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Thousands of state workers forced to pay union fees
baltimoresun.com ^ | Jul 5 2011 | Julie Bykowicz

Posted on 07/05/2011 10:39:28 AM PDT by NoLibZone

Maryland's largest state employee union is set to begin collecting fees from nonmembers this month — a move that sets up the Maryland chapter of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees for what could be a $4.7 million gain over the fiscal year.

AFSCME sees the additional money as a matter of fairness, since the union negotiates contracts with the state on behalf of all its bargaining members, though fewer than half pay dues. Union officials say the extra money will allow them to improve services.

But some of the 12,500 state workers who will find as much as a $389 bite out of their annual pay criticize the new fees.

"People like me, I don't have a lot of faith in unions," said Michael White, who works for the Motor Vehicle Administration in Glen Burnie.

The fees — which will also be collected by smaller unions such as the American Federation of Teachers — are allowed under The Fair Share Act, which the state legislature passed in 2009 largely on a party-line vote. Gov. Martin O'Malley, a pro-labor Democrat who benefited from strong union support in his re-election bid last year, had pushed the measure.

AFSCME Maryland represents 21,000 workers in collective bargaining with the state, but only 8,000 are dues-paying members. Another 4,000 workers not represented by AFSCME in contract negotiations pay dues to the union anyway, to tap benefits such as grievance representation.

"It's very exciting," said Sue Esty, AFSCME Maryland's assistant director. She has been with the organization for two decades. "We've always had a problem providing adequate service to our members because we have been so underfunded. This empowers employees."

(Excerpt) Read more at articles.baltimoresun.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: Maryland
KEYWORDS: unions
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1 posted on 07/05/2011 10:39:33 AM PDT by NoLibZone
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To: NoLibZone
"We've always had a problem providing adequate service to our members because we have been so underfunded. This empowers employees."

So now the "members" will be funded by the "non-members" who will have their "fees" stolen from them... and the "empowers employees"?

I'm glad we put an end to this in Wisconsin. When will the rest of the country wake up and smell the coffee?
2 posted on 07/05/2011 10:42:05 AM PDT by Sopater (...where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. - 2 COR 3:17b)
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To: NoLibZone
"We've always had a problem providing adequate service to our members because we have been so underfunded. This empowers employees."

So now the "members" will be funded by the "non-members" who will have their "fees" stolen from them... and this "empowers employees"?

I'm glad we put an end to this in Wisconsin. When will the rest of the country wake up and smell the coffee?
3 posted on 07/05/2011 10:42:26 AM PDT by Sopater (...where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. - 2 COR 3:17b)
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To: NoLibZone

Is the Beck decision ever enforced?


4 posted on 07/05/2011 10:42:40 AM PDT by WOBBLY BOB ( "I don't want the majority if we don't stand for something"- Jim Demint)
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To: NoLibZone

Why don’t they just charge everyone in the state union dues? What the hell, if they are going to rip people off, might as well include everyone.


5 posted on 07/05/2011 10:43:10 AM PDT by RC2
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To: NoLibZone

One way to crush unions, is to start paying non union members MORE than union members. Using the argument that collective bargaining is based on the averages of the collective. The non union members negotiated their own contracts based on individual worth. Union members would be jumping ship in wholesale fashion when they realized their pay and benefits were being negotiated with the slackers pulling the average down.


6 posted on 07/05/2011 10:46:02 AM PDT by Boiling point (Cain / Palin 2012)
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To: NoLibZone
Union officials say the extra money will allow them to improve services.

HaHaHaHaHaHaHa! Oh, that is rich. Will they be there all week entertaining? Improve services! That is really good.

7 posted on 07/05/2011 10:46:45 AM PDT by mc5cents (Noli nothis permittere te terere)
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To: WOBBLY BOB
Is the Beck decision ever enforced?

If memory serves, Bush 41 signed an executive order to enforce it. Bubba Clinton signed another executive order, during his first week in office, rescinding the first one. So no, I don't think it is. I hope the nonmembers will rise up in wrath about this pure theft of their wages.

