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Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Why do government workers need a union anyway?
Date:	2/23/2011 1:55:05 PM

Have been reading a lot on this subject lately and have come to the conclusion that there should be no unions for government workers. Lots of reasons why I have come to this conclusion but the main points are as follows:

1. There is no greedy corporate management that is unfairly keeping profits away from poor, defenseless employees.
2. Government employees are protected from abuse by civil service regulations
3. Public employee unions simply negotiate with friendly politicians to take more and more from the public which explains why they have better pay and benefits than those who pay for them
4. Public employee unions simply take the dues paid to them and then support government friendly politicians (i.e., Democrats) through campaign spending (over 98% goes to Dems).

It is a money laundering operation for big government politicians to get campaign contributions.

Even George Meany said there can be no collective bargaining with the government. However, Kennedy by executive order allowed federal employees to unionize. So much for the democratic process.

Name:	Old Crappie -	Reply
Subject:	Why do government workers need a union anyway?
Date:	2/23/2011 2:08:15 PM

Let's not get the powerful state govt unions confused with the weak federal govt unions. The fed unions don't have the power to strike nor negotiate pay. I'm not familiar with the postal union except that they get a sweetheart deal on their health benefits.

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Why do government workers need a union anyway?
Date:	2/23/2011 2:40:26 PM

Good point about the difference between state and federal unions. Based on what I have read it was the success in co-opting state employee unions and taking state tax dollars to support the election of Dems that motivated Kennedy.

The same concept holds true though whether at the local, state or federal level. Taxpayers have their hard earned money confiscated at the point of a gun. Friendly politicians take that money and dole it out in an irresponsible fashion to unionized workers. Unionized workers are forced to give a portion of those tax dollars to the union in order to have the job. The unions take those tax dollars and use them to support the very same friendly politicians to be reelected. In this case it is 98% Dems that are big government types and benefit from this money laundering operation.

So the very people that are paying for this and make less money on average and have worse benefits than government workers are being scammed by the unions and Dems.

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Why do government workers need a union anyway?
Date:	2/23/2011 5:09:36 PM

Supposedly the Unions bring pressure to bear regarding benefits. They can also sit in on disciplinary actions and represent the employees interests. I have to say that I never belonged to the Union, don't know anyone who has. Most of the time the Union Representative was an idiot that would be the last person you would want representing you on anything. A total waste of money as far as I'm concerned.

Name:	MartiniMan -	Reply
Subject:	Why do government workers need a union anyway?
Date:	2/23/2011 5:15:51 PM

And that is exactly why the Governor and the legislature are getting ready to take away that role for benefits. It is this unholy alliance between the politicians that set the pay and benefits of union members and the union support of them that is so wrong. And who gets screwed by this cabal? Taxpayers that make less money and have worse benefits and who are losing their jobs while government employees have had their positions guaranteed.

These unions need to be dissolved.

Name:	Talullahhound -	Reply
Subject:	Why do government workers need a union anyway?
Date:	2/23/2011 5:37:07 PM

But the difference is that Federal workers cannot strike. State Employees can. I really don't see why the states are so afraid of collective bargaining -- are they afraid they can't negotiate? I really fear what will happen if they do away with collective bargaining. That's taking a huge step backwards. It's much better to gain buy-in, than to crush it.

Name:	water_watcher -	Reply
Subject:	Why do government workers need a union anyway?
Date:	2/23/2011 9:09:04 PM

Why do they need to negotiate. The majority of the professional private sector is not unionize and don't want to be, They want pay for performance and the best rise the quickest. Under a union everyone is equal ... everyone gets the same increase, they bid on jobs, seniority is the important factor rather than performance.

What keeps the the "best" quality people in the private sector without negotiating anything is simply performance. Typically the company is more concerned if they do not treat their employees right they will go work for someone else.

It is balanced and why a union is not needed.

The question that MM put on the table is ... why do state and fed workers feel they need a union to negotiate for them ... if they are not treated right and they are that good ... they can leave and go work for someone that will give them what they deserve. Bottomline is they can't and don't deserve it ... so they need the union to fight to keep their salaries moving up and protect their jobs. That is sad.

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