Guest Post by John Stossel
On Labor Day, did you celebrate workers? More likely, you made it a day of rest.
Fine. It’s good to have a choice.
I didn’t have a choice about joining a union when I was hired by CBS and then ABC. They told me that if I wanted to work, I had to pay dues to AFTRA (the American Federation of TV and Radio Artists). “I’m not an ‘artist’!” I complained. “I don’t want to pay a middleman, and I don’t want some actor setting my working conditions.”
“Too bad,” was the answer. “This is a union shop.”
Today, 28 states no longer force workers to join unions. Last year, the Supreme Court declared that unions forcing government workers to pay dues is unconstitutional. After that, hundreds of thousands of workers stopped paying union dues. Good. Unions tend to be enemies of workplace innovation and individual choice.
Also, some of their leaders are thieves. Last week, the FBI raided homes of United Auto Workers leaders. The investigation, begun by the Obama administration, suggests Fiat Chrysler Automobiles paid union leaders millions in bribes to stay “fat, dumb and happy,” as prosecutors put it, instead of protecting union members’ interests.
Yet, this week, Elizabeth Warren (now the clear Democratic presidential frontrunner), said that “more than ever, America needs a strong labor movement.”
This is a popular argument, fueled by the media’s bashing of President Donald Trump and anyone else who supports markets. A recent Gallup poll found labor unions now have a 64% favorability rating — the highest in 16 years.
Warren went on to say that America needs unions because “the playing field today is tilted against working families.”
That’s utter nonsense. The playing field is better for working families today because the animal spirits of capitalism create more wealth and opportunities in spite of unions.
Of course, unions were once needed. More than 100 years ago, the Colorado Fuel and Iron Company got the National Guard to send men with machine guns into tents occupied by strikers. They killed at least 20 people, including children and wives of miners who were burned alive.
Today, however, violence is more likely to be initiated by unions.
When I worked for ABC, delivery trucks for the New York Daily News were attacked with sticks, stones and fire on the first day of a strike. Some drivers were beaten.
Not satisfied with attacking the company and threatening violence against “scabs” who want to work, union protestors threatened newsstands that continued to sell the Daily News. Protestors seized copies of the paper and set them on fire.
Police did little to quell the violence.
No wonder many companies prefer to work with nonunion labor.
The legally mandated bureaucracy, and all the lawyers surrounding labor disputes, is another infuriating obstacle to anyone who just wants to work out a contract or get a project done.
One-size-fits-all union contracts aren’t great for all workers, either. They make it tough for individuals to have their own way.
If the union at your workplace says everyone works an eight-hour day, you can’t make your own deal to work a 12-hour day with higher pay. You and your boss might prefer that, but you don’t get the option. The union might even call you a troublemaker, saying you put pressure on everyone to work longer hours.
In a pure free market, every entity — whether individual or a group of individuals — is able to make whatever contracts they like, so long as the other party agrees.
That system would include you getting to decide whether you want to join a union or remain a free individual operator.
More controversially, it would also include the right of business owners to fire people for trying to organize unions.
In a true free market, workers and management are both allowed to be tough negotiators and make demands. But neither side should have the right to get the government to dictate the terms of a contract.
Keep government out of it, so long as people stick to their contracts and refrain from violence.
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Kneegrows don’t have to celebrate Labor Day.
“If the union at your workplace says everyone works an eight-hour day, you can’t make your own deal to work a 12-hour day with higher pay. You and your boss might prefer that, but you don’t get the option.”
Absolutely correct…
I was hired by a major firm to maintain complex electrical and electronic systems. Within 6 months, my employer was able to eliminate the use of contractors. I had brought the repair operations “in-house” thereby saving my employer a considerable amount of money.
My employer decided to reward me with a substantial “raise”.
All went well until my “union” (who I was FORCED to belong to) found out about it. My “union’s” position was “if he gets a raise, everyone else in the bargaining unit must get a raise”. My “raise” was promptly rescinded.
Efforts by my employer to create another “bargaining unit” job classification was met with hostility by my “union”. Here I am, FORCED to pay “union dues”, to a “union” that is keeping me down.
It took TWO YEARS, upon the expiration of the “contract” , for me to get my “raise”.
I have NO USE for unions and can stand on my own two feet to get ahead.
