Watching uproar over Wisconsin protests, it’s time to remember how unions make our lives better
If you’re cheering on Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s decision to destroy both democracy and working families by ramming through anti-union legislation backed by big business, shame on you! I’m sick of unions being vilified by conservative commentators and voters alike who, in fact, have very directly and tangibly benefited from unionization.
In the 1920s, before the peak of the union movement, income inequality and wealth distribution in America reached dangerous proportions. Incomes for the nation as a whole were barely keeping pace with inflation while incomes for the top 1 percent of Americans skyrocketed up 75 percent. Unions, along with a host of New Deal-era accomplishments, helped drastically turn this tide.
In 1955, when the American Federation of Labor and the Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) was formed, Republican President Eisenhower praised the newly combined labor federation and unions in general for achieving economic prosperity for all.
It was widely accepted that after an era in which the robber barons recklessly abused workers in order to extract maximum wealth, unions were the way working class Americans could fight back together for rights, benefits and fair wages.
Which is why big business—and big business-backed politicians like Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker—have worked so hard to destroy unions ever since. Do you really think big business gives a damn about “our economy” or “your jobs”? Come on. They care about their bottom line. That’s what businesses do. Unions care about workers.
Unions raise the wages of workers by roughly 20 percent and raise total compensation, including both wage and benefits after union dues are deducted, by 28 percent. The effect is even greater for low- and middle-wage workers and those without a college degree.
Unionized workers are significantly more likely than non-union workers to get paid leave, employer-provided health insurance and employer-provided pension plans (in fact, up to 54 percent more likely). And unionized workers receive 26 percent more vacation time and 14 percent more paid leave.
What’s not to like about that?
But here’s the kicker: Even if you’re not in a union, unions help you. There’s an old bumper sticker that reads, “Like your weekend? Thank a union!” A bigger bumper sticker might read, “Like your weekend, your 40-hour work week, your workers compensation program, your employee benefits, your minimum wage, your safety standards on the job? Thank a union.”
But that’s not all.
Unions set a standard that even non-unionized workplaces have to follow. For example, a high school graduate who works in a field that is only 25 percent unionized earns 5 percent more than similar workers in less unionized industries. Wouldn’t you take a 5 percent raise right now?
And no, workers who get good salaries and benefits aren’t taking money out of your pocket. They’re taking it from CEO salaries and bonuses. The top five big banks on Wall Street set aside $89.54 billion for bonuses last year—only a 2.8 percent decline from the previous year, even though profits were down 4 percent. In other words, even with lower profits, big business across the country can afford to pay executives a small fortune. They can easily afford to pay decent wage and benefits to average workers.
The same is true for public-sector employees. States across the country have been slashing wages and benefits for teachers and other public servants in order to give obscene tax breaks to big business and the super-rich. Note that in Wisconsin, 60 percent of corporations making more than $1 million per year in revenues pay zero taxes. Zero.
Anti-union oligarchs literally want to take money from working people and put it in the pockets of the super-rich. If you’re against that, find a union and join it.
For the record, unions primarily target large industries and employers so the “this hurts small business” argument is nothing but a distraction. Plus, if a small business is paying such abysmal wages that the unionization of the industry pushes the small business to also raise pay, good—they shouldn’t have been so low in the first place.
And also for the record, many of the talking heads who rail against unions are, in fact, union members. Most every television and radio show host, for instance, belongs to the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. They might resent having to be in structures to which they’re so ideologically opposed, but the fact is that their good wages and benefits and working conditions were won and are preserved by their union.
And when these same talking heads suggest that we don’t need unions to level the economic playing field, that plenty of poor people grow up to be rich, most of the examples they cite are union members, too.
Baseball players who rose from the ghetto to the major league? It wasn’t until they unionized that baseball players got rich. Actors? Unionized, including recent Oscar winner actress Natalie Portman who thanked the Screen Actors Guild union for making sure she got an education and was protected as a child actor.
Anti-union policies hurt all workers. The average worker in a so-called “Right-to-Work” state that hinders unionization makes $5,538 per year less than workers in free bargaining states. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, workplace death rates are 52.9 percent higher in “Right-to-Work” states than free bargaining states. “Right-to-Work” states have higher rates of poverty, higher infant mortality rates and lower percentages of residents with health insurance.
This is simple. The vast majority of Americans think it’s wrong that 400 obscenely rich people hold more wealth and power than the assets of 155 million ordinary Americans combined. Why? Because it is wrong.
Such monstrous inequality and lack of opportunity for ordinary Americans is not a sign that capitalism is broken but a sign that our economy and politics have been rigged to work for the very few at the top. And since the same few rich people and big businesses at the top make most of the political contributions in our country, politicians are woefully skittish to challenge their greed.
