It seems that we are being held back economically by labor unions. Not only have they sent countless jobs overseas, as a result of their exhorbiant wage/benefit demands, but they have historical ties to organized crime (i.e. the Mafia). There are countless stories of labor union corruption, intimidation and racketeering. The thuggery committed in the name of organized labor is immense. Yet unions persist. This is the 21st Century. Isn't it time we got rid of this embarrrasing anachronism from the ancient past?
2007-01-20 02:02:43 · 11 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
Some states have passed Right-to-Work legislation which basically shuts down the most offensive elements of labor unions. Perhaps we can get something passed on a national level? After all, Congress may regulate that which affects inter-state commerce.
2007-01-20 02:12:53 · update #1
You left out the fact that most unions were formed by the communists labor movement.
Here's a true story.
I had to help relocate a manufacturing plant from Ohio to Mexico just last year. It was costing the company $58 per hour for its union workers, which included all benefits. The union was pressing for a 10% increase. As it was, one worker's weekly pay totaled $2320.00. The plant employed 350 workers, for a total weekly payroll of $812,000.00.
In Mexico, they hire some very happy Mexicans for a cost of $17.00 per hour. The same production is now costing this company only $238,000.00 in weekly payroll.
The VP of the company told me had the union not pressed for an increase, they would have never closed the Ohio plant.
2007-01-20 02:38:37 · answer #1 · answered by Overt Operative 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Nonsense. Labor unions have never been weaker. You make the illogical jump from wage demands to industry moving work overseas. It is an easy call to take 10 buck an hour job and ship it overseas for 10 bucks a week. "The Thuggery" - there hasn't been a strike in the US of any note in 20 years. You are blowing smoke.
And if you put all your faith in industry, talk to the execs of ENRON. They could not have screwed their workers any more than they did. Perhaps a bit of union oversight could have saved some of the retirement funds that were reduced to zero by a corrupt company.
2007-01-20 11:02:09 · answer #2 · answered by iwasnotanazipolka 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think our government should force big corporations to go to a 32 hour work week.
Americans work so much some don't have time to raise their children well or can't afford to on their poor salaries while CEO's get millions to send out profit reports and read email. The unions will be necessary until America stops squeezing the ordinary workers. The minimum wage should be at least $10.00 dollars an hour in 2007. Americans should have 6 weeks paid vacation and a guarantee that they can't be paid less than they made on their previous 3 jobs as an average to calculate their starting salary. We would not need the unions then. The Mob does control some of the union activity but that's because the Feds allow it.
2007-01-20 10:20:50 · answer #3 · answered by slipperysson5 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I dont think you have read to much history. In the beginning Labor unions helped create the higher standard of living that people have today. What happen was they became greedy and almost ruined large companies. Good example is the steel industry and then General Motors and Ford
The teamsters representing the trucking industry has declined probably 90% but trucking pay has been cut 40% and is now a migrant job
2007-01-20 10:22:43 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
What are you big business...... we must never get rid of organized labor. the unions did not force companies to send jobs overseas the greediness of the companies did....What one person in the US is worth a hundred million or so per year? You think unions are corrupt...if you want to see corruption look at our president & congress...now that's corruption! I was in management in a union enviornment for 37 years...believe me, we need unions if for no other reason than work place safety...
2007-01-20 10:17:26 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
I believe we can get rid of organized labor just by repealing the 13th Amendment, and by declaring that everyone who is not independently wealthy is fair game to being indentured into slavery, regardless of their race, sex, age, religion, or language...
Is the US Constitution just for the comfort of the well-off?
2007-01-20 10:21:42 · answer #6 · answered by correrafan 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You cannot un-invent something. Organised labour is here to stay - you can either hit your head against the wall trying to get rid of it, or you can accept that people want paying for the work they do. Either you have high living conditions and outsourced work as employers continue to seek cheap labour, or you have bad living conditions and no outsourcing as the cheap labour is at home. Isn't it better to have third world conditions caused by extortion and poor wages elsewhere instead of at home?
2007-01-20 10:08:17 · answer #7 · answered by Mordent 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It's easy to get rid of organized labor!!! All you have to do is, allow the Conservatives to go ahead with their plan, of bringing back legalized slavery!!!!
Doc
2007-01-20 11:13:31 · answer #8 · answered by Arbuckle Doc 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not get rid of it, but revolutionize it. It is sick that union leaders never worked a day in their life and their daddy's paid for them to get their JD.
Not me, I am a true proletariat. I have worked my a** off and up and I am going to bring decency and sense back to Labor. Trotsky is my hero, not traitors like Castro and Che!
2007-01-20 10:08:38 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
Idustry's just been sending their jobs across the seas.
2007-01-20 10:05:40 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 1⤋