Now that Michigan's anti-union laws are on their way to the books, organized labor faces a couple of questions. First, locally in Michigan, whether to take on a statewide initiative to get union rights back, or whether to focus instead of trying to win back control of the legislature and the governorship, or both. Any one of those items would be a challenge. Second, at the national level, there's the question of whether any states might try to follow Michigan in stripping union rights, the way Michigan followed Indiana. Wisconsin, maybe? Kentucky? Or Ohio?
Reporters in Ohio asked Republican Governor John Kasich this week whether he had been following the developments in Michigan. I'll put the transcript after the jump. You can decide for yourself whether this is a "no" as in "no," or as in Rick Snyder. The video's from Ohio Capital Blog:
Transcript from the video:
REPORTER: Governor, have you been what's been going on up in Michigan with the right of work debate over the last few days?
KASICH: Not real closely. Look, you know, I have a very aggressive agenda for '13 and '14 that includes things like education reform, both at the university level, community college level, K through 12. We have a big change coming with our infrastructure program, tax reform, managing a lot of these businesses including fracking. And that's the agenda that I'm focused on and what I'm going to continue to be focused on.
REPORTER: If there should be a constitutional --
KASICH: That's all I've got to say.
SECOND REPORTER: Would what happens in Michigan affect Ohio competitively, if Michigan and Indiana both have Right to Work?
KASICH: I have an agenda that I think is going to benefit the state of Ohio. We are doing very well, vis-a-vis the rest of the country now, and I think if we continue to pursue the agenda I have, and the legislature has, I think we'll continue to be successful.
You might remember Governor Kasich in January warning his party off Right to Work, fresh from a citizens' repeal of bill to take union rights away from public workers. "Once in a while the shark eats you, OK?" Kasich said.
If Kasich sounds a tad cautious still, that might be because his governorship is one of six that the AFL-CIO intends to contest over the next couple of years. The list is: Florida, Michigan, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin -- all states won by President Obama in 2012, but, except for Nevada, with Republican governance. At stake is whether labor claws back some power, or whether Republicans have a broad mandate in the states for anti-union economic policy designed to weaken their main political opponents. (H/t Tricia McKinney)
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If this keeps up at some point the Unions will call for a general strike. Just one day where America is Closed
Curious, is it not, that so many Red/Right to Work states are Takers, (more federal tax money coming in than they pay out) not Makers.
Whats really "curious" is that its the very "takers" located in those "red states" that a) are calling for smaller government and b) fail to recognize exactly how much they are mooching off of a system that they want cut! SMH!
If history is any sort of indicator, you have to wonder at what point workers will simply say that they're not going to take this any more.
Is it possible that we will again see the days of strikes such as those under Teddy Roosevelt?
As long as Republican obstruction keeps the unemployment rate high, most workers won't dare go on strike because they know that there will be millions of Americans desperate enough to cross a picket line to get a paycheck.
What we need is a "Jobs Army", modeled after the 1932 Bonus Army, to occupy the D.C. Mall the way Egyptians occupied Tahrir Square.
Just a random thought on unions. Owners of small businesses have a great incentive to keep their employees happy. Turnover is expensive and good employees are worth their weight in gold. For that reason, decent wages and perks such as healthcare and maternity leave and sick days are in the business-owner's interest, too.
On the other hand, any corporation that is publicly traded owes its allegiance to the shareholders. Let me repeat that. Their one and only duty is to promote profits for the "owners" of the company, in this case by increasing share price. And in fact, a CEO who cannot justify worker benefits as good for the bottom line is making himself a target for unemployment benefits.
That's why unions are necessary. They are the counter-balance to the race to corporate profits. Or in the case of public unions, they protect workers from the whims of the private sector who would otherwise vote in their own interest to pay a pittance and omit the fluffy stuff they're so fond of in their own jobs.
I'm not saying unions are actually operating as they should. In all too many cases, they are keeping non-functioning employees on the payroll or providing a cushy haven for power-grabbing union functionaries. Those problems need to be addressed, too. But shutting out unions where they are providing a valuable service is going to bring down a whole host of other problems.
I just wanted to say one other thing about unions, particularly in the public sector.