And that’s why the final reason to thank a union, the organized voice—and yes, political money, too—large enough to stand up to the otherwise-unchecked disastrous power of big businesses that care nothing about you or our economy and care only about their profit. That’s not what America is about.
That’s why we let people vote to join unions, to stand up together for working Americans and to fulfill the vision of freedom and equality for which our nation was founded.—Just like we let people vote anti-democratic, anti-working families politicians out of office.
Sally Kohn is a community organizer and political commentator. She is the Founder and Chief Education Officer of the Movement Vision Lab.
Mar 23, 2011 at 8:38 p.m.
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Blue- you left out the politicians, they help make it all possible?
Mar 19, 2011 at 11:26 a.m.
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Doc:"Most of the rich people didn't get rich by defrauding people. Most of the rich people were not born into wealthy families either. They got rich because they worked hard, saved and ivested, and spent their money wisely. You should learn from these people instead of bashing them.",,,,well the hard working rich should know I am not talking about thew then,,,I do not need to learn anything from anyone,I am doing just fine.....just think this country,and some people needs to change before it gets any worse.....
Doc, Starting way back with the AIG deal and from then on till now who has hurt the economy and our country more unions and their workers or big money CROOKS?????
Mar 19, 2011 at 9:04 a.m.
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Sally Kohn: Well said.
Mar 19, 2011 at 4:21 a.m.
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bluecollarjoe,
I didn't approve of the bailouts either. Phoney Mae and Fraudy Mac, among others, should have been allowed to fail. But the government was part of the problem. They wanted some of these institutions to loan money to low-income earners, people who had no way of paying back those loans. That's part of the reason they failed.
I don't feel victimized. I take responsibility for my actions. I understand that there are some risks involved with investing.
Most of the rich people didn't get rich by defrauding people. Most of the rich people were not born into wealthy families either. They got rich because they worked hard, saved and ivested, and spent their money wisely. You should learn from these people instead of bashing them.
Mar 19, 2011 at 12:40 a.m.
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skippy31;
"Actually, All of the jobs that are moving overseas, is caused greatly by the unions. Unions are a constraint on a business. Over seas, there are no constraints on business. Businesses don't want constraints on them."
Actually, all of the jobs that are moving overseas is caused by greed, and nothing but greed!
Mar 18, 2011 at 9:48 p.m.
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The founders of the labor movement viewed unions as a vehicle to get workers more of the profits "they help create". Government workers, however, don’t generate profits. They merely negotiate for more tax money. When government unions strike, they strike against taxpayers. FDR considered this “unthinkable and intolerable.”
Mar 18, 2011 at 3:31 p.m.
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Doc,,,,victim,,are we not all victims of big money,,, "just trying to get me to see things differently."Am I the only one that feels victimized by the way our Government allows some of the BULL that goes on!!!!after what the financial institutions and wallstreet was,has,and is doing to this country you don't feel victimized????it is your type of thinking that allows them to keep doing it,,cuz they can,,,and we should be thankful for what we have,,please!,,,BUT THE UNIONS ARE THE ONES THAT ARE KILLING THE COUNTRY?,,,,what a joke!all the money that these big dollar crooks stole from the people, and got away with it, plus they get a big fat bail-out check from the tax payers that will never get paid back,and the low-income repubs call the union workers greedy,,,,come-on people WAKE UP!!!,,,,,Doc, Starting way back with the AIG deal and from then on till now who has hurt the economy and our country more unions or big money CROOKS?????
Mar 18, 2011 at 8:02 a.m.
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Third_Eye Mar 17, 2011 at 2:59 p.m.
Call is what you like, it's my right to an opinion and I shall voice that opinion. I am not a Fire Fighter but my wife and I have both in the past relied on there quick response times. I've heard of them laying on FF's and closing a station, just hope it's not the one by us, that's all.
Mar 17, 2011 at 9:35 p.m.
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Actually, All of the jobs that are moving overseas, is caused greatly by the unions. Unions are a constraint on a business. Over seas, there are no constraints on business. Businesses don't want constraints on them.
Mar 17, 2011 at 4:49 p.m.
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"Well Doc,I guess your point is if you took $100 to one of these countries you would be rich,,,??? I still fail to see the point of your first reply to my post,,,,there is no comparison."
--bluecollarjoe
No, that is not my point. I stated my point plainly: You are rich compared to the majority of the world population. So I'm wondering why you are complaining about the 400 wealthiest Americans. You sound like you see yourself as a victim. If you think you are one of the "have nots", you are mistaken. Are you thankful that you live in America? Do help those less fortunate than you (with your own personal money, not through your tax dollars)? I'm just trying to get you to see things differently.
Mar 17, 2011 at 4:31 p.m.
