Let There Be Blood!

[Howey]

Fuck you, Snyder!

The Michigan Legislature approved sweeping legislation on Tuesday that vastly reduces the power of organized labor in a state that has been a symbol of union dominance and served as an incubator for union activity over decades of modern American labor history.

The two bills, approved by the House of Representatives over the shouts of thousands of angry union protesters who gathered on the lawn outside the Capitol building, and signed hours later by Gov. Rick Synder, will among other things, bar both public and private sector workers from being required to pay fees as a condition of their employment. The Senate passed the legislation last week.

Lisa Posthumus Lyons, a House Republican, who said her family included union members, said the legislation gave workers the freedom to make their own choices. “Yes, we are witnessing history,” she said. “This is the day when Michigan freed its workers.”

Look. Stupid bitch. Nobody is forced to join a union. And guess what? Even if they don't, the union will represent them. Unlike the fucking governor.



Good. Remember the Battle of the Overpass!


The Battle of the Overpass

In April, 1937, the Supreme Court upheld the validity of the Wagner Act, guaranteeing workers the rights to organize a union. Walter Reuther and other organizers saw their chance, and Ford would not be able to stop them. On May 26, 1937, they assembled a hundred leafletters, and invited over a hundred clergy, press and politicians, "So there won't be any trouble."

However, over 400 Ford Servicemen under Harry Bennett appeared as the leafleting began and proceeded to viciously beat the organizers, both men and women. One minister noted that the Dearborn police looked on as one woman was being beaten, and made no attempt to stop the carnage. Katherine "Bebe" Gelles, head of the Local 174 auxiliary, traded punches with a goon. The thugs went too far, commentators said. At least one organizer - JJ Kennedy - died of his wounds. Tony Marinovich suffered a fractured skull which he never fully recovered from. But the biggest mistake made by the company was beating up the press, including photographers from the Detroit News. Most of the film was seized by the thugs, but one photographer got away. Walter Reuther and Dick Frankensteen had their bloody faces broadcast around the world. The photographs told the story of what came to be called the Battle of the Overpass. Time's coverage was particularly graphic, and in response Ford withdrew all ads from Time, Life and Fortune for the next 70 weeks.

http://www.forgottenshow.net/Overpass.mp3

[reverend_darth]

"bar both public and private sector workers from being required to pay fees as a condition of their employment."

Seems fuckin reasonable to me. 

[Howey]

"bar both public and private sector workers from being required to pay fees as a condition of their employment."

Seems fuckin reasonable to me. 

They're not.

This is great!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/2012/12/11/stephen-crowder-punched-michigan-right-to-work-protests_n_2279609.html?ir=Politics&ncid=edlinkusaolp00000009

[reverend_darth]

They're not.

So then there's no fuckin problem.

[ekg]

So then there's no fuckin problem.

think of it like this..

if there are two guys on one job.. both have the benefit of the contract,higher pay,better benefits and job security..which all came from the union...both should pay the dues to that union that made all that possible..this bill gives one of them the right to NOT pay anything but keep everything the union helped provide..

not to mention it was funded by the Koch Brothers.. So now you have the CEO getting a law passed that allows the slow starvation of the union that is forcing the CEO to pay  out better wages and better benefits..and once the union is gone, so goes good jobs,pay,benefits.. and in comes stagnant wages,lay offs,temp workers and another billion to the Koch Bros..

[Howey]

think of it like this..

if there are two guys on one job.. both have the benefit of the contract,higher pay,better benefits and job security..which all came from the union...both should pay the dues to that union that made all that possible..this bill gives one of them the right to NOT pay anything but keep everything the union helped provide..

not to mention it was funded by the Koch Brothers.. So now you have the CEO getting a law passed that allows the slow starvation of the union that is forcing the CEO to pay  out better wages and better benefits..and once the union is gone, so goes good jobs,pay,benefits.. and in comes stagnant wages,lay offs,temp workers and another billion to the Koch Bros..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCpQ7Ef_g3Y&feature=player_embedded

[reverend_darth]

People shouldn't be forced to join a fuckin union, period.

[uselesslegs]

Think of it like this.  Unfortunately, it takes money to hire the peeps needed to come to your aide to arbitrate, debate, defend and go to bat for you, bring them to you for who knows how long, put them up over night, provide them offices ect., ect., if you feel your being mistreated unfairly as it relates to your job, or that your rights (as they relate to company/business policy, local and state laws/guidelines) are being ignored or abused.

In the few states/areas that even have Union Reps. anymore...they don't fuck around.  They get/hire/work with heavy hitters who aren't going to passively represent you.  Once they determine that you have a legitimate issue (as it relates to the aforementioned)...it's game on.

What the Koch Brothers are doing (the people behind the money that pushed this) are telling the non-union workers they don't need insurance, that everything is finnnneee...no worries.  The "rational", "civil", and "modern" business of today...has got your back *wink.*  You feel like you're being treated unfairly...your rights as an employee are being shit on?  No worries man...it's alllllllllllllllllll good. We'll be happy to sit down with you, like the empathetic and caring employer that we are and have that rational, civil, modern discourse about your concerns...and surely reach a mutually beneficial accord that will end with both of us shitting rainbows and having a new found respect for one another.  Want a puppy? They're free!

All of this works on the premise that you'll never need representation and on the off chance you do...you, average worker...are more than qualified to arbitrate on your own behalf with HR and management about your concerns...and that no 3rd party will ever be required to assure you you're receiving the utmost in absolute neutrality, during negotiations/talks of concern.  Union Reps? Puh...that's extra money you could be keeping in your pocket, am I right? We're good here? Commmeee 'ere you! *applies affectionate noogie to head*

It's the fool representing himself in court.  The Koch's are well aware of what needs to be done to choke off even more air to Non-Union worker representation, you do it through the Unions by dangling that carrot of immediate gratification (20-30 extra bucks in your pocket at the end of each month), keeping their eyes focused on that, convince every mother fucker they're a Clarence Darrow or Thomas Jefferson and BAM...people like the Koch's are prepping their magical slight-of-hand for down the road.

[ekg]

People shouldn't be forced to join a fuckin union, period.

they aren't forced to join, but they are required to pay dues whether they have joined or not though.. and that's because they reap the benefit of the 'union job'... and it's not fair that they get the same benefit as the 'due-paying worker' on the line next to them..ironically, it's a redistribution of other people's dues to allow workers NOT to pay into them..


and like I said, eventually what happens is no one pays the dues any more and the union dies.. and when that happens the CEO can renege on the contracts thus fucking all the workers..

it is what it is.. sure no one likes to pay dues, but everyone loves the high wages,good benefits and decent working hours and conditions.. because the flip side is Florida.. no full time employees,no benefits and a $1 over minimum wage..