When their contracts are being negotiated, the representative of "the people" (i.e., not the union employees) is a government functionary whose term is limited. He can accept terms to get the strike settled, or to avoid one altogether, where the effects won't be felt for years and years. Some of the pension terms are what have become astronomically unaffordable, and the people who agreed to them are long gone and forgotten.
I think this is one of the problems that drives the anti-union folks wild. If we could just find some common ground in this to have a productive conversation, that would be a huge accomplishment.
What drives this anti-union folk wild is that public service union dues elect dem politicians who return the favor of their bribers by rewarding the unions with rich unaffordable wage, benefit and pensions which can not be sustained. This is what is driving CA into the ground.
Hosing them down with water and having one of them hold onto those transformer boxes would have made my day....
Snyder just increased the 2014 midterm turnout across the entire country, notably in the Midwest. We obviously need a huge turnout, so passing this law in the manner they used will come back to bite them.
You're assuming the electorate is still paying attention 2 years from now instead of obsessing over the current incarnation of Honey Boo Boo.
I have voting age children, and they are fired up to push back. Their friends too.
The police in Lansing should walk off the job and let the protesters have at it. If they don't do something their union will be next. Where's the solidarity? I had to change the channel this morning after Joe Scarborough started in saying "why does there have to be violence?". These people are worried about their livelihood, of course they are angry. I'm surprised there wasn't more violence.
I wonder what the Kochs have on Snyder that made him change his mind so quickly. "Pass the bill or your wife gets these pictures of you and Bill."!!
NIce. If you don't agree with them, the thugs will beat you up.
I'm not a proponent of violence, but there comes a point when you have to fight back.
Pascoguy65 . . . Obviously, you haven't studied much labor history. Had you done so, you would know that in the 19th and early 20th centuries, it wasn't labor that was "beating people up." The U. S. Army and various armed state militias fought against workers, most of whom were engaged in peaceful protests.
No, violence isn't acceptable. It wasn't then and isn't now, on either side. However, folks like Walker, Kasich, and Snyder might do well to remember that people who don't see any other possible avenue to correct grievances will seek out less acceptable ones. Snyder and his Republican co-conspirators ignored normal governmental processes to jam through their legislation. That's a dangerous way to go about things, and not just because it sets a precedent that WILL come back to haunt them in an electoral sense.
Eventually, the 30+-year trend toward growing imbalances in the distribution of income will be addressed and corrected. One only hopes it happens peacefully, through the electoral process. There's only been one other option throughout history--and the "haves" will find it much less appealing.
I was speaking of the incident of violence that occurred in Michigan. I wanted to see if there were any blindly partisan morons that would condone such an act. Violence is never the answer for anything, and it this instance is was extremely idiotic and childish.
I agree, voice your opinion through your vote and campaign donations. Please do not turn to violence.
Ever heard of the Ameircan Revolution?
Buzzy - its 2012, not 1776. Get real.
Does Michigan need to encourage new business to increase employment? Yes.
Unions were created to ensure safe and fair working conditions. Which regulatory laws do now.
Actually regulatory laws don't "ensure safe and fairer" working conditions, and that's exactly why UNIONS are still necessary.
Bea, Go out and talk to workers at various Places, Fast food, resort's, factory's, Big Box Stores,etc That is How you really get a sense of what is Really going on in the Working World.
Do you think this is an isolated event? It's the unions who pushed for and who protect those regulations. Ever heard of the idea of de-regulation? Just which regulations do you think they mean?
At this point, the only real goal should be to maximize turnout for 2014, from congressional races to state houses.
Does anyone know whether the "tack on an appropriation to make the whole Act immune to challenge by referendum" tactic has been tested in Michigan courts?
Michigan's supreme court justices are elected officials and the court is stacked in favor of republicans.
I understand, but the Court wasn't always stacked -- so was the practice ever challenged?
Democrates are crying now. Kind sucks when you lose the majority and become the minority again.
This was done by pressure from DeVos and the Koch brothers literally threatening the State Government with their money.
"The first truth is that the liberty of a democracy is not safe if the people tolerate the growth of private power to a point where it becomes stronger than their democratic state itself. That, in its essence, is fascism — ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power."
Franklin D Roosevelt
So are you one of the fascists or one of their dupes?
ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power."
Private power, how about the people. The government is elected officials to work for the people not for themselves.
you should stop listening to NEDs talking points.
