Northwest Indiana Discussion

Except for the fact that the taxpayers are actually the vast majority, and the public union members are the actual chosen few.

Yes?

Much like obammy!!

That's quite a presumption on your part chuckmo. Even if true, the "majority of us" on this board have clearly and decisively rejected unionism as just another cancerous wing of the Democratic Party. I think most of us do just fine supporting our families without union representation, would overwhelmingly reject it given the choice, and view those who NEED union representation as lazy, weak-minded, simps....you know...kinda like chuckmo48. It's comical when a guy like chuckmo tries to convince the rest of us that we should feel like him....a guy who owes everything he has to the taxpayer and ridiculous union contracts. If chuckmo really knows that the "majority of us" are "working class", then he also knows that unlike him, we're funding our own retirements. I don't blame him for what he has, but it's laughable when he tells us that we should just continue to go along with it when we are the ones having our backs broken by the likes of him.

Chuckmo, why did you willingly LIE about your social security status..a personal matter that you could have and should have kept quiet about?

Your explanation is noted and it's up to the reader to accept or reject. Won't be brought up again by me.
As far as Wisconsin goes, your viewpoint is understandable from your perspective. You directly owe most of what you have to this system and want to see it perpetuated forever. That said..I don't know why you have such difficulty seeing the viewpoint of those who finance these ridiculous union contracts, yet see very little benefit from them. Your claim that it will trickle down to the private sector is unsubstantiated and an emotional plea to see things your way...or we'll be sorry. Skilled workers who have educated and positioned themselves into competitive, in-demand fields such as health care and many, many others will continue to be paid top dollar and benefits by employers who are competing with each other for their services....... without the need for union representation/extortion. As always, mopes and those who have positioned themselves into "dime a dozen" fields like teaching (where under-performance is completely protected) and many, many others who depend on union protection will suffer from this long overdue union busting.

[url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703530504576164822561737348.html]Union Power for Thee, But Not for Me
If the president is so upset with Wisconsin's labor law reforms, why won't he allow federal workers to bargain collectively?[/url]

The union horde is spreading, from Madison to Indianapolis to a state capital near you. And yet the Democratic and union bigwigs engineering the outrage haven’t directed their angry multitudes at what is arguably the most “hostile workplace” in the nation: Washington, D.C.

It will no doubt surprise you to learn that President Obama, the great patron of the working man, also happens to be the great CEO of one of the least union-friendly shop floors in the nation.

This is, after all, the president who has berated Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s proposal to limit the collective bargaining rights of public employees, calling the very idea an “assault on unions.” This is also the president who has sicced his political arm, Organizing for America, on Madison, allowing the group to fill buses and plan rallies. Ah, but it’s easy to throw rocks when you live in a stone (White) house.

Fact: President Obama is the boss of a civil work force that numbers up to two million (excluding postal workers and uniformed military). Fact: Those federal workers cannot bargain for wages or benefits. Fact: Washington, D.C. is, in the purest sense, a “right to work zone.” Federal employees are not compelled to join a union, nor to pay union dues.

NJ Union Caught Interfering With Turnpike Bidding Process Gets Shown the Exit

Posted by LaborUnionReport (Profile)

Saturday, March 5th at 11:00AM EST


They could have been contenders. Unfortunately, though, the union representing the nearly 300 New Jersey Turnpike toll collectors took an opportunity for preferential hiring on the state’s plans to privatize collections and tried to interfere with the process. Now, the Garden State has shown them the exit (so to speak).



With the advent of automated systems like EZ Pass that give motorists the ability to breeze through toll booths and be billed monthly, unionized toll collectors and their often surly, threatening and abusive demeanors [Hey! It's Joisey!] are going the way of the milkman.

As a result of NJ Governor Chris Christie’s efforts to trim the New Jersey budget, plans have been made to outsource toll collections on the New Jersey Turnpike and Parkway. This has caused quite a battle in the Garden State, as the union representing the NJ Turnpike toll collectors has tried to convince the state not to open up to private bids.

According to Tollroads News, as the state went out to bid, the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, Local 194 sent out a “confidential” letter to its members instructing them to essentially interfere with the bidding process. In so doing, the State added an addendum to the Request for Proposal (RFP) that eliminated the union members’ “first right of refusal” to jobs with any new employer.

In the February 8th letter to her members, union president Franceline Ehret instructs her members to “fill out resumes and apply for jobs with ALL of the companies” bidding.

She goes on to state:

This is CRITICAL. Many of these companies WILL NOT want to come here when they see all the UNION MEMBERS who want these jobs. Many of these companies won’t want to have to deal with a UNION SHOP or fight over UNIONIZING the workers.

Twenty-four (24) companies came to tour our facilities on Monday February 7th. When they saw our picket line, once company wouldn’t cross and said they weren’t bidding. It shows we can succeed in backing them off. [Emphasis in original.]




Unfortunately for the union members, by paying a union that chose to fight using methods to make it and its members appear belligerent and foolish, the union has likely cost them the chance of getting jobs with whatever company becomes the new toll collector.

Though it’s not likely to happen, perhaps a dues refund is in order?

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