Posted on 01/24/2014 11:03:26 PM PST by rightwingerpatriot
The Supreme Court has taken on an interesting case and it's decision can have massive ramifications for unions nationwide. The issue is whether unions can coerce workers to pay dues even if the disagree with the union. The case was brought by a group of home health care workers who were forced to join a union in Illinois as they receive money to take care of family members through Medicaid. The SEIU persuaded Illinois that these families who were taking care of family members at their homes who are in need of assistance, say of someone who is developmentally disabled, that they were workers of the state as Medicaid comes from the state. The families did not want to be part of the union for several reasons, one of which is that every dollar is needed to take care of their loved one. But this doesn't matter to unions like the SEIU, who are only in it for grabbing as much dough as they can. The home heath care workers have sued and the case has wound its way up to the Supreme Court.
The justices seem split and have questioned both sides very intently. At the core is if someone objects to the fundamental beliefs of the union, can they be forced to pay dues to it? If the Supreme Court rules in favor of the home health care workers, this will be a massive blow to unions as they rely upon coercion for their continued existence. I do not know how the court will rule as I have long ago gave up the notion of any reasonable decisions by them. At any given time, there are four justices who care not one whit for the US Constitution that serves as the basis for our entire legal system. Chief Justice Roberts has shown himself to be a spineless Benedict Arnold and will side with the progressive liberal agenda of President Obama and his ilk if push comes to shove.
As for unions and forced paying of dues, I consider them un-American. The thought of being forced to be part of an union in order to just get a job is wrong and flies in the face of the spirit of individuality that is the hallmark of the American soul. Unions rely upon intimidation and coercion for their very existence and these practices should be rooted out. The reason why they're not is that they serve as one of the biggest financial, and voting (most likely multiple times), blocs of the Democrat Party. You don't give up your God-given freedoms just because you join an union.
My father belonged to an union as he worked in an industry that was a closed-shop. He hated it, and, in fact, most of his compatriots did as well. The rub was that he worked at Pratt & Whitney, a manufacturer of jet and rocket engines, in their development facility in Florida. The main manufacturing plant is in Connecticut. His shop had roughly 40-50 men, with all but one being conservative. However, the main plant had hundreds of union members who all voted Democrat. Every election cycle, he would see his union dues being given to politicians who actively worked against the interests of Pratt & Whitney as the left hates the military, and most of the contracts that the company had were military ones. He and his friends who go crazy seeing millions of dollars given to politicians who worked against the interests of the industry that the union was working in. As my dad told me when I was younger, "A liberal is incapable of reason or abstract logic." Every passing year, I realize more and more what a genius my father was.
It's despicable how the SEIU scammed families who are desperately trying to care for family members who have severe medical issues. They are utterly lacking in human compassion and only seek to line their pockets with taxpayer dollars. I hope the Supreme Court does what is right, but I'm not hopeful.
Actually, vary interesting case! Would be nice if they rule that you can’t force anyone to join a group for work or any other purpose but especially when they require dues!
I think that this could be a Union breaker.
The whole home-health-care-worker union is the biggest scam since Bernie Madoff.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't the ruling that nobody can be forced to pay dues to an organization that they disagree with politically?
IIRC, it was an opt-IN provision, and those brave souls who bucked the unions were entitled to full refunds of dues paid.
It may cost them a few broken bones and flat tires, courtesy of the benevolent unionthugs (TM) but I really thought this was settled.
That’s a very loose definition, since that could arguably include staffing agencies - which operate similar to conventional labor unions as a form of “protection”(in addition to cost savings).
It would be a double-edged sword since it could break more than just labor unions.
I think you are right. I vaguely remember that, and believe that the 0bama administration has deliberately ignored the ruling. Imagine that.
After the decision on Obamacare, I have no confidence in the Supreme Court to rule according to the Constitution.
Don't bet on it.
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