I foresee a battle within the Great Lakes states. What do we all have in common? Scads of water. What does the fracking industry need in order to function? Scads of water. I see Indiana and Michigan as the first of the dominoes to fall. Ohio, Wisconsin, and Minnesota are next.
Gov. Snyder laid out his state-wide agenda several weeks ago, including increased "drilling" (read fracking).
Nightwriter927, I was in N.Dakota working at some Coal Power Plant's. And WE built Pad's that will have Pump's on them whereas the Plant's will be selling the Water from the Cooling Towers for the Fracking. Truck's will come in, fill up and off they go!!
I wonder how many good union folks voted against Virg Bernero in 2010 when he ran against Rick Snyder? As many have said, elections have consequences. Let's hope that union workers--especially those in the public employee unions--get smarter before 2014. If Snyder gets more than 10% of the vote from those who are members of unions (or those supporting them), we will have a serious case of people voting against their own interests.
25% of union workers would vote not to pay union dues if they had the choice which Right to Work legislation provides this freedom and true democracy. Thus their should be at least 25% of union workers who will vote for Snyder.
Snyder was on Morning Joe this morning, and I thought Richard Wolfe and Carl Bernstein were going to explode. Snyder said he felt right to work was smart, because it would force unions to prove they have value in order for workers to donate to them. My question was, why would any worker voluntarily pay union dues when the union would negotiate for them on their behalf even if they didn't pay union dues? Why pay for something if you get it for free. They also had an article by an economist who had done an in-depth studyof right to work, and it showed that business startups and employment were NOT higher in right to work states than in union states, and that wages were lower. However, business proprietors DID make MORE money, leading him to conclude that right to work is simply a way to shift company earnings from workers to owner. In other words, it fits perfectly with the modern repub reverse Robin Hood philosophy, transferring wealth from the bottom of income scale to the top. Even Joe didn't seem to have complete sympathy with the arguments being used to justify right to work. Every statistic and bit of history shows that not only does it not provide the benefits that supporters claim it does, but actually harms workers, whether they are unionized or not.
Unions are about solidarity, in other words people gather lots of people for strength. To put it another way, they are about Voters.
This fight against unions will back fire because it will only rally up outrage to get out the vote against republicans.
Unions are about rallying people not pack money dollars and voters voting win elections folks not attack ads regardless of what the media may say.
For those keeping score here, the Republicans are alienating everyone (except maybe for rich folks*) including woman, Latinos, African Americans, the middle class, the poor, college students, Unions...the list goes on.
*They are even screwing over rich folks, their base, by risking the fiscal cliff.
Who are republican siding with anymore, the gun lobby maybe?
This violence supposedly instigated by "Union Thugs" is suspiciously similar to numerous incidences of right wing/Breitbart inspired street theater designed to malign union members and anyone on the left. We have footage of the "union thug's" face it should be easy enough to identify him and trace his affiliation back to....let's say....maybe..... Americans for Prosperity? The GOP is tossing meaty bones, the media needs to stop acting like mindless labrador retrievers chasing what they toss. Track the guy down and expose the charade. That is the only way this right wing smear nonsence will stop.
Planning for the Future: Beware there's big Snyder sitting in a tuffet next to you, it bites.
Rather than fight the distortions of wealthy individuals, corporations, businesses, financial bank and hedge fund giants save you self the effort, and be more productive, less corruption more work.
Instead of them working the darkness, and slowly buying politicians and media sycophants, and advertising bombardments consider, well giving up.
Yes if you just follow what they say works, and just do it all be right and proper, after all they have spent billions of dollars to convince you. Rather than spend time on the picket line protesting some grievance and untoward tendency to have conflict with management consider their side. Management has to keep its back up, be on the defensive, and speak in guarded tones and at the behest of the upper management take on airs of fear and make up stories of slow sales, falling profits, and the possibility of the layoff. Sure you do your best to make a careful details of a case for some unproductive practice, dot the eyes and cross the tees, but then all management has to do is disappear on a Thursday, take to the country club, and trade a few tips on how to keep you in line. You effort went to waste, they didn't do a thing, and you are all poorer for the disappointment.
