The Fujitas - "The game that used and abused them"

ALLSAINTS66 · 03-25-2011, 01:11 PM

Originally Posted by SAINT_MICHAEL

I know for a fact that unions dissuade teachers in at least one local district here in the bay area from having extra open office hours before or after school or from spending weekend unpaid time on their own with students. Their union has specifically told them that those hours are not in their contract to provide and therefore not sanctioned by the union and should not be participated in. So, this blue collar, hard working teacher union basically tried to deny a teacher a weekend field trip to a local museum with her class even though it was on her time and dime.

And do you know WHY the union tells them not to do that?

So it can't be FORCED ON THEM.

The idea that unions aren't needed any more is, IMO, a very
dangerous one. Unions are there to protect workers from
corporations. That's still a valid reason to have unions.
No, unions aren't always RIGHT, who IS? But collective
bargaining for workers is as important now as it ever was.
Because believe me, if there were no unions again, it wouldn't
take long at all to realize that when workers don't have a
collective voice, wages plummet, benefits plummet, working
conditions become hazardous beyond belief, and if a worker
complains... no job. THAT is why there are unions. Overzeal-
ous at times? Perhaps. But that HARDLY means that the
need for unions is outdated and over rated.

I personally have never made the jump that "union" = "hard worker".
I *do* make the jump that "union" = "blue collar". I hadn't personally
got that the jist of any of the union discussions was a paean to how
hard the person works or not. Hell, management, from my
personal experience, are some of the laziest people in all creation,
and proud of it. In fact, it gets worse the more wealthy most people
get. I know plenty of people whose idea of success is to live off of
interest and dividends and never have to work again. Most of them
are extreme fiscal conservatives when it comes to social issues, and
couldn't give a rat's arse about the quality of life of a working man
or his family.

I guess personally, the people I respect most are people who work
hard no matter what. No matter if they have money or not.
No matter if they get paid or not. I know it's not a universal value
or even a national one, but it's one amongst the people I love, and
it's how I was raised, so that's what's important to ME, and what
I value in people, whether they are football players, teachers,
janitors, or checkout clerks. What I also know from a lifetime
of observation, is that unions really protect people who can work
themselves to death, more than the lazy people. Unions protect
people with a good work ethic from being abused by corporations.
Lazy people are just lazy poeple, wherever they are found.

03-25-2011, 01:11 PM	#32
ALLSAINTS66 Bless You Boys! Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: In mah hause. Posts: 319	Originally Posted by SAINT_MICHAEL I know for a fact that unions dissuade teachers in at least one local district here in the bay area from having extra open office hours before or after school or from spending weekend unpaid time on their own with students. Their union has specifically told them that those hours are not in their contract to provide and therefore not sanctioned by the union and should not be participated in. So, this blue collar, hard working teacher union basically tried to deny a teacher a weekend field trip to a local museum with her class even though it was on her time and dime. And do you know WHY the union tells them not to do that? So it can't be FORCED ON THEM. The idea that unions aren't needed any more is, IMO, a very dangerous one. Unions are there to protect workers from corporations. That's still a valid reason to have unions. No, unions aren't always RIGHT, who IS? But collective bargaining for workers is as important now as it ever was. Because believe me, if there were no unions again, it wouldn't take long at all to realize that when workers don't have a collective voice, wages plummet, benefits plummet, working conditions become hazardous beyond belief, and if a worker complains... no job. THAT is why there are unions. Overzeal- ous at times? Perhaps. But that HARDLY means that the need for unions is outdated and over rated. I personally have never made the jump that "union" = "hard worker". I do make the jump that "union" = "blue collar". I hadn't personally got that the jist of any of the union discussions was a paean to how hard the person works or not. Hell, management, from my personal experience, are some of the laziest people in all creation, and proud of it. In fact, it gets worse the more wealthy most people get. I know plenty of people whose idea of success is to live off of interest and dividends and never have to work again. Most of them are extreme fiscal conservatives when it comes to social issues, and couldn't give a rat's arse about the quality of life of a working man or his family. I guess personally, the people I respect most are people who work hard no matter what. No matter if they have money or not. No matter if they get paid or not. I know it's not a universal value or even a national one, but it's one amongst the people I love, and it's how I was raised, so that's what's important to ME, and what I value in people, whether they are football players, teachers, janitors, or checkout clerks. What I also know from a lifetime of observation, is that unions really protect people who can work themselves to death, more than the lazy people. Unions protect people with a good work ethic from being abused by corporations. Lazy people are just lazy poeple, wherever they are found.