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Unions

posted Friday, June 20, 2008 11:29am

See more on: Colorado State of Mind, Employment

From the June 20 program: Will more unionization of state employees cause any unforeseen impacts?

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Colorado State of Mind
"Unions"

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What's your point of view?

Larry Woldt
Friday, June 20, 2008 › 8:02pm
Most of you on the panel are earning what you earn because of unions.

Some panel member said only 8% of Colorado's work force is unionized. Perhaps that is whay the average hourly wage in Colorado is $10.00 per hour.

I also hear complaints about illegal immigrants, but most of the money grubbing businesses can't wait to hire the illegals.

If you work at a place where the majority of workers vote to unionize you have twqo choices, stay or quit - it's called democracy. You remember democracy? We used to have it in America.

CSaction.org
Friday, June 20, 2008 › 8:11pm
The Taft-Hartley Act (1947) and Colorado Labor Peace act (1943) both make it illegal to require that you join a union or pay union dues as a condition of employment.

Amendment 47 is a solution for which there is no problem.

Yes, labor conditions are better, pay is higher, and workers are happier, and you can thank unions for that even if you never joined one and work in a non union shop.

Find the truth here:
http://csaction.org/TPs/TP_Amend47.html

Terry
Friday, June 20, 2008 › 8:12pm
Usefulness of unions are over? Are you serious? Just compare the difference in pay/benefits in school districts along the front range that have collective bargining and those that don't. Just look at their pay scales and you can tell which ones have active unions.

Bill Mahan
Friday, June 20, 2008 › 8:16pm
Mr. Howell's comment that unions have outlived their purpose shows that Mr. Howell, regardless of his education, lacks even a basic understanding of the reason for the existence of unions. He advocates that market forces should determine the economics of this state (the world as well, I imagine). Those market forces determined the economic realities of the 19th century. That was a catastrophic period for workers which ended only when unions leveled the field. Unions were and are a reaction to unfair economic forces. They exist to protect workers from the owner class. Wealth is created by workers not by speculators, manipulators or investors. One fact of modern life puts the lie to Mr. Howell's arguement: it is no coincidence that the growing gulf between rich and poor is happening as union membership declines. I shudder to think of the human misery