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You know, he's not destroying unions-he is trying to balance the books. Unions have helped us in the past-but that's just it-it's the past. Where were they when GM needed help, or Sub-Zero? Didn't do a thing. I'm sure businesses realize that without unions, they can negotiate equally with their employees, not have the unions ramming something down their throats. Unions cost us money. The more the members want, the more the goods & services are going to cost. Why are you not seeing this? I've had many discussions with union ex-employees and they still think unions are the way. Collective bargaining should be between the employer and employee. My father was in a union shop but he didn't join the union or pay out the union dues-but he got all the benefits that the union workers got. People, we need to stop and see what the governor is trying to do-save jobs, balance the budget-so that our kids and grandkids, and even great-grandkids don't have the burden of it. Don't think greedy-think smart! The governor even said he & his workers are going to have to go by this too, since they are state employees. He's not talking about some union in another sector-he's talking state employees. I truly believe that the people who got big bonuses should pay half of what they got to help him out. And what happens to all the cash that is confiscated from drug cartels? Couldn't that be used against our federal debt? From the president on down, we need to apply the cache of the drug dealers, etc. against our debts. They steal from us-they should pay it all back. They're living high, we shouldn't be in debt because of it. America, wake up!
Mar 17, 2011 at 4:16 p.m.
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Well Doc,I guess your point is if you took $100 to one of these countries you would be rich,,,??? I still fail to see the point of your first reply to my post,,,,there is no comparison.
Mar 17, 2011 at 4:08 p.m.
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Oneday -- After reading your notes I agree with some points and not with others. Harnish -- did not compete with Beloit. Beloit was purchased by Metso. They then closed the corp and offered jobs to some. Metso still operates in Beloit...
Given your rant -- the unions could not, did not solve anything you stated. They made things worse in some cases. When you take away the incentives to operate profitably or show that operating offshore is a better position, then companies will move. They don't move just because. Offering incentives to keep employment in the US , tax breaks etc.. Is far cheaper than the alternative of service industry employment.
Mar 17, 2011 at 3:47 p.m.
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Unions raised wages in the 1950s. That's why we should allow unions to organize against taxpayers so we have to pay higher taxes and cut student funding to continually increase benefits that nobody else has.
Pathetic.
Mar 17, 2011 at 2:59 p.m.
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cantweallgetalong Mar 17, 2011 at 1:44 p.m.
I think that's called fearmongering.
Mar 17, 2011 at 2:58 p.m.
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"DrTalk,,,,, you think $100 a week is rich in AMERICA!!!??? how can you compare!!! did you read that before you clicked post comment?"
--bluecollarjoe
YOU should read before you post. Did I say that $100 was rich in America? NO, I did not. I said those people make more than 86% of the world population. They are rich compared to the rest of the world.
Mar 17, 2011 at 2:13 p.m.
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djs4465 How does twenty years sound. I have seen the boss ask for sexual favors and the company just say well we will take care of our. any way it is your word against his. You do not have a clue what really goes on out in the real world. So wake up before you name call.
Mar 17, 2011 at 1:44 p.m.
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Private unions yes, Public sector unions NO NO NO - It's them against the tax payers who don't have a seat at the collective bargaining table so that term shouldn't even exist in public sector unions. Knock yourself out if you want to be in a private union.
Mar 17, 2011 at 1:44 p.m.
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I just hope you are all happy when they close a Fire Dept near your home and there response time is compromised when you have a house fire or medical emergeny.
Mar 17, 2011 at 12:40 p.m.
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Go Scott Walker.. We the MAJORITY of voters who elected you to office, stand behind you! We wanted "change" now we have "hope" Unlike the other elected one who ran on "hope and change" thanks to him, I and a lot of other people have no more change and no more hope left..................
Mar 17, 2011 at 12:31 p.m.
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the power plant sale was removed from the bill voted into law - it was a fiscal issue. Read the version of the bill as passed, not the original proposal.
Mar 17, 2011 at 12:21 p.m.
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chuckfull:I think he's trying to say that we should all count our blessings. Don't you?
no,,,and let the brainwashing begin,,,,blessed if you were in one of those countries,,,,,not in this one
Mar 17, 2011 at 11:24 a.m.
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I worked at Beloit Corp. I was in middle management, not a union member. Beloit corp was closed after Harnisfeger bought it. The closure had nothing to do with the union. Harnisfeger closed it by way of structured bankruptcy in order to eliminate their competition. I also worked for Barbar Coleman, those jobs were sent to Mexico after the company was bought and broke up by corporations which then sold all of its assets piece meal for greater short term profit than what could be made to keep the plant running. I also worked at Gilman, the machine shop was first closed by sending the jobs to China. The drafters lost thier jobs to India. The final closing was when the few jobs that were left were eliminated when they moved all operations to Detroit and Germany. With the exception of the machine shop, none of these were union jobs. My point is, all of these company's were privately held corporations and flurished as did the communities they were in...until they were bought up by corporate raiders just for their assets. I'm all for honest capitalism, the problem is, it doesn't exist anymore. What we now have is facist corporatism, which is destroying this country town by town. Take your blinders off and take a ride around Rock County and see it for yourself. Those of you who think you are defending capitalism; you're not. There is no free market anymore, that went out the window when Wall street created hedge funds and derivatives which maniuplate the market.
