"* eliminate the automatic deduction of union dues and political contributions from public employee paychecks.These bills are obviously aimed at weakening union clout. I do find it undemocratic myself that political contributions are automatically deducted, but most "right-to-work" legislation is aimed at destroying unions, as has happened in the South.
* Prevent the automatic deduction from public employee paychecks to unions’ political action committees, or PACs.
* Make Pennsylvania a 'right-to-work' state, which would prevent public- and private-sector workers from being forced to pay union dues if they choose not to join the union."
Friday, April 22, 2011
Pa Senate Introduces Union Bustin' Bills?
According to PA Independent, Pennsylvania's GOP Senate has introduced legislation that will:
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47 comments:
"I do find it undemocratic myself that political contributions are automatically deducted, but most "right-to-work" legislation is aimed at destroying unions, as has happened in the South."
But that's the point! Unions have grown to become the very thing they were intended to champion against: overbearing and unfair treatment.
Look down South: look at the automotive plants, where workers get paid competitively, without paying union dues. What harm has come to them from being non-union.
Look at the monies spent *by* unions in Wisconsin to defeat Gov. Walker. I applaud the efforts to defang the unions... it's about time!
if we start to outlaw auto-deductions, we should outlaw them for charities also.
We should outlaw them for taxes too. If people understood what they pay they would pay more attention.
Cry me a river. PA's biggest exports are jobs and educated people to other states.
I would agree. No deductions from paychecks. As a small business person I think everyone should feel the pain I do when making quartery payments.
Bob Romancheck
sorry "quarterly"
Automatic deductions are usually backed up by paperwork. The union I belong to requires us to sign a form acknowledging that we understand deductions for political purposes are strictly voluntary. We also have the freedom to opt-out at any time.
"I would agree. No deductions from paychecks. As a small business person I think everyone should feel the pain I do when making quartery payments."
I can only assume that you chose to be a small business person, and knew what you were getting into when you started. Therefore feeling pain was a choice you made.
everything that is humanly possible should be done to weaken unions
teacher unions first
I have belonged to a union since 1962 and no one has ever taken any political contributions out of my paycheck with out my consent. You have to sign a consent form to allow it to happen.
@ 2:03 PM, piss off...
Public sector unions are the real problem. I have no beef when workers band together to collectively bargain with the private enterprise or corporation that employs them. However those who work for the taxpayers in local, state, or federal government jobs should not be allowed to unionize for a variety of very sound and apparent reasons.
Scott Armstrong
The reason these laws exist and the Union shop laws exist is so that people can't free ride, i.e. get the benefits of union contracts and higher pay levels but not pay the dues.
Do you have the bill #'s on those you listed? Also would like to know who is proposing this stuff. I'm not surprised by this turn of events and I would guess that Corbett is working behind the scenes on these ideas. The gulf between the rich and the poor widens everytime this gets passed. Collective bargaining was a hard fought for right..and worth fighting to hold onto. Child labor will be next..
Anon 6:17
They are called fair share, and some companies deduct money from their pay for the privilege of being represented without doing anything but most city state local public Unions let them just free ride and get the same wages benefits of their union co-workers without doing anything... they then join the republican party, vote R and cry when they lose their jobs and bitch it is everybody else's fault but their own...
You got that right 7:26. Some of these maroons have forgotten that without the unions of their grandfathers and some fathers, they wouldn't have enough money today to call themselves Republicans.
Sad stories in America.I see up in Maine they want to roll back Child labor laws.
Hey being like India is a Hell of a lot better than being like Germany right?
American Made and Damn Proud!!
unions suck blood from emplyment ranks like a tic on a dog
Private employee unions are absolutely necessary, and a fundamental pillar in a free market economy. Their power must be checked at each turn, however, especially when it comes to political alliances that force those who choose not to be unionized to be penalized for their decision.
If you enjoy a 40-hour week, thank a union. If you enjoy McJob-type wages at all three of yours because better paying work left the Lehigh Valley in the 80s, thank a union for that, also.