There is a better way, an easier. No, it is not the one where you meet the instant that a grievance happens. Not the frequent chats of how to avoid problems, or where both sides agree to try something, all leading to a smooth new contract. No, No not the one where you are comfortable to improving the contract as you go and head off problems while they are small and keep the production running smoothly. No, no there couldn't be standard operating procedure created by the workers, developed over time, and written by the staff. That all requires something that the brutes and bullies set out to do which is act tough, and hostile, union strong, but adversarial.
The easy way is just give your all. In a right to work for low wage state, or a state without a minimum wages all you have to do is work for one dollar an hour, 2,000 dollars a year. Before you figure out how to live on forty dollars a week, consider the benefits, no deductions for federal, state or taxes, or Medicare or Medicaid, nothing for Health Insurance, charities and union dues, nothing for retirement. You are completely free of these obligations for better world. For your company, just think, they can cut accountants, payrolls, human resources training and layers of management to keep you inline. Profits would soar, the equity-stock-holders holders will be astounded. Finally business is on the way to lead prosperity, and the future.
Once the profits roll in, business finally will have no incentive to cut payroll costs, there nothing there to cut. Those same profits will be invested in robotic automation equipment, of such superior quality, that you not only can work for a forty a week you can run that robotic machine from home. Take my word for it, it is a huge savings for your car, and town highways, maintain outdated traffic lights. Why stop the promise there, while you are home you can home school the kids, take in few neighbors kids as well. The factory automated, the office integrated all the tedious travel eliminated, you can be visiting malls grown larger, not to buy products and transport them home, but just to get out of the house. Once all you earn is forty a week, you be looking for another job but you are doing this all from your home intelligence system. Not only did your corporation invest in robotic automation, but in the spectacular home intelligence system. Here's what that is about, if do one job from home, the new system learns how to do the job, after a few weeks training, the system will do the job as fast as it needs to be done, if unusual problem occurs just click on the work place maintenance robot and fix the problem. If two workers are required a twitter link and work can be coordinated, two or three remote robots can all lift at the same time. The grocery robotic automation, will allow you to select fresh produce for home delivery, and a robot transport will stop by and put is all away in the your kitchen.
Not imagine having fifty jobs to do each one needing fours a week to do, but cause you have your home intelligence system working performing all those jobs at once.
This is the future, imagine fifty dollars and hour, and a chance up grade your home intelligence system, an investment module to take care of retirements, a health upgrade to perform health services, and nanny module to care for the children. With success you could have a religious application to aid prayers, and a government module. The government module will allow select the government you like, tailored to dictators, oligarchs, orks, socialism and communism on request.
The corporate profits so high that it will cost less than is now spent on advertising and use it to support the defense department and will reduce any defense budget to zero (not needing taxpayers). Workers will not have retreaded an obsolete line of tanks or supply old air craft or make engines that can't be used. The defense contractor will not have to spend huge sums to support campaign for Congress to vote for the correct defense projects. This is fifty percent of the defense budget.
The bottom line for the future multi-tasking worker is bright; headsets will allow home users to work while dreaming. And with fifty jobs for ever worker the world be soon be as it was never conceived to be.
Note: HIS is the trademark name for Home Intelligent System, LLC, HIS is a trademark in 242 countries, to access the correct division, add -nnn following HIS, or seen index page. HIS is the sole subsidiary for the one who has no name.
On March 25,1911, 100 years ago there was a fire, and it was the result of Non- Union practices and beliefs. This will offend many. I suggest you take a few minutes to look back and remember WHY the union movement grew as it did. Follow this link; http://www.ilr.cornell.edu/trianglefire/story/introduction.html to learn the TERRIBLE TRUTH of what a completely nonunion country can and did result in.
The "Triangle Shirtwaist Co. Fire" should say most of what needs to be said. Those of you who are anti union please take a moment to look back. You can say this could no longer happen, and yet every day similar incidents happen here in our country...... even with Union representation available to so many. Non Union Contractors Charge relatively the same rates as union contractors. The main difference is more profit goes into the owners pocket, and a lower wage, and lifestyle goes to their employees. Try watching the PBS Special at http://video.pbs.org/video/1817898383 which shows the horrorswe have left behind, and forgotten when the Police and thugs were PAID by the WEALTHY to beat women.
I've seen right to work laws in action in Texas and it is primarily a tool for locking out unions. If you dont pay dues you aren't a member of the union and can be used as scab labor to replace and lock out union members. Then wages and hours are cut