Mar 17, 2011 at 11:14 a.m.
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Statewide contribution sources for all campaigns between 1999 and 2010:
"Large individual and political action committee contributions from banking, construction, manufacturing, insurance and other business interests totaled $85.2 million...labor union contributions totaled $6.98 million"
http://wisdc.org/pr031711.php
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For what it's worth, local contributors to Walker's campaign were as follows:
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Lycon Inc $7,100.00
Chambers & Owen $5,350.00
Prent Corp $5,000.00
Rock Road Companies $3,750.00
Hufcor Inc $3,350.00
SSI Technologies $3,250.00
Blain Supply $2,900.00
JP Cullen & Sons $2,700.00
ABC Supply Co $2,000.00
Lions Quick Marts Inc $1,350.00
Brennan, Steil, et al $1,300.00
Goex Corp $1,000.00
Robinson Prijic Family Dental $1,000.00
Amtec Corp $830.00
Towns Farms Inc $760.00
Tomah Products $750.00
Gramke Monuments $680.00
Douglas & Mork $500.00
GA Architecture $500.00
Mid-States Concrete Products $500.00
Ott Schweitzer Distributing $500.00
Schauder Building & Realty $500.00
Century 21 $350.00
Janesville Pediatric Dental $285.00
Carpenter $275.00
John L Austin Farms Inc $275.00
B&M Amusement Co $250.00
Hidden Valley Campground $250.00
Schneider Funeral Home $250.00
Bob Kimball Inc $200.00
Carter Construction Group $200.00
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Contributions are a sum of individual contributions listing affiliation with a corporation. Contributors are considered 'local' if they posted a Janesville address on their contribution form. Individual local contributors and local companies contributing less than $200 are not listed.
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As public information, all contributions to the previous gubernatorial campaign:
http://wisdc.org/database.html
Mar 17, 2011 at 10:34 a.m.
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belman you are pathetic. Any boss who would operate like that would not be in business very long.
Mar 17, 2011 at 9:40 a.m.
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Unions are for the working people. The main reason for unions because most bosses are lazy and stupid. Any contact has was to discipline people that do wrong. But just cause. I never seen a boss in years do their job, most of them are more concerned about drinking, the office pool or slapping some woman on the ass.
Mar 17, 2011 at 9:31 a.m.
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I think he's trying to say that we should all count our blessings. Don't you?
Mar 17, 2011 at 9:12 a.m.
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DrTalk,,,,, you think $100 a week is rich in AMERICA!!!??? how can you compare!!! did you read that before you clicked post comment?
Mar 17, 2011 at 9:05 a.m.
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goGreen: The power plants will be open for bidding and most of the legislators are leaning in that direction.
BTW - The power plants in question aren't vital energy producing monsters. They are old, coal burning, environmentally noncompliant, and barely able to serve the functions they were designed for.
Mar 17, 2011 at 9:01 a.m.
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NCC1701. I am sick of hearing about the unemployed, reason is you guys have all gotten unemployment for what 3 years now, and are still on it. I am sure you are qualified to work for at least mcdonalds. So apply. I know one thing for a fact. Lear, GM, Beloit Corp, Janesville Products, LSI, all are gone and they were all union shops. Can you explain that one. If the union protects your job then explain why your right to work for these places is gone. Unions are a constraint on Companies. I ask, what would you do if you owned a company and had this constraint left and right to agree on how you should run your business. And explain to me how it is fair that our taxes pay for the state employees salary and stuff, They pay union dues which means that my taxes pay for union dues. I don't have a say in whether or not my tax money goes to the union. I am sick of the whoa is me mentality.
Mar 17, 2011 at 8:59 a.m.
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Blue Joe:
The problem with raising capital gains taxes is that many of us older workers are hurt by an increase in capital gains. Before 401k's, Roth IRA's, and regular IRA's retirement savings were either through company pensions or individual savings.
As with many in my age group, a bulk of our retirement accounts are mutual funds and stocks purchased on the open market. Since they can not legally be transferred to a sheltered account such as an IRA, they are susceptible to the capital gains tax. While raising the capital gains tax may cause the wealthy to pay more, it would be financially fatal to many retirees.
Mar 17, 2011 at 8:56 a.m.
