So you think unions are evil and the problem with the economy?

The problem with Unions is their inability to compromise with companies that are a financial mess, their misuse and misspending of Union funds, and the overall corruption of Union leaders. Once long ago, they were necessary since they gave the workers the power to stand-up to big companies. Now, they are quickly becoming more of a hassle than an asset. I believe there is a time coming when they will no longer be as necessary as they once were. But now, they are have taken several image hits. First hit came when the Car Unions refused to renegotiate the terms when the company was clearly going under. Instead of working to find a viable solution, they almost caused the companies to go under. This potentially would have put all of their workers out of work and caused many retirees to lose their pension. If the Federal government hadn't stepped in with the bailouts, this would have been the case. Now, I am not saying it was all of the Union's fault. But they were part of the problem of the company's inability to adapt to the changing economic environment. The second hit came when the Unions were privy to government contracts. In other words, only Union companies could apply for certain government contracts and other companies were forced to hire Union workers. This smacks so much of favoritism that it damages their credibility with the American people. Since the government is supposed to represent all of the people not just the Unions. The third hit comes when the Unions have entered the political arena. The leaders are squandering Union fees on lobbying the government. Now the problem here is that not everyone agrees with the political affiliation of the Union party. Therefore, they are forced to contribute to a candidate, lobbying position, etc. that they don't support. The fourth hit came when the reports hit the media about the teacher's union and the number of teachers that weren't teaching. Instead, they were sitting in empty rooms. In other words, it had all the appearance of people getting paid for not working. Since the taxpayers are responsible for paying teachers through property taxes, you understand the outrage. Finally, there is the blatant connection with President Obama that is tarnishing their "stellar" reputations. I really don't need to say much more about where they went wrong on this one. Even though they made an important contribution to improving conditions to the American worker, their time is coming when they will be a part of the past instead of the future. I really think that the Unions know it too.

"I am sick of hearing the "oh its all the unions fault this economy is such a mess"..." http://www.24hgold.com/english/news-gold-silver-how-public-sector-union-greed-arrogance-and-influence-peddling-broke-california.aspx?article=2829842938G10020&redirect=false&contributor=Mish http://www.redcounty.com/greed-power-politics-teachers-union-members-authorize-strike-cusd/38871 http://whostolemycareer.com/2010/02/12/union-greed-and-abuse-of-power/ http://www.sundriesshack.com/2008/11/15/bailing-out-union-greed/ I don't know if we can blame the unions totally, but they sure have done their part. Looks to me as though they are every bit as greedy as the fat cat executives and corporate leaders.

I can't speak for all unions but, by their very nature, they don't have the best interest of both parties...labor and the company...in mind which has hurt people as a result. Case in point, the small railroad I used to work for. They were already cutting back which is why I was laid off. In comes a union promising everyone higher wages more in line with what other union FRA rated railroads were paying. The company told the employees that they couldn't afford that but the union reps insisted that they could. So, they voted for the union. This past May, following the sugarcane harvest, 3/4 of the conductors were let go. Before the harvest restarts in October they will rehire some but not all of them back but only for the harvest. The railroad used to keep them during the 5 month slow season, giving them 40 hours of work doing track repairs and general maintenance. Now they can't afford to.

You won't hear an arguement from me about lobbyist. They need to be outlawed!! But with the global economy we have I will say they have hurt our economy. Not that I think they mean to. But when American employees cost more in wages and benefits than another countries employees...well companies are going to go with creating jobs and operating in the country that is cheaper. That is why so many jobs are going over seas and NOT coming back. It is cheaper to operate in those countries. I am not saying that the employees don't deserve the pay and benefits they get...what I am saying is sence a lot of other countries don't have unions and the people are willing to work for a lot less...it hurts our economy. What is the answer? I don't know. Companies have a right to operate in whatever country they want. But in the same token...american employees should not have to take next to nothing for their work. Some of the problem is American consumers. We want everything CHEAP. Which means we end up buying our products from foreign countries. Look at Walmart....most of their stuff comes from China...shop at Walmart..you are supporting China's economy...not ours. Which is not supporting our own economy or our own workers. What is the most common complaint I hear on why poeple don't "buy American"...the products cost more. Ya...well that is because the employees cost more. But what do you want...cheap goods or jobs in this country? Pick one.