Public employee unions are simply evil, corrupt,and anti-everything a free society stands for. They mock the sacrifices made by the legitimate labor movement and should not be considered in the same company. They should be made illegal. FDR knew this. The current political mood indicates most Americans are quickly learning this as well.
Have to agree with many posters on here concerning private vs. public sector labor unions. Simply put... private ok. Public.. pure evil. The public sector unions are crushing the taxpayers and the very existence of our various forms of government. The wages and legacy costs (pensions and healthcare) are what we are now paying when tax increases are needed. When was the last time someone said lets raise taxes to build a new road, bridge, sewer etc... not too often I submit. When was the last time someone said we need to raise taxes to pay for increases in public employees salaries and benefits? Very often and almost every year. Enough said. Anything the state can do to stop this raping of the public is welcome by the overwhelming majority of taxpayers in this Commonwealth.
So eliminate unions. Who then protects the rights of workers? The government? Who do you think owns the government in this country.
Eliminate government and you get the worst possible outcome for the average Joe.
Labor contracts REQUIRE the consent of business. If a business is not strong enough to stand up to labor unions in a negotiation environment, then maybe it's the business owners who should bear the consequences.
After all, just fire all your workers and hire new ones at lower wages - why do you need the government to provide you with balls?
oops...
I wrote
Eliminate government and you get the worst possible outcome for the average Joe.
I meant....
Eliminate UNIONS and you get the worst possible outcome for the average Joe.
There was a time when one could say Hurrah for the private unions. But that is not the case today. The good thing about the private unions is that they involved two primary participants, labor, who did the work, and management who paid the wages. Let's keep in mind, however, the impact on prices for the goods we purchased. When union wages and benefits went up in the steel and auto factories so did prices. In addition to this let's not forget the sordid days of the unions when they were tied to the mob and the communist party. Despite what many like to think, Jimmy Hoffa was not a nice guy. I believe these things along with the myth about brotherhood in the closing years, has caused the decline of private unions to the point where private unions represent about 6% of the work force.
As to public unions, their problem is that there is a party missing at the table and that party is the taxpayer. Who sits at the table during negotiations, the local teacher rep, the state union rep, and the school board many that now contain former teachers and administrators. This is also true of the county and Gracedale. Here we have,from my understanding, both public and private unions at the table as well as local reps., plus county negotiators. Again note that the taxpayer is not represented. This has to stop. I believe that school boards and others who deal with public officials should be using outside negotiators at the least due to a possible conflict of interest. They should also have a taxpayer of two at the table. Will this happen tomorrow.
As to those of you who are monstrous supporters I would ask you to tell me where are our American cars, American shoes and factories, American textiles like suits, shirts, dresses, American televisions? Gone. No longer do we hear the song "Look for the Union label". As to the why of not having these things, I would offer a new song, "Look to the Union Contract."
I was never a union guy, but understood all the good they did in years past. Many County offices unionized (at the recommendation of Ron Angle) back when Reibman was the County executive. Reibman froze the salary (note that the private sector received pay raises, bonuses, stock options that year). The public worker doesn't deserve a fair wage? There are alot of hard working employees at Northampton County, please don't assume they are all lazy.
All I hear is the taxes are higher because of the union. Anyone remember the 100m bond? How about the swaption? Anyone know, or care, that the non-union got raises and are paid higher than the union? Probably not, it's much easier to blame the union.
After all, they can always get a job in the private sector. Of course, with that thinking you may not have some of the quality employees you already appear to be taking advantage of.
I personally am only asking to be paid what the non-union employees are being paid. Is that wrong? Wouldn't you want to be paid what another person is being paid in your company if they did the same job?
It appears that The Democratic Party is on the attack in South Carolina.The Unions are demanding that President Obama's Labor Relations Board have the courts force the Boeing Aircraft plant in Charleston to move back to the union controlled Washington State. This action by Obama will encourage the Unionists to fork over more $$$ to his campaign chest
"any County offices unionized (at the recommendation of Ron Angle)" Gimme a break. Ron Angle never recommended unions to anyone
Not true Bernie. I was at the Council meeting when he stated to the employees that they should think about forming a union. There were many other employees at that meeting as well.