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"Those 400 obscenely rich people also pay less percentage of taxes than the average middle class worker"
--bluecollarjoe
Well, if they have no income then they'll just pay the capital gains tax on their investments. You can do the same thing.
The average American has more wealth than 96% of the world population. A student that makes $100/week has more wealth than 86% of the world population. Yet, you have the audacity to complain about the rich people in this country. YOU are rich.
Mar 17, 2011 at 8:48 a.m.
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I thought you all might be interested in this letter, written by a couple who hosted our democratic senators in their home in Illinois. It's an interesting inside look that you don't usually get from the media.
http://www.wispolitics.com/index.iml?Art...
Mar 17, 2011 at 8:32 a.m.
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Third_Eye,,,If you think that working for a union and thinking that ALL people,with any type of income, pay their share of taxes with out all the loopholes and tax breaks that a FEW get is communism,,,,you are blind and brain washed
Mar 17, 2011 at 8:13 a.m.
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Third_Eye:The half truth in this statement is that the US taxes INCOME not WEALTH. If these 400 people are already rich and have very little income they thusly pay few taxes.
So Blue Joe, do you think we should tax wealth and/or income?,,,,,,,,,they make money with money that is their income,,,,,and big dollar law gives them tax breaks and loopholes on capital gains,,they just need to pay their taxes without all the loopholes,,,,,
Mar 17, 2011 at 7:57 a.m.
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chuckfullofit:Red collar joe
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How many people do those 400 employ? How many would they employ if you confiscated their property?,,, don't know how many china workers can you count?
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You don't support your statement on taxes.,,,You don't support alot of yours either
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How much money is paid out in return by the government for that "one third of all contributions",,,How much money is paid out in return by the government for that "two third of all contributions",,,
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The working class is also represented by just about everyone NOT in a union.,,,,the class war
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Many in the working class are unable to opt. out of their union and keep their job. Many would like to, as you will see when this becomes law.,,,they want out of the union but they love the pay and bennies the union gets for them
Mar 17, 2011 at 6:53 a.m.
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Well said, Honorfirst and quite true.
Mar 17, 2011 at 5:46 a.m.
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I know the unions have helped shape working conditions, pay, and benefits. As for protecting bad workers or people who miss work a lot, you may not realize this, but that happens at non-union places too. In unionized places, the company and union agree to an attendance policy. Granted, it is up to the company to document absences and follow the points, write ups or suspensions agreed to not the union, but if the company sticks to the agreed terms, there is not much a union can do. Unless of course someone else has just as bad attendance but they did not get in any trouble. This is worker protection from possible favoritism. Companies have whole departments just to try to deal with ALL employees fairly. It is called human resources. They are paid by the company. The only ones who will speak for employees are unions. Many places do not need unions. Managers have learned. But that is because unions exist.
Mar 17, 2011 at 3:42 a.m.
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do unions really care about workers? wonderful question. I think that they have become just another business like the rest of them. They only care about the bottome line as well. $$$$$$. Don't forget, the prices of buying american made have gone higher. Is this because the wages and benfits packages are higher as well? I know for one that companies are in it for money. Otherwise why start a business. Anyone who starts a business is in it for the money, not helping people. Is it our right to tell the companies how to spend their money? I don't think so. It would be like them telling you how to spend every dime that came into your household. Now I am not for companies getting too powerful. But I am also not for a powerful union that hides behind fighting for rights, when it is all about $$$$$$ for them as well. there are definatley Federal guidlines that should be in place instead of unions. This story also talks about the no tax for companies, however our government gives immagrants 7 years tax free to come here, but if you have lived here your whole life, you get the crap taxed out of you. I ask you how much money and benefits is enough? Will the 'more' in this country on both side of the fence ever stop. We have become a selfish nation on all sides of it. I want, I want, I want. I have never heard that wealth should be distributed evenly in a capitalist society. I also think that the decisions that get made in the whitehouse, are simply for re-election purposes. If you were worried about doing what you think is right, but don't do it because your career would be over, that is wrong. I for one don't want to be broke. I am not in my personal life and i don't think that we should be as a state and country. Time will tell if this Budget repair bill will help. If it doesn't , then I think we have a right to be mad, but if it does, then good for the guy who stood strong and tall in the midst of the stuff that has happened.
Mar 17, 2011 at 1:45 a.m.
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Sally, you forgot to mention how unions enable you to pay $40,000 for a $18,000 vehicle as well as allowing you to pay much higher property taxes than a non union town. And let's not forget that your house is worth 33% more than in a non-union town. Sure you paid 33% more for it, but what the hey!
Mar 16, 2011 at 10:39 p.m.
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We can also thank a union for protecting employees that should be fired or disciplined due to violations of work rules, safety rules, excessive sick time, theft of company property, intimidating other employees, etc. The unions spend too much of their time protecting bad employees and because of this behavior, they lose the respect of union members along with company management that see these abuses.
