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Thursday, September 23, 2010

BURN: We Shall Overcome

swede

Ah, for those heady days when counter culture icon Pete Seeger sang of the unions' epic struggle for Joe Blow Proletariat against the evil corporate monster. There was indeed a day when unions were necessary to protect workers' rights, but what the labor movement has evolved into is in large measure nothing more or less than a racket.

In the present administration, unions have found a new strength in their good buddy in Washington, and though at present unions represent only 12% of the workforce, they wield massive influence in government.



You may remember the Chrysler bailout to the tune of $6 billion - most of which went to subsidize union labor at the expense of non union shops. (See Michelle Malkins Delphi Disaster) Here's your tax dollars at work courtesy of United Auto Workers:

"Oh Yeah!! There ain't no party like a Deeeetroit party!!"
"Hey guys, hate to be a buzz kill, but shouldn't you be building cars?...You know the government spent a lot of money bailing you out..." [Exit auto workers - Tires squeeling, smoke] "You goin back to the factory?..."



Government employment is another story. The massive expansion of government jobs come with huge perks, courtesy of unions that control 40% of the government workforce. What can these unions do for you? Pick your pocket and put it in theirs.

"President Obama is presiding over the largest federal work force in decades. In the current fiscal year, the number of civilian workers will grow by 153,000, to 1.43 million. These are the only jobs Mr. Obama can legitimately claim to have created. Unfortunately, they are subsidized by deficit spending.

Federal positions are not shovel-ready make-work jobs, either. Working for Uncle Sam pays extremely well these days. Government employment used to be a calling, a career in which a sense of fulfillment from public service offset low pay and spartan working conditions. Not so today. According to a study by the Cato Institute, 2008 federal worker pay-and-benefits packages averaged $119,982. That's more than double the private-sector average of $59,909."


Unions, particularly the SEIU are also lobbying hard for immigration reform. More Latinos = more Democrat ballots.


So, look for that union label! And hang onto your wallet.

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