I could argue with you until the end of days about this subject, but instead I'm going to give you a very useful link in understanding the damage that Unions can cause. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supply_and_demand If you look at the graphical representation, you will see: artificially raising the price causes the equilibrium point to move up and to the right on the supply curve (no longer in equilibrium). This causes lower demand and a surplus of supply.

We have somehow lost what is most important in our unions. Providing trained and professional help to an employer. There are a small few that still do this. Unions have spent way to much time making it about "them and us" instead of how do we build a better company for everyone. Unions in many other country's work and have a different priority then the unions in the US. They promote excellence in the workplace and trianing for the workers and they have high expectations of the company.. Most of our unions have become protectors of those that should be fired for ligitimate reasons. Example is our teachers union, one of the reasons they get such a bad rap is that they will protect any all bad teachers wicth drives the entire organization to mediocrity. It is interesting that when the labor and auditors groups come out with thier "Best Company's to Work For" list every year there is never a union company on those list. These are also the compainy's that we never hear about in the news or blame for bad practices. Most union workers I know have worse bennifits then those that don't work in union shops. Linking unions to curupt companies somehow does seem to go hand in hand. LOL

I am not anti-union. BUT there is corruption there. I do know that the teacher's union has gotten ridiculous. But you pointed out where they are needed and I agree. I just think that the American WORKER needs to keep them in check.

i'm from a third world country and most businesses here are run by multinational or transnational corporations. among these corporations' sites around the globe, we have the lowest wage/salary that's why they're crowding here. while our argument mostly is how exploitive these corporations/companies are over local workers, how we are getting paid for much work than most of their employees based on first world countries, workers from that side of the world may have been working against continued internationalization of labor. thus, they could be against multinationals establishing businesses here for low labor cost because it will result to lay-offs in sites with higher labor costs. BUT, even if we're all fighting for different reasons, i knew that each unions only wants what's best for their countrymen or fellow local workers. i'm not a member of any union as i have worked in several BPOs where there are no unions BUT i've known political organizations supporting the labor sector. as for our own experiences, i believe if it weren't for labor mobs, we wouldn't have this "minimum wage rate" law and most people would have been earning less than $10 per day.

Trouble is, it's not the old industrial age. Maybe at one time Unions were needed, but now. They're only a hindrance. My Dad belonged to a union when he worked at the McDouglas Aircraft plant in California. It's because of the union that my Dad lost his job, because they kept striking. His brother had a supervisor position, so he lucked out in not losing his job. I blame the unions for ruining the auto industry in this country. It'll never be the same again. Enjoy cramming your family into those ugly electric golf carts Obama wants you to use, lol! Just look at Greece, and France. Because of the unions, nothing gets done. Just ask people in Great Britain what it's like to have the post office strike, around Christmas time. Nobody get their packages, until weeks later. Wow, strike a blow for the common man! Whooo! Make everybody suffer because the poor union workers, sniff sniff, can't get that extra twenty bucks an hour.

yes but Unions do extort local governments for ridiculous salaries, knowing that without these places the local economies fail. An even worse situation was the Police and Fire Unions of my home town, who negotiated a $150,000 pension for the rest of his life and he can go to some town in Texas and make another $100,000 a year, so he is getting $250,000 a year doing one job that usually pays less than $100,000 and there is nothing my town can do about it. Or take the example of GM, their Unions negotiated a salary that was well over $14/hr starting wage, and a ridiculous pension there as well, which with the collapse of the auto industry is impossible to continue paying

People may think of UNIONs the negative way, maybe because they are well known if starting a company strikes. But if you try to understand the nature of UNIONS it is pretty much helpful to the welfare of the employee. Well most companies avoid this because it gives power to even a small employee of their company.

Good people are hardly to make money. If they do,consider it as lucky.You have to become vicious, sneaky, smart, and fast thinking. Lot's of people with a criminal minds has that potention. So, it's common for evil people to get rich and put small people like us to misery. But you have to think that nothing last forever, something will be sacrificed on their cruel successity. There are always people beneath us, so be positive..

Please i dont really undastand this