Many of the gains made by unions have been accomplished due to threats, work slowdowns, employees calling in sick when they are not sick(remember this tactic, teachers?), intentional sabbotage of products, threats against businesses or individuals that disagree with them, damage of company or personal property, lies or falsehoods spread against a person or business, etc.
Unions have quite a history of involvement with organized crime (now there is something to be proud of) that have used any and all means to get their way.
The beginnings of unions that dealt with child labor laws, dangerous work conditions, sweat shops, etc., were of value, but now they are driven by greed, corruption and the desire to run the companies without any of the risk that the owners put up.
They have little to brag about or to be proud of and that is probably one primary reason that union membership is so low. Not many people would join a union if they were not forced to do so. Think about it...
Mar 16, 2011 at 9:34 p.m.
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Let the artificial shock begin.....
The Communist Party USA, a formal organization, has long worked through the unions. http://www.cpusa.org/
Traditional communism usually comes about through the revolt of the workers. The problem they have had is the American worker is middle class and not prone to rebellion.
They seem to have found a friend in the public unions.
Community Organizer = Communist.
Mar 16, 2011 at 9:24 p.m.
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bluecollarjoe Mar 16, 2011 at 8:02 p.m.
The half truth in this statement is that the US taxes INCOME not WEALTH. If these 400 people are already rich and have very little income they thusly pay few taxes.
So Blue Joe, do you think we should tax wealth and/or income?
Mar 16, 2011 at 8:39 p.m.
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Red collar joe
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How many people do those 400 employ? How many would they employ if you confiscated their property?
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You don't support your statement on taxes.
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How much money is paid out in return by the government for that "one third of all contributions"
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The working class is also represented by just about everyone NOT in a union.
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Many in the working class are unable to opt. out of their union and keep their job. Many would like to, as you will see when this becomes law.
Mar 16, 2011 at 8:02 p.m.
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Those 400 obscenely rich people also pay less percentage of taxes than the average middle class worker
Mar 16, 2011 at 7:58 p.m.
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chuckfullofit,,The unions also represent the WORKING CLASS,,,their huge contributions recipricated by sweet heart contracts amount to one third of total contributions,,,the other two thirds are from the wealthy and corporations
Mar 16, 2011 at 7:36 p.m.
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The unions also represent "big money control over government" as witnessed by their huge contributions recipricated by sweet heart contracts. Corporate welfare and subsidies are also a big problem (think ethanol and other non-competitive regulations). It's both not either or. We must reduce the power and scope of government and bring control back to the local level. Big gov.= big taxes & big waste. "The government that governs least governs best"
Mar 16, 2011 at 6:53 p.m.
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But, but union members make more money than I do and that makes me mad. They should have their money taken from them and given to rich people. That way everyone can be miserable like me. How dare anyone try to make a living wage. Excuse me, I have to go join the Tea Party now.
Mar 16, 2011 at 6:07 p.m.
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"Also the federal government supplied another ~800 million in stimulus funding.",,,blackmail money paid to wallstreet to not cripple the economy any more than they did!!!!
Mar 16, 2011 at 6:06 p.m.
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How can people not understand the problem is big money control over our government!!!!!!
Mar 16, 2011 at 6:06 p.m.
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well we now know why blue collar joe will always be blue collar
Mar 16, 2011 at 6:05 p.m.
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whomever wrote this article is an idiot
Mar 16, 2011 at 5:42 p.m.
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check out micheal moore capitalism:a love story, for a great wake up call! And then see Sicko-if you have health insurance and if you don't!!
Mar 16, 2011 at 5:35 p.m.
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READ THIS,,,,and keep reading it till it sinks in,,,,,Based on the comments about many of the articles written during this budget repair bill debate, the GOP and their backers plan of divide and conquer the middle and working class seems to be working. By pitting non-union working and middle class people against union working and middle class people the GOP and their wealthy supports can succeed in the class warfare that Warren Buffet talked about in a New York times article as far back as 2006. He was quoted as saying "There's class warfare, all right, but it's my class, the rich class, that's making war, and we're winning." Keep fighting amongst yourselves and soon there will be no middle class in this country. Once the class war is completed by the wealthy and corporations there will be two classes. The rich class and the serving class. Which class will you fall into?,,,,,,to bad the low-income rebubs don't understand what is going on!!!!!!
Mar 16, 2011 at 4:59 p.m.
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Class warfare. Corporation intimidation tactics. Email threats from within to frighten. High Taxes, Strikes Shortages...ENTITLEMENTS. Poor performance, corruption, taxation without representation, domination, loss of property, Corporations in republicans pockets; what's not to love.
Mar 16, 2011 at 4:11 p.m.
