Top 8 union jobs: Last year 12% of U.S. workers were union members...

CNN Money ^ | December 12, 2012 | Annalyn Kurtz

[2ndDivisionVet]

Union membership had declined dramatically in the private sector over the last 30 years, but not in government.

Workers at all levels of the public sector -- state, local and federal -- are heavily unionized. About 37% were union members in 2011. That's the same as in 1983, when the Department of Labor started tracking government union membership.

At the local level, these workers make a median of $973 a week, roughly $230 more than their non-union counterparts. They include millions of public sector teachers, police officers and firefighters, in addition to local administrators and bureaucrats.

The pay gap is slightly narrower for state workers. Federal workers, in contrast, earn about $54 less per week than their non-union colleagues.

Major unions: American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees; Service Employees International Union; and American Federation of Government Employees

Teachers...

[rovenstinez]

I think they could start some spending cuts in this category.

[traditional1]

"Federal workers, in contrast, earn about $54 less per week than their non-union colleagues"

What a crock....they don't mention that the Federal workers produce NOTHING OF VALUE, have few skills, and are patronage lackies who have job security and benefits up the wazzoo, compared to non-union private sector employees.

[Cringing Negativism Network]

Agree enthusiastically.

Provided we bring back non-union US jobs now.

Stop delaying. Bring back US jobs.

[hosepipe]

Unions are parasites... sometimes Vampires.. but usually Tapeworms or intestinal worms..
Sometimes they are Mosquitoes.. or Maggots..

But they prey on the workers.. as hosts or food sources..
Some workers do not know they are infected by Unions as disease vectors..

But its quite obvious Unions are Lice, Ticks, Crabs, or other parasitic organisms..

Unions members to be pitied.. unless they are official members of the Union..
Then they are targets, vectors for infection, or “disease”.. that must be eradicated(killed)..

Tolerating Unions makes you an enabler to the parasite..
Be advised that UNIONS are PEOPLE... not insects..

[muawiyah]

The Pendelton Civil Service Act was passed in 1883 and that pretty well ended the federal government as a serious source of patronage.

So, how old are you?

[traditional1]

"The Pendelton Civil Service Act was passed in 1883 and that pretty well ended the federal government as a serious source of patronage.

So, how old are you? "

Just old enough to know that cities, counties, states, and Washington D.C. are FILLED with brothers, sisters, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, cousins, grandchildren, etc. who somehow weave their way into Public Sector jobs simply by having them "accomodated" in the hiring process.

Have you EVER looked at the rosters and/or worked in a government building?

[GeronL]

Like the MSM and colleges, you won’t be hired or promoted in the bureaucracy if you don’t tow the leftist line.

[muawiyah]

Spent 40 years working in a government building ~ America's largest employer for many years ~ called Post Office Department headquarters then USPS headquarters.

Awful lot of NON RELATIVES there ~ simply incredible ~ people from all over the nation.

[Fresh Wind]

Have you EVER looked at the rosters and/or worked in a government building?

What government agencies have you worked for?

[traditional1]

I do Consulting work at a City/County facility (administration facilities). It’s pervasive and it’s Union.

[traditional1]

"America's largest employer for many years ~ called Post Office Department headquarters then USPS headquarters"

I have a brother that retired from the USPS....couldn't stand the number of blacks moved to supervisory positions simply because of "Diversity"; NOT qualified, and it's gotten moreso since that time. I am NOT talking suburbia here, but Cities where Dem's control ALL government activity.

[Fresh Wind]

So, you have no experience at the state or federal level?

[traditional1]

Bzzzztttt....wrong.

I'm talking CURRENTLY; I've done work in State AND Federal facilities, including Washington D.C.

I've SEEN the reality personally, and have family that have been EMPLOYED by Federal government.

[muawiyah]

The classic problem was when the old Post Office Department couldn't find any white employees in the DC post office who could pass the supervisory exam. That's how supervisory ranks were finally integrated ~ black employees could pass the exam.

This occurs from time to time, but most often when the wage differential between supervisors and bargaining unit crafts narrow. Then it's not worth it to study to become a supervisor, and besides, you lose your seniority and you go on third tour, or whatever, and you work in a carrier unit rather than an MPC or a retail operation ~ it can be horrible, particularly for a person with a family, and an employed spouse.

BTW, they still have that supervisory exam. Ask if your relative passed!

[traditional1]

Yes; he passed easily.

The Post Office is going broke, and Taxpayers will have to fund the Pensions that were gained when the workforce was bloated and over-staffed, AND, over-paid.

As in ALL Government-run/Regulated operations, staffing exceeds work, AND, they Unionize to get golden parachutes of selling sick-time, earned vacation time, and pad the pensions in the final 3-5 years with un-Godly over-time (using their Union Seniority to assure they are in a position to do so).

[muawiyah]

USPS' uses the Federal Employee Retirement System ~ and they don't count overtime in your high three.

This is not some rinky dink corrupt county government bud.

[traditional1]

Yeah; sure.

What has been seen, can't be unseen....

[muawiyah]

We've been over this a few times on FR. But, one more time ~ there are no golden parachutes in the federal government. Your retirement will be computed in terms of the numbers of years you've worked, and on your base pay income through your high 3 years.

Comparisons with municipal retirement systems that count overtime, etc. just aren't apt.

You should go to www.opm.gov to find out how the federal government retirement system works ~ everything is public and above board.

[CSM]

“Workers at all levels of the public sector — state, local and federal — are heavily unionized. About 37% were union members in 2011.”

The unionistas like to claim that abusive employers create a NEED for unions. Let’s take that at face value and assume that unions exist to protect individuals from the abusive employers. We also see that the most unionized industry is public sector employees, so it is fair to say that is necessary because the different levels of government employers are the most abusive employers. So, by the logic of the unionistas, the most abusive in our society is our own government!

Then they turn around and scream for the growth of the size of that abuser, and for expansion of the power of the abuser, even to the point that the most abusive sector in our economy is empowered to step between me and my doctor!

What MI is showing us is that the unions WANT abusive employers, that way they can easily recruit. However, they admit that employers are not generally abusive, so they turn to the state to force individuals to have to pay the unions...