect themselves. How can you hate that?

Your stance trusts the corporations over the unions to do the right thing.

It is just as I put it above.

 

[Diuretic]

Of course the Right hate unions. The only collectivism the Right allows are the assemblies of individuals known as corporations. They can gather for the purpose of advancing their own interests as individuals using the legal entity of a corporation. But dare a worker gather with others to advance their own interests then suddenly they're evil.

It's simple hypocrisy, but it sucks in many people - witness the shit being posted in this thread

 

[Gunnen4u]

Of course the Right hate unions. The only collectivism the Right allows are the assemblies of individuals known as corporations. They can gather for the purpose of advancing their own interests as individuals using the legal entity of a corporation. But dare a worker gather with others to advance their own interests then suddenly they're evil.

It's simple hypocrisy, but it sucks in many people - witness the shit being posted in this thread

WTF?

No, workers banding together for their own interests is fine. Workers banding together to take over or strong-arm a corporation is not fine. For one example, GM is a case of Unions ruining a business. GM is now like a modern European welfare state, thanks to the spineless executives running the company, and the wages are too much for what they do. Going on strike to suck more money away from a company, or refusing to budge in terms of wage agreement when the company faces problems is also a case of Unions being destructive.

Besides, if the worker was having a problem, they can go elsewheres for a job. This isn't sixteen tons of coal the country song.

 

[editec]

Bust the heads of the fucking scabs.

Do I make my position clear enough for you pandering quislings of the corporatocracy?

 

[Gunnen4u]

Bust the heads of the fucking scabs.

Do I make my position clear enough for you pandering quislings of the corporatocracy?

Yes, come bust my head someday when I am not a public-employee and you might find yours splattered all over the wall.

That being said, no need to troll and ruin what might be a promising thread.

 

[Truthmatters]

see the hate for workers here?

 

[sealybobo]

Of course the Right hate unions. The only collectivism the Right allows are the assemblies of individuals known as corporations. They can gather for the purpose of advancing their own interests as individuals using the legal entity of a corporation. But dare a worker gather with others to advance their own interests then suddenly they're evil.

It's simple hypocrisy, but it sucks in many people - witness the shit being posted in this thread

WTF?

No, workers banding together for their own interests is fine. Workers banding together to take over or strong-arm a corporation is not fine. For one example, GM is a case of Unions ruining a business. GM is now like a modern European welfare state, thanks to the spineless executives running the company, and the wages are too much for what they do. Going on strike to suck more money away from a company, or refusing to budge in terms of wage agreement when the company faces problems is also a case of Unions being destructive.

Besides, if the worker was having a problem, they can go elsewheres for a job. This isn't sixteen tons of coal the country song.

You are the product of a 30 year smear campaign on "UNIONS".

Sure jobs banks shock us.

Maybe that's why GM gave it to them. So they could use it against the unions now.

For 30 years they have broken one union after another.

They convinced you that unions were the problem, but when unions were gone, you found out it was ALL AMERICAN WORKERS.

What do you do? If you feel above all this, consider your kids. What if they are not smart like you. Do you want them to live like people do in 3rd world countries?

So arrogant to think it can't or won't happen.

American voters are so cocky/dumb. We had it so good with Clinton/Gore and you arrogant bastards thought, "how bad could little george fuck it up".

You were soooo greedy to get another $1000 back on your taxes that you got into bed with corporations, who got $100,000,000 back, and then sent their money to switzerland ala UBS to avoid paying AMERICAN taxes. And you even defend them for doing that!

They have ruined America by not paying their fair share!!!

Are you happy with the Bush tax breaks you got? Then you are stupid. No nice way to put it.

So keep crying about unions. Keep swallowing every right wing talking point that Rush puts in your filthy mouth. And when it happens to you, or someone you love? Nah, even then you will believe it was Fanny Mae.

 

[sealybobo]

Bust the heads of the fucking scabs.

Do I make my position clear enough for you pandering quislings of the corporatocracy?

Yes, come bust my head someday when I am not a public-employee and you might find yours splattered all over the wall.

That being said, no need to troll and ruin what might be a promising thread.

Don't you want the truth? I think he's serious. And I think I agree. And trust me, there are a lot more of us than there are of you.

Remember, we are the rabble!!!!

But then, you have the military.

 

[auditor0007]

When the economy is great, workers benefit as wages increase dramatically, with or without unions. If companies don't pay enough, then they will not prosper. On the other hand, when the economy takes a downturn, unions tend to keep businesses from being competitive. This is not to say unions have no good purpose. The reason they came about was due to the fact that business took advantage of their labor for so long. The problem now is that the unions have gone too far, hurting not only the businesses they work for but also themselves directly.

