Labor's disarray echoes loudly for Democrats (Harold Ickes frustrated)

Cape Cod Times ^ | May 14, 2005 | RON FOURNIER

[The Old Hoosier]

Would these things happen in the days of Reuther and Meany and Hoffa?

No, because those guys were not progressive socialists and they could have kept the moral values people on the boat.

It's rather unfortunate what's happened with organized labor. In principle, I believe that unions are part of the free market and should be allowed to flourish. But in practice, all they do is help elect socialists, so I say "kill 'em all." The Department of Labor is really starting to crack down on these guys by actualy enforcing the laws that regulate unions, and they're only going to become weaker from here on in.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Infuential Democrat Harold Ickes (FOB) is 'frustrated' over decline of influence of Labor Unions.......

Good!

[righttackle44]

"There is certainly no decline in the Federal, state, county, and municipal unions across the country. They and their pensions are eating us alive."

I heard one of the union heads working for Ford this morning on NPR being soft-balled by an NPR reporter. Her question, essentially:

Should the Unions give up some benefits. "They should stay," said the union honcho.

And, of course, there was no challenge to that by the NRP gal.

[sportutegrl]

Unions lost me with their arcane work rules, like if you have 4 or 5 tiny simple tasks that would only take one person half a day, you need to hire 5 'specialists' all day to do each, carpenter, electrician, laborer, etc. This drives away business. Also, I hate the us versus them mentality. The airline pilots union did a sick out at AA a while back, inconveniencing passengers, and basically acting like spoiled babies throwing a fit. Yet, all they did was cost AA customers and hurt their own company. They are so short sighted they can't see that by pitting workers against the company instead of working with the company they are only hurting themselves.

[TASMANIANRED]

Unions played a huge role in the US avoiding the intoxicating lure of the ignorant towards communism.

For that I am thankful but they have screwed themselves.

Most unions are little more than mafia fronts.

Unions keep backing Democrats against the interests of their membership.


Like the NAACP they screw the people they are supposed to represent so they can suck up to Democrat politicians.

Screw em.
There would be domestic oil and refinery jobs but for the Democrat Party.

[TASMANIANRED]

I know of 2 companies that were put out of business in my town due to union strikes.

They couldn't produce, their competitors fought furiously for their clients.

At the end of the strike all the union members were unemployed because the company went belly up.

[righttackle44]

"I know of 2 companies that were put out of business in my town due to union strikes.
They couldn't produce, their competitors fought furiously for their clients.
At the end of the strike all the union members were unemployed because the company went belly up."

Unfortunately, this pattern seems to be what the unions call winning, for their members.

[TASMANIANRED]

I was a union member for about 30 days. I didn't want to be, it got forced upon me.

My grandfather a union organizer and union president way back in the 20's and 30's. He ended up getting totally screwed. The organized crime type moved in and booted his butt out the door and stole the organization that he built.

Unions did serve to advance the working conditions of people and they did serve a legitimate purpose.

They are now more interested in political power for the bosses, corrupting politicians, screwing the membership and breaking companies.

[MrsEmmaPeel]

That line caught my eye, too.

[righttackle44]

"I was a union member for about 30 days. I didn't want to be, it got forced upon me."

I got screenplays and treatments before producers. Who knows what may happen? But if something does, I'd have to join the Screenwriters Guild. Scary thought.

[skinkinthegrass]

HA! ..the same ol playbook...the unions are are STILL trying to put lipstick on that pig.

[Smartass]

 

[Lady Jag]

[John Lenin]

[Bullish]

....a 50-year decline in membership that is tipping the balance of power in politics.

That's what happens when you so fully embrace corruption, Harold.

[DUMBGRUNT]

" In principle, I believe that unions are part of the free market and should be allowed to flourish."
Like the predator prey relationship, both sides are required to keep a balance.
Enron makes the headlines, but you do not see the managers of small locals bagging 5 to 10 times the average income of the members plus expenses plus, plus, plus. Large locals and internationals, Enron without the income stream or brains.
If the builders wanted to kill the plumbers unions they could not have done better then the recent past leaders!
Oh, and what is AFL-CIO Secretary Treasurer Richard Trumka up to lately?

http://www.contractormag.com/articles/newsarticle.cfm?newsid=576

[Lancey Howard]

When you support a political party whose base is comprised of athiests, Hollywood drunks, welfare addicts, screeching feminists, abortion enthusiasts, condom throwers, professional race "victims", and every other variety of losers, malcontents, and parasites, you get what you deserve - - "union thugs", right there in the middle of that list.

[Ciexyz]

Ah, my old union back when I was still working...the AFL-CIO. Yes, their numbers have been shrinking of late. At least my union dues didn't go to elect John Kerry.

[JulieRNR21]

and Republican tax policies that squeeze middle-class incomes

RON FOURNIER & THE ASSOCIATED PRESS showing their bias towards the Dems. Facts do not matter to liberals!

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!