P. S. I know about the “Beck” decision…most unions make it extremely difficult to utilize it…
Right-to-work legislation is the best thing to happen here in the USA. It’s a shame that it cannot be nationwide…
Most people are unaware that “right-to-work” legislation does not invalidate any union contract beyond the abolition of the “union security clause” which mandates “forced” union membership as a condition of employment and absolves the employer from liability for following this union “mandate”.
Every other part of the union contract (collective bargaining agreement) remains in force.
Unions criticize those who choose not to join (in right-to-work states), but when the National Labor Relations Board attempted to absolve unions of the requirement to represent non-members, the unions fought that decision successfully. You see, numbers DO matter.
If unions offered good health insurance with reasonable rates, they would gain more members than they would know what to do with. Union purchasing of health insurance across bargaining unit lines would do much to lower the cost. There is indeed “economy in numbers”. Unions should research and exploit this area.
It is curious to note that abortion supporters promote “the right to choose” for themselves while decrying union members the same “right to choose” (for themselves).
Typical Stossel. Sure, we needed unions once – and then uses the example of big business harnessing big government goons to do their dirty work for them. Hey John…the problem then…and always…is GOVERNMENT. In a truly libertarian circumstance, every employee should be allowed to freely associate as they see fit, collectively bargain, etc. But the employer must also be allowed to fire every last one of them, and NEITHER side should be able to employ the violence and force of the government (or their uniformed goons), on their behalf.
I’m just gonna leave this here cause I’m shadow banned on YouTube.
I have a solution:
Long but worth it.
It is called BUMTOWN, but you can pronounce it BOOMtown.
( 1) there are barely inhabited islands off the coast of Seattle,and Los angles , buy out the current owners and upgrade the ferries.
(2)build infrastructure * detailed below.
(3)tell all the bums that the ONLY place their welfare cards will work is now on bumtown island.
No purchase of any kind will work anywhere but bum town
There are NO services except on Bumtown island.
It will now be a crime to provide any assistance to the “homeless”
If you really insist on helping them you may donate to “bumtown” or even volunteer on the island.
Want money?want food 3 times a day? Want a place to sleep? Want to be educated? Need medicine or healthcare?
Go to Bumtown Island.
(4) setup food , clothing and tent stores,hospital and 12 step programs.all in the windows of the wall.
( 5)set up training courses and a dangerous persons section of the island (walled off from the others but still open)
* remember, it is free to enter or leave at any time BUT , NO government support will be given ANYWHERE but the island.
This will accomplish a number of things..
One, the lazy and stupid will take advantage of the training courses to get off the island and make a living.
Two the junkies could get clean , the card are ONLY usable on the island and cannot be converted to cash, making it hard for pushers to get paid. (Unless the gov is corrupt)all the usual supports will be provided.
Three, it cleans up the streets,and protects your tax paying livestock.
Four it concentrates the resources into a manageable area. Concentrated resources are far cheaper.
Five it will move the insane to a place where help is actually available.
Six, those who do not want to take advantage of this service are free to move along or die or go to prison.
*the entire plan is completly voluntary *
*The design of the island would be like Kong island. The ferry arrives at side “a”, the customers are off loaded and given provisions if the so desire and are lead to an airlock style door.
A huge wall runs across one end of the island, in it are windows where the residents can be fed, clothing will be handed out, medicine dispensed.
All in complete safety for the staff.
On the “b” side there will be thousands of small square concrete houses each has a window(unbreakable) and a door , . You are completly free to use one or not. The electric heater is built into the concrete and cannot be accessed by the customers.
Communal showers and toilet facilities will be provided with automatic high pressure cleaning processes high up in the ceilings .
Concrete tables with benches will be provided outside the food windows. A huge staff on the inside of the wall will provide food through out the day and night.
Entertainment/ education will be built into the wall.
The door to enter and exit is NEVER locked, but they can only interact with the staff through the windows. (Safety first)
The ferry ride is free.
And so is any bus or taxi or Uber to the ferry. (Reimbursed)
NOTE: anyone is free to leave at any time but no government assistance will be given anywhere but the Island.
All payments to your card, all moneys accrued are convertible to actuall cash IF you leave the Island BUT you may not return for one (1) calendar year. That way you may save for a down payment on housing for when you leave. But you can’t just leave to buy drugs and come back .
Meanwhile, a larger island called “welfare island” should be set up with schools and daycare and training courses for any job you want offered.
Illegal immigrant island is called Mexico.
Same plan.
Your pal
Scott.
Sounds about right for a weasel like this guy to complain he had to join a union in order to work for CBS and ABC! Oh boo the fuck hoo!