Well, I don't doubt your honesty, but i never heard anything like that from him and it is completely inconsistent with his own philosophy. Is it possible that what he said is that Reibman is driving you into the arms of the union?
It doesn't matter whether or not this passes. Most public employees will still pay their union dues despite the inconvenience. This bill will do nothing more than whip those who oppose it into a frenzy at a time when we need it least, at a time when we should be trying to find solutions that are on common ground.
"After all, just fire all your workers and hire new ones at lower wages - why do you need the government to provide you with balls?."
F you. Then start crying about card check and trying to use daddy government to eliminate secret ballots so you can coerce those who want nothing to do with your shit. Stand erect or be made to stand erect.
Battle Cry of Freedom,
You touch on the fact that taxpayers are not present at the bargaining table but this is not totally true in many cases. Taxpayers elect the people that negotiate with the unions. If they do not like what the elected officials agree to vote them out. We elect people to handle the business of government, whether that is negotiating labor contracts with a public sector union or negotiating a contract with a private firm like a trash hauler or construction company. Why should only private companies have the right to negotiate with government for a fair contract and not the public workers?
Bernie:
Maybe what Angle said those many years ago was something inbetween, I honestly don't remember the EXACT words. I do remember being surprised at his comments.
I've worked for the County for many years and have seen some very intelligent, hard working employees. Making a generalized statement of calling them lazy is out of line and pretty much an ignorant statement.
Some of these employees have not seen a raise in a couple years. They are underpaid according to the non-union payscale and other class 3 counties. All they want is to be on an even par, or at least close, to both. Most are happy to have a job, so no need for the ridiculous statement that is thrown around.
Every individual that said yes to the job offer from the County knew that the pay will not match that of the private sector. Obviously each new employee valued the benefits more. They are not asking for private pay, they are asking for non-union and other class 3 County pay.
So why is it wrong for them to ask for similiar pay to non-union in the same County? I find it hard to understand the Council saying no to this contract when they already approved pay raises for the prison and non-union.
Aren't election years great...
I pretty much agree that there needs to be parity. Council knows it cannot negate this contract, but is unwilling to agree to this contract bc it does not want to set a precedent w/ other unions. I'd also say that 90% of the County employees, or even higher, are very hard workers, at least the ones I see.
Our Ancestors are rolling in their graves. I was raised to work hard and take pride in what you do no matter what the job and do your best. I worry that destroying Unions will open employees up to a world of wrong doing by managements. Most jobs today are a popularity contest. It doesn't seem to matter how hard of a worker you are...it's how much of an ass kisser you are. What is to stop someone from being fired for a trumped up reason? I have seen it where I work now and we have a Union. Two people can do something wrong and it is the person who is disliked that is disciplined and the person who is friends with the management outside of work gets away with it. Atleast the person disciplined with the Union will have a chance of defending themself, without the Union they would lose their job for no sound reason. Also I would like to know why everyone is constantly bashing the Union Worker. Why not bash the irresponsible people who have kids they can't afford that we support, and the deadbeat parents who don't pay child support, and those who collect Welfare and Health Insurance who really know how to rob the system. I can't beleive the amount of people who are single and have multiple children with multiple partners who not only work but also collect food stamps, get health insurance etc....which all of us Responsible working people help pay for. I would also like to know how you can get back thousands of dollars at Income Tax when you haven't paid much of anything into the system. I don't get it. When my father lost his job he went and got a job making half the money to support his family and we almost lost our home, he didn't get a hand out from the system, he had four children with the same woman. Maybe if we weren't stuck paying for all the irresponsible people those of us who are working and responsible wouldn't constantly be being bashed for EARNING A LIVING. STOP picking apart the working people and START PAYING ATTENTION TO THE SLACKERS IN AMERICA WHO ARE DRAGGING US ALL DOWN.
you get your work ethic from your parents, not from the Union. The union consistently works to support the weakest link. Unions have given teachers a bad name. They have gone from respected professionals to street brawling thugs in the eyes of the public. I will sign on anonymously so that my tires don't get slashed.
