In theory, I have nothing against unions. When I had to give money to unions I was absolutely against forced unionism and I was against bad unions (unions that don't help their members), both of which were the case with me, but in most cases I think Americans should be allowed to join unions if they want to. And bless Mark Janus for helping ensure that government workers, at least, no longer have to pay unions.
Under the Taft-Hartley Act of 1947, states can still compel private employees to pay unions. Over half the states in the union have passed right-to-work laws, which allowed workers to have jobs without having to pay money to a union. Michigan, now run by leftie Democrats, is undoing what was done:
In a major victory for labor unions, Michigan on Friday became the first state in more than half a century to repeal a right-to-work law.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation passed by the Democratic-controlled Legislature, overturning a 2012 GOP law that allowed workers to choose not to join unions or pay union dues as a condition of employment, even if the union represents them in negotiations.
Michigan had been making some progress. Now, back to the Rust Belt with them!
The prime directive of unions should be worker safety, which is why I am pissed to this day at the union of the workers building Miller Park (home of the Brewers) in Milwaukee (my home town) in 1999. One day, the workers were to use the biggest cranes in the world to hoist massive roof supports into place. But it was windy, and the workmen felt unsafe. They did what union members should do and called their union.
ReplyDeleteBut, the union had made a deal with the city that there would be no union actions during the build, so the UNION told the workers to get to work in a DANGEROUS situation. Three workers were killed when the crane collapsed.
At least the workmen ended up with a statue: "Teamwork". Actually, they didn't even get that, since the statue depicts generic workers and not the actual three who died. At least it's their names on the plaque.