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So could a normal middle-of-the-road person write an editorial on this? I am so sick of the propoganda from both sides.
This thing is loaded with crap (as is the Tea Party crap).
"And no, workers who get good salaries and benefits aren’t taking money out of your pocket. They’re taking it from CEO salaries and bonuses."
Sorry honey, but if WalMart and other large retailers unionize, prices go up and it DOES come out of my pocket. The CEO will raise prices to keep margins up so he/she can get their bonus.
And what country doesn't have a very small faction of insanely rich individuals? Do they have a unicorn on their flag?
Mar 16, 2011 at 3:18 p.m.
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Class warfare. Union intimidation tactics. Death threats to legislators and their families. High taxes. Strikes. Shortages. Intitlement mentality. Poor performance. Corruption. Sweet heart deals with no real tax payer representation. Minority rule & obstructionism. Loss of property rights. Job providing corporations fleeing the state.... What's not to like?
Mar 16, 2011 at 2:54 p.m.
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Somehow it is always the RICH republicans to blame for the problems of the middle class. Dare we consider that there are just as many very Rich democrats that really do not give a rip about the middle class either. Who benefits when all is said and done if the State is broke and a lot of people lose their jobs because the union power prevailed?
Mar 16, 2011 at 2:35 p.m.
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Ok folks, let's just think of Nov. 2 2010 as like a taxpayer union contract vote with Walker being kind of like the Jimmy Hoffa of the taxpayers. Long live the WI taxpayers union!
Mar 16, 2011 at 2:21 p.m.
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You have got to be kidding
Mar 16, 2011 at 1:27 p.m.
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Prosperity in the United States in the last 50 post-war years was built on American working class families and the belief that through hard work one could succeed. The American Dream is dying. The rich, through tax credits that exceed the national deficit, are getting richer and richer...and the rest of "ordinary" people are becoming poorer and poorer. What is so sad is to hear the cheering of people who vote against their own self interest-- they may have no decent health care, no job opportunities, no security--but they swallow the lies of the big money Republicans who believe the United States should be government by the rich and for the rich.
Mar 16, 2011 at 1:23 p.m.
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factplease, it's an interesting read, but you would think that if the president and legal counsel were going to make a big whoha about this, they would proofread it. The first line has mis-information. They have listed 2001 as the year. As petty as it may appear to nitpick, it shows the fact that they were more interested in taking a swipe at Fitzgerald and Walker, rather than making a legitamate claim.
Mar 16, 2011 at 1:10 p.m.
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Check this out. The State Troopers think that Walker used them illegally and are seeking protection from law suits.
http://www.thewheelerreport.com/releases...
Mar 16, 2011 at 12:41 p.m.
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Sally said "And no, workers who get good salaries and benefits aren’t taking money out of your pocket. They’re taking it from CEO salaries and bonuses."
So with the public unions who's pocket is their hand in?
Mar 16, 2011 at 12:40 p.m.
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..."because Wall Street and Corporate millionaires and billionaires are always concerned about what is best for the general public. You keep thinking that,.... ".
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wando, you should sue the teacher that incompetently taught you to read without helping you develop the ability to comprehend. I find your ability to read what is not written to be astounding. Maybe if I re write my comment in smaller words you can understand my intent. Corporation leadership = greed, Union leadership = greed + hipocracy. CEO says "I want more money and will fire you if that will make it so" Union leader says "I want more money and if I sell you out in the pursuit of this goal but I will pretend to feel bad and blame the other guy".
Mar 16, 2011 at noon
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Nice fairy tale Sally, to bad it's out of touch with realty in many ways. I'm one of those villifiers you're so sick of, Why?, because it's sadly often the truth. There was a time when unions had a place in our economy, those days are gone. While it's true that unions have helped increase all those things you talk about, it's also true that it comes at the expense of others. In particular any job in the state of Wisconsin that involves Federal or State money is required by law to be prevailing wage. That means the taxpayer pays more to have a union member build it. Does that mean it will be built better? NO! The real joke in this is that The State sets the prevailing wage based on an average. I know of at least one trade where non-union employees can work for $4.00 an hour less than what the union shop must pay their employees.That same trade forced all of the separate unions within their district to merge.They told them that it would benefit everyone with cheaper dues, health insurance and the like. When it was done, they were paying more dues than anyone else, health insurance skyrocketed to $2000.00 a month and when they were confronted by an angry local, they said"we lied, it's done, too bad." They took the right of the local unions away to negotiate their own contracts, the first contract meeting went like this, After a half hour, the union boss stood up in front of the employers and told the two local union reps to sit down and shutup, he was taking over. The result has priced the trades completely out of residential work and now non-union shops take the work at a lesser rate. So, whats the point? You said "unions care about workers", BALONEY!
