Debunking A Union-Hating, Walker-Loving Columnist

[Omaha Steve]

X post in Labor & GD

http://www.politicususa.com/2015/03/14/debunking-union-hating-walker-loving-columnist.html

By: Dennis Smore from Dennis S
Saturday, March, 14th, 2015, 8:00 pm

Another syndicated scribe has taken to slashing and burning unions. He’s a Tribune News Service columnist. With apologies to the intrepid Carrie Nation, I’ll call him “Hatchet-Man” (HM). He wrote a lengthy piece, laughingly titled “Unions don’t like concept of fair play.” His name isn’t important. [Editor’s note: The author’s name is Jay Ambrose.] Just another highly paid, right-wing propagandist.

The guy groveled at the feet of Governor and would-be seeker of the Republican presidential nomination, Scott Walker. Walker is yet another Koch addict who has managed to turn Wisconsin into a Right-to-Work (RTW) state. In currying the favor of Walker and union-busters everywhere, the “columnist” wielded his ink-stained hatchet with a mean-spirited, misleading and largely erroneous take on today’s unions.

It’s not that I’m particularly concerned that one of my favorite institutions is being attacked. Whack away! I am equally unconcerned about my right to set things straight. That’s what I do for PoliticusUSA. Let’s agree on one thing, shall we? If you didn’t want a union shop and yet, somehow, one managed to squirm its way into your company in a RTW state, you should be paid non-union wages and benefits and the union members should be paid union wages and benefits. I mean we all want “fair play”, right? No? You don’t want to pay dues, but you expect all the moolah and benefits? Whatta leech! The Bureau of Labor Statistics puts the weekly wage numbers for non-union workers at 79% of union workers.

Randi Weingarten, head of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), is also a Hatchet-Man target. Ms. Weingarten was quoted by a Wisconsin online news service uttering this pithy and dead-on observation, “If you want good jobs, then you must stand up for the workers who hold them. If you want a strong middle class, then you can’t take out the unions that built them. If you want higher wages, then workers need a voice.” Certainly sounds reasonable to reasonable people.

FULL story at link.

[yallerdawg]

1. The double-speak of anti-unionism.

So we have "right to work" and "at will."

State laws regarding "right to work" apply to unions and dues collection. Regardless of the gains unions have made for the employees, you don't have to pay dues. You have the right to work there without supporting the horrible union. In fact, your employer will explain to you relentlessly how much better off you are, with lower pay and less benefits and less job security. On the other hand, good luck at the employment office or HR demanding your "right to work."

Which leads to "at will." You don't have to be an indentured servant or a slave! You have the right to quit your job whenever you like. "At will" allows you to move on when it suits you, for whatever reason you have. I don't know which states still allow slavery...but there's a law for that!

But then we have the 'quid pro quo.' The employer can terminate your employment "just 'cause." Unions require the employer to explain why, to have a "just cause." Without the union, now the employer doesn't have to explain anything. For example, your employer, say Walmart, determines after 4 years of annual raises, it is more cost-effective to terminate your employment than give you another cost of living/merit adjustment. It is cheaper to replace the higher paid employee with a new, low-paid body and start the process over again. And Walmart tells you "just 'cause" we want to.

So, both these newly bequeathed rights granted to us citizens are really not for us at all, are they? All servants have to serve their masters, so conservative Republicans have to serve, too. They have to pay their dues, or be terminated just 'cause.