8 posted on 07/05/2011 10:50:00 AM PDT by American Quilter (Take back the White House and Senate in 2012--end the Obama Depression.)
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To: NoLibZone

Now this story is obscene..... Government porn..
The Unions milking the State like farm animals..


9 posted on 07/05/2011 10:54:28 AM PDT by hosepipe (This propaganda has been edited to include some fully orbed hyperbole...)
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To: NoLibZone
We live in the Peoples Republic of Maryland. It's one of the most corrupt.

The Sunpapers says the union expects $4,700,000 in additional dues. Most will go the the Democrat Party to maintain one-party rule for O’malley and company.

10 posted on 07/05/2011 10:54:44 AM PDT by kayak42
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To: Sopater
I am very surprised that this is legal, even in Maryland. Surely this is unconstitutional, right?
11 posted on 07/05/2011 10:58:00 AM PDT by jpsb
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To: jpsb

Plug “agency shop” into your favorite search engine.


12 posted on 07/05/2011 11:02:22 AM PDT by ArmstedFragg (hoaxy dopey changey)
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To: NoLibZone
Union officials say the extra money will allow them to improve services.

service - 13 dictionary results

serv·ice    /ˈsɜrvɪs/ Show Spelled [sur-vis] Show IPA noun, adjective, verb, -iced, -ic·ing.

–verb (used with object)

34. (of a male animal) to mate with (a female animal).

Oh, the workers in Maryland will be serviced. Serviced by the union until they can't walk.
13 posted on 07/05/2011 11:13:39 AM PDT by KarlInOhio (Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice! Tea Party extremism is a badge of honor.)
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To: NoLibZone

Just as freedom of speach also means that an individual has the freedom to not speak....

Just as freedom of religion also means that an individual has the freedom to not exercise religion ...

The freedom of Assembly (freedom of association - Although it is not explicitly protected in the First Amendment, the Supreme Court ruled, in NAACP v. Alabama, 357 U.S. 449 (1958), freedom of association to be a fundamental right protected by it.) also means that an individual has the freedom to NOT join and assembly or associate.

Any such forced unionization laws should be automaticly fought and the ground of the violation of the first amendment.


14 posted on 07/05/2011 11:15:53 AM PDT by taxcontrol
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To: RC2

They do. It is called property taxes.


15 posted on 07/05/2011 11:38:53 AM PDT by reformedliberal
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To: kayak42

Maryland, like California, only smaller and with crappier weather.


16 posted on 07/05/2011 11:58:29 AM PDT by vette6387 (Enough Already!)
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To: vette6387

Public Unions = Socialist Union

If I were employed by the State of Maryland, I would be raising Hell!


17 posted on 07/05/2011 12:35:50 PM PDT by Brownie63
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To: NoLibZone

Well, Mr. and Mrs. non-union DemoCRAP voter in Maryland (where I unfortunately live), the answer is simple... don’t vote for DemoCRAPs.

It’s just that simple.

But, during the next election if you pull those handles (figuratively, that is, since MD has electronic voting machines) with a “D” next to it, then quit the whining. You are the one screwing yourself, not anyone else.


18 posted on 07/05/2011 12:48:04 PM PDT by BFM (CLINTON is and always will be a rapist. Never forget!)
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To: NoLibZone

Well, Mr. and Mrs. non-union DemoCRAP voter in Maryland (where I unfortunately live), the answer is simple... don’t vote for DemoCRAPs.

It’s just that simple.

But, during the next election if you pull those handles (figuratively, that is, since MD has electronic voting machines) with a “D” next to it, then quit the whining. You are the one screwing yourself, not anyone else.


19 posted on 07/05/2011 12:48:18 PM PDT by BFM (CLINTON is and always will be a rapist. Never forget!)
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To: mc5cents

Straight into the DNC coffers.


20 posted on 07/05/2011 12:50:15 PM PDT by MrB (The difference between a Humanist and a Satanist - the latter knows whom he's working for)
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