Posts in "Union Contracts"

By Shaun Bowen at 7:04PM

Mar 13, 2011

The Problem with Public Sector Unions, Part 1

With all the hullabaloo going on in Wisconsin over the recent Republican move to strip collective bargining rights from public sector workers (excluding the police and firefighters unions) I feel there is alot of untruths and falsehoods that are being shot around. For those unfamiliar with the situtation, here is a video of Stefan Molyneux giving a good summary. Now, I'm in no position to be prognosticating from on high as some expert -- these are just my musings about the concept of public sector unions vs. private sector unions.

Who are they organizing against? One of the main problems I've never been able to understand is what exactly a public sector union is supposed to be protecting their workers from? There are no stockholders, no investors, no group of people that are looking to make more money for themselves while at the expense of the worker. Since the profit motive is not used when carrying out tax-funded services, it doesn't really make sense for public workers to organize against "profits over people" managers.

Now I want to get it out there that I'm am not against the concept of unions. Unionization is grounded in our right to contract. Any group of people that want to join together and contractually agree to collective representation is fine by me as long as the process is completely voluntary.

Want to see state taxes go up while state budgets explode? Then support this bill.

A new bill making its way through Congress proposes to federalize the bargaining power of many state employees, namely police, firefighters, and EMTs. Deviously called the "Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act," it also includes increased military funding -- tasty big government treats for both left and right!

Mish Shedlock reports on the unionization plan:

Get ready for Organized Labor's biggest congressional handout yet.

It would come via a piece of legislation called the "Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act." Attached, ridiculously enough, to a spending bill that provides war funding for the troops, it will soon hit the House floor for a vote.

From the name, you'd think that the act improved public safety. Wrong. In fact, it overrides state laws to boost union membership - at taxpayer expense.

The act would require all states to allow police, firefighters and emergency medical personnel to collectively bargain with taxpayers. If they don't create their own system, the federal government will impose one on them.

The bill has passed the House, but the Senate version is still in the works -- with the support of enough Republicans to make its success likely. (Those Republicans include MA's Scott Brown. But then, are we really surprised about that?) The highly effective National Right to Work Committee is already taking action to stop the bill. Click here to learn how you can help.

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By Devon Minnema at 8:17PM

Jan 2, 2010

The Death of School Spirit

Many people don't realize how the world around them is affected by bureaucracy, regulation, and tyranny, but one example can be related easily, especially at Dixon High School.

DHS's New Campus

Our school recently built a new campus, and the transfer that began three years ago had been quite the tremendous event. Dixon High had a beautiful new campus, much like that of a small college, that was adorned with rams etched into almost every wall to note our loyalties.