Mar 16, 2011 at 11:11 a.m.
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Yes big business and Wall Street is really good for the middle class. They care about you. But these public unions, made up of people in the middle class don't care about you.
Mar 16, 2011 at 11:01 a.m.
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Sally Kohn says it all. She says, "That’s why we let people vote to join unions" That's what is going to happen very soon. The people in the public sector are going to be able to vote to join a union. That vote will be via their willingness to voluntarily write out a check to their union each month in the form of union dues. Otherwise, if they so choose, they can abstain and choose to forego the dues. The problem the union sees it that many of they members will not pay the dues.
Mar 16, 2011 at 10:33 a.m.
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If companies get together to artifically raise the cost on their services, it's called collusion, but if people get together to artifically raise the cost of their services, they call it a union.
Mar 16, 2011 at 10:14 a.m.
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Is this how unions make our lives better?
http://www.620wtmj.com/shows/charliesyke...
How about illegally skipping work and lying about it? How about destroying our beautiful Capitol property? How about intimidating Capitol workers and their families? I've seen enough of union behavior. Based on these and many other examples, I imagine they also terrorize local boards when it comes time to bargain.
Mar 15, 2011 at 11:30 p.m.
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This is about GOVERNMENT UNIONS. See the dems with their bright orange union T-shirts on? Ever see a referee on the field at a packer game wearing a Green Bay T-shirt? Why not?
Mar 15, 2011 at 8:46 p.m.
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I don't think Ms. Kohn gets it. The issue over the past couple of weeks was about PUBLIC unions vs. the taxpayers, not private unions verses employers. Yes, private businesses have a bottom line, but governments have a budget. Currently we have a budget shortfall. Spending needs to be reigned in. Maybe Ms. Kohn would like to write something relevant to what's going on in this state.
Mar 15, 2011 at 7:54 p.m.
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"And no, workers who get good salaries and benefits aren’t taking money out of your pocket." WOW I WONDER IF SHE TOLD WALKER AND THE TAXPAYERS OF WI THIS, WE COULD HAVE ENDED THIS WHOLE MESS. LOL. I WONDER HOW THESE PEOPLE GET PAID IF NOT FROM TAX DOLLARS??
Mar 15, 2011 at 7:51 p.m.
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BunBun: Ahhh yes, because Wall Street and Corporate millionaires and billionaires are always concerned about what is best for the general public. You keep thinking that, in the meantime the rest of us will be in the real world where we know the overwhelming majority of them couldn't care less about the middle and lower class.
Mar 15, 2011 at 7:30 p.m.
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wall street billionaires and union thugs, two sides to the same power grabbing coin. At least the Wall Street types are honest enough to not pretend they are here to share in your suffering like the union officials do.
Mar 15, 2011 at 6:29 p.m.
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Wall street tanks the economy and walks away with billions in bonuses but to some people it's the $50,000 per year public employee who is to blame.
So where the protesters when all this was happening? Oh I forgot, they were to busy protesting death panels, gay people and tax cuts for 98% of Americans.
Mar 15, 2011 at 6:15 p.m.
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sorry...resurgence. Pain killers are not doing anything for the pinched nerve in my back.
Mar 15, 2011 at 5:50 p.m.
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Unions are out of date! This is not 1920 or 1950, it's 2010. All they do now is contribute to elections with unions dues.
Mar 15, 2011 at 5:21 p.m.
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Thank you, Gazette, for sharing this commentary that apparently MANY could learn from.
Mar 15, 2011 at 4:41 p.m.
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She's a community organizer-Enough said!!
Mar 15, 2011 at 4:39 p.m.
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resurgement?
Mar 15, 2011 at 4:23 p.m.
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I remember in 1999 the Grahm, Leach, Bliley Act was passed, repealing most of the The Glass Steagal Act. The GSA was signed into law after the stock market crash, which caused the Great Depression. I rember hearing President Clinton saying how much he was against this bill, because of what restrictions had been eliminated, the very things that had caused the Great Depression. It only took 9 years and history repeated itself. I'm afraid we seem to refuse to learn from history. IMO, we are repeating it with the unions. I'm sure there are thsnds of us just in this area who have seen a drastic decline in wages and benefits. I myself had to accept 60% less to do the very same job I had been doing for the past 15 years. I think we might be seeing a resurgement in unions.
Mar 15, 2011 at 3:46 p.m.
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i don't need to make more money, but i sure would like my government to spend less.
Mar 15, 2011 at 3:37 p.m.
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Wow, according to Sally, unions, and unions only, have prevented human civilization from returning to the hunter-gatherer stage.
Of course everyone wants good pay and benefits but there comes a time when it becomes too much too handle for a business or government. What truly sticks out in the article, is that there isn't one hint that unions have ever done anything wrong. Please.
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