Isn't it amazing how there is no steel plant in the LV yet there is a steel union? There's something inherently wrong with that fact.
Thank the union for jacking up the price of American steel to the point that we could no longer compete with the Chinese (who have no unions). I can't stand these bed wetting liberals that want us to be like the rest of the world but can't seem to open their eyes to the fact that the rest of the world is playing by different rules.
I will agree that unions had/have a place in society. They fought for worker’s rights and increased safety standards for hazardous jobs. And even gave us the term "redneck". However, they have abused their power and now we need to get back to a common sense method of operating.
By all means we need to compete with china. Hopefully we can get to $10 dollar a day labor in order to be competitive with the Chinese. My boss had me washing his Jag the other day and said we as Americans have a chance if we are willing to sacrifice. He hated the fact he had to lay off some folks. He did say he was going to buy an Aston Martin but settled on the cheaper Jaguar because of the economy.
Hopefully we as Americans follow the Chinese model of doing things right!
RED, white and blue True!!!
hey Battle Cry of Freedom...how's that Teachers Pension doing for you!?!
1:10pm --
Don't hate your boss just because he drives a Jag. If you work hard you could drive one too!
Yeah right 7:38am that is what most people are doing these days.....working harder and earning the same. Cutbacks, cutbacks, cutbacks so the bottom line profit can increase for more dollars for business owners and shareholders!
I think some form of Union Reprsentation is necessary in this Country for fair and safe working conditions. I agree that some Union Workers have an Entitlement issue when it comes to Wages however usually these workers are Professionals. I feel workers who are paid by the tax payer need to compromise just as the tax payer does. It all boils down to fairness, conscience, empathy and respect for other situations. When the economy was good we all had it good however things are tight all over so we all need to make cuts but it is difficult when you see corporations boasting millions of dollars in profits while the cost of "their services" continue to rise...such as gasoline and utilities.
Bernie one thing you should know is that a union employee can get the pac money refunded to them by filling out the proper forms. They should talk to there union reps. about this.
Battlecry you are full of shit taxpayers do sit at the table they happen to be employees of the county but thats right its not the taxpayer you would like to have at the table.Get a grip.
"Bernie one thing you should know is that a union employee can get the pac money refunded to them by filling out the proper forms."
I did not know this and thank you for pointing it out. That does make a difference.
Anonymous 11:35AM
At the table you are representing the employees of your union. Personally I believe that the county should hire a firm to carry on negotiations because the county officials are also employees. That could represent a conflict of interest. Employees and employees should not be debating at the table. And yes, once the deal is done you are indeed a taxpayer. Start thinking about what you are doing. The potential for collusion is great.
Anonymous 1:40PM
I contend that the people we elect are our employees as are the union people from Gracedale. Employees are negotiating with employees unlike private unions where management negotiates with workers. Look at the Nazareth School Board for example. Jerry Treon, retired teacher, former union member and negotiator for the union who today is a Board member and negotiator for the Board on the upcoming contract. Kenneth Butz, former principal of Bushkill Elementary School, Darrell Crook, administrator in the District, Victor Lesky, former teacher, principal and now Superintendent. There may not be any cozy relationship but do you want to take that chance. Keep in mind that the teachers, a year prior to the negotiating of the current contract, were already talking strike. The contract that is going into place in September 2011 was negotiated 2 years prior to its beginnng and done so without a peep until is was signed. Teacher wages are going up 4.7 percent if my memory serves me correctly. That is why I believe we need taxpayers, Mr. and Mrs. Johm Q. Citize,at the table not only for School Boards but for all public union negotiations.
Thats right battlecry hire some private firm to do negotiations spend taxpayer money then after the contract is done give out the raises.Duh do you really think the private company will get this done in a timely fashion? They will drag their feet to get the most out of the county and what do you end up with then,let me tell you if you cant figure it out,you end up with the bill from the private company and all the raises that were negotiated do the math.I do believe thats why you have a county exec. he or his designee is supposed to do the negotiating.
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