Obviously, some unions are much stronger than others. I think we need to ask ourselves what makes an auto worker worth $45.00 per hour (wages and benefits included), while the butcher at your local union grocery store is only worth $22.50 per hour. Adding to that, we should ask ourselves another question; could those jobs (autoworkers) that are paid $45.00 per hour be filled by people making $30.00 per hour? Would people stand in line for those same jobs at $30.00 per hour?

People constantly complain that we have lost all of our manufacturing jobs. Well, we have priced ourselves out of the market. It is that simple. I'm not against employees making a fair living wage. However, it needs to be competitive on a global basis, within reason.

 

[Gunnen4u]

You are the product of a 30 year smear campaign on "UNIONS".

No, I am the product of a Union family.

For 30 years they have broken one union after another.

They convinced you that unions were the problem, but when unions were gone, you found out it was ALL AMERICAN WORKERS.

Who are whiney and over-demanding? I would love to make what some of those people make for jobs that are less-intensive than mine, or ones I had in the past. I all about American Workers, but there is a limit to it, and if they can't face reality, then that's tough.

If you feel above all this, consider your kids. What if they are not smart like you. Do you want them to live like people do in 3rd world countries?

If they're dumb, they're dumb, they'll have to take care of themselves none the less.

Third world countries are often the products of a terrible culture and society. Not because stupid people aren't getting paid 30 dollars an hour.

And the rest of this post borders on the incoherent or the un-educated. People who make that much money should be allowed to keep most of it. It's greedy, ignorant tools who buy into the lines put out by their "leaders: who force them to take their money elsewhere, if they didn't then people like you would take it.

I got 1000 back because that was how much I deserved. Quit crying and start making real money and then getting the tax rebate you want.

 

[Diuretic]

WTF?

No, workers banding together for their own interests is fine. Workers banding together to take over or strong-arm a corporation is not fine. For one example, GM is a case of Unions ruining a business. GM is now like a modern European welfare state, thanks to the spineless executives running the company, and the wages are too much for what they do. Going on strike to suck more money away from a company, or refusing to budge in terms of wage agreement when the company faces problems is also a case of Unions being destructive.

Besides, if the worker was having a problem, they can go elsewheres for a job. This isn't sixteen tons of coal the country song.

What do you mean WTF? Surprised at a different opinion?

Why the fuck would a bunch of workers want to take over a business? Granted right now they could probably run it better than some of the twats who are fucking them up in large measure but the usual model is to allow management to manage but to have the union represent workers as a sort of counter-force.

Wages are worked out during collective bargaining. Wages can't be "too high" if they've been agreed on. The books are pored over, everyone knows the state of the company's finances, wages are agreed, that's how it goes.

Anyway, US unions are notorious for giving back during contract negotiations. That's what caused the CAW to split from the UAW some years ago. The UAW tried to monster the Canadian auto unions at GMH plants in Ontario into allowing a give-back when it wasn't necessary. The Canadians held out and came to an agreement, the UAW went ballistic because it's surrender policy was defied. I have to wonder at the leadership of some unions at times, they forget where their loyalties and interests should lie and they get too close to management. But that's no reason to attack the concept of unionism of course.

 

[Truthmatters]

When the economy is great, workers benefit as wages increase dramatically, with or without unions. If companies don't pay enough, then they will not prosper. On the other hand, when the economy takes a downturn, unions tend to keep businesses from being competitive. This is not to say unions have no good purpose. The reason they came about was due to the fact that business took advantage of their labor for so long. The problem now is that the unions have gone too far, hurting not only the businesses they work for but also themselves directly.

Obviously, some unions are much stronger than others. I think we need to ask ourselves what makes an auto worker worth $45.00 per hour (wages and benefits included), while the butcher at your local union grocery store is only worth $22.50 per hour. Adding to that, we should ask ourselves another question; could those jobs (autoworkers) that are paid $45.00 per hour be filled by people making $30.00 per hour? Would people stand in line for those same jobs at $30.00 per hour?

People constantly complain that we have lost all of our manufacturing jobs. Well, we have priced ourselves out of the market. It is that simple. I'm not against employees making a fair living wage. However, it needs to be competitive on a global basis, within reason.

I dont want the American kids to work for third world wages.

Why would you?

 

[michiganFats]

Yes, come bust my head someday when I am not a public-employee.

Just out of curiosity, why did you decide to take a public-sector job?

 

[MalibuMan]

I was part of a union and I hated it. Glad was I the day I found a better non union job. Glad that shit is over. The part I hated about it was when raises came around everyone got one. Even Joey the laziest piece of shit in the world. God forbid you try to fire him. He will just file a grievance.