Sunday, October 31, 2004
The Unionization of America
We recently received a survey at the shop concerning the possible Unionization of the U.S. workforce. Maybe I should have said, Forced Unionization. There are currently bills before both the House and the Senate which could lead to this situation. Bills sponsored by friends and supporters of John Kerry.
Please reference: The National Right To Work Committee website. http://www.nrtwc.org/
Now I have not had the chance to research this as deeply as I would like, but what I have seen bothers me. According to the survey we received, it would be possible under Federal Law, for a small business who is subcontracted to a larger, unionized, company to require their employees to pay union dues, even if that company’s workers are non-union. This action would be possible even in states with Right to Work laws that currently make it possible for an individual to work within a Union environment, yet not to be required to pay union dues.
So, before any reader starts to comment back on this about all of the benefits of being part of a Union and where those dues go, I shall state clearly that I was raised in a Union home. My Father was buried with a 48 year membership pin on his lapel. I shall also not burden the readers with just how much he was screwed out his retirement. Nor shall I speak on how the plans for his families future were just a lie given to him by those he trusted to take care of his retirement funds.
I accept that upon founding, the Unions brought about required changes in both business practice and Federal Laws to protect the worker from unnecessary and often harsh working conditions. It also brought forward a decent wage for honest work. But I believe that those times have changed and the Union is a dinosaur not willing to become extinct.
What matters most within this essay is the grasp of the situation at hand during this election. Unions have dumped millions of dollars into Democratic candidates coffers. Funds that came from the forced dues of honest, hard working people.
Back in the 1920’s when Unions were first coming to power, many felt it was just another form of socialism, communism if you wish. And in many ways, they were correct. Look at the structure of both and you can nearly overlay one with the other and end up with the same organizational chart. The worker at the bottom pays to keep the person on top in a lifestyle any of us would envy. Sounds like a pyramid scheme.
Oh sure, those at top work to make life easier for the worker. Protect him from the evil corporation he works for. Provides for a worker to only do a specific thing at work, and if that item has no requirement that day, to set on his rump, drawing pay. Or in the case of one airline employee on the evening news earlier this year, to leave his place of employment and play golf, while during nearly $30.00 an hour in wages. And this was during a time when the airline workers were talking about going on strike for more benefits.
And folks wonder why the cost of living keeps going up.
If these Unionization laws are passed and become the law of the land, then small businesses will began to close. They would have no choice. They cannot afford to pay higher wages so their employees can pay forced union dues.
And more and more work will be sent overseas. Why? Simple. Because the smaller shops produce parts and materials needed at a reasonable price. A price which will have to increase if a small business is to stay alive and maintain payroll. This could produce a situation requiring the customer to go elsewhere for his requirements.
But here is one thing I have been pondering. Who owns these large corporations which the unions are protecting the workers from? Back in the 1920’s they were mostly solely owned by a single family or a partnership. But mostly today, they are owned by the stockholders. Folks from all aspects of life. Some of the same folks that benefit from them are the same who cry they are the protector of the working man, while receive stock dividend checks from the same corporations they are crying out against.
As one man recently said on the news, “I have never been hired to work by a poor man.”
So, who would the union be protecting the worker from in a small business by making him pay dues? No one actually. Very few small businesses can survive without good employer/employee relations. And those that do survive, generally do not survive as long as one which maintains a good working environment.
It seems to me that the Democrats believe the working people of this country are sheep. To be herded into an environment which they can control through unions. Or is it the other way around? I’ll let you decided.
Oh…did I forget to say that I’m a registered Democrat, as is my wife? Doesn’t matter actually what party we are registered with, cause we are free thinkers and would never vote the party line.
Anyway, this is all I have to say on the subject. Form your own opinions.
Please reference: The National Right To Work Committee website. http://www.nrtwc.org/
Now I have not had the chance to research this as deeply as I would like, but what I have seen bothers me. According to the survey we received, it would be possible under Federal Law, for a small business who is subcontracted to a larger, unionized, company to require their employees to pay union dues, even if that company’s workers are non-union. This action would be possible even in states with Right to Work laws that currently make it possible for an individual to work within a Union environment, yet not to be required to pay union dues.
So, before any reader starts to comment back on this about all of the benefits of being part of a Union and where those dues go, I shall state clearly that I was raised in a Union home. My Father was buried with a 48 year membership pin on his lapel. I shall also not burden the readers with just how much he was screwed out his retirement. Nor shall I speak on how the plans for his families future were just a lie given to him by those he trusted to take care of his retirement funds.
I accept that upon founding, the Unions brought about required changes in both business practice and Federal Laws to protect the worker from unnecessary and often harsh working conditions. It also brought forward a decent wage for honest work. But I believe that those times have changed and the Union is a dinosaur not willing to become extinct.
What matters most within this essay is the grasp of the situation at hand during this election. Unions have dumped millions of dollars into Democratic candidates coffers. Funds that came from the forced dues of honest, hard working people.
Back in the 1920’s when Unions were first coming to power, many felt it was just another form of socialism, communism if you wish. And in many ways, they were correct. Look at the structure of both and you can nearly overlay one with the other and end up with the same organizational chart. The worker at the bottom pays to keep the person on top in a lifestyle any of us would envy. Sounds like a pyramid scheme.
Oh sure, those at top work to make life easier for the worker. Protect him from the evil corporation he works for. Provides for a worker to only do a specific thing at work, and if that item has no requirement that day, to set on his rump, drawing pay. Or in the case of one airline employee on the evening news earlier this year, to leave his place of employment and play golf, while during nearly $30.00 an hour in wages. And this was during a time when the airline workers were talking about going on strike for more benefits.
And folks wonder why the cost of living keeps going up.
If these Unionization laws are passed and become the law of the land, then small businesses will began to close. They would have no choice. They cannot afford to pay higher wages so their employees can pay forced union dues.
And more and more work will be sent overseas. Why? Simple. Because the smaller shops produce parts and materials needed at a reasonable price. A price which will have to increase if a small business is to stay alive and maintain payroll. This could produce a situation requiring the customer to go elsewhere for his requirements.
But here is one thing I have been pondering. Who owns these large corporations which the unions are protecting the workers from? Back in the 1920’s they were mostly solely owned by a single family or a partnership. But mostly today, they are owned by the stockholders. Folks from all aspects of life. Some of the same folks that benefit from them are the same who cry they are the protector of the working man, while receive stock dividend checks from the same corporations they are crying out against.
As one man recently said on the news, “I have never been hired to work by a poor man.”
So, who would the union be protecting the worker from in a small business by making him pay dues? No one actually. Very few small businesses can survive without good employer/employee relations. And those that do survive, generally do not survive as long as one which maintains a good working environment.
It seems to me that the Democrats believe the working people of this country are sheep. To be herded into an environment which they can control through unions. Or is it the other way around? I’ll let you decided.
Oh…did I forget to say that I’m a registered Democrat, as is my wife? Doesn’t matter actually what party we are registered with, cause we are free thinkers and would never vote the party line.
Anyway, this is all I have to say on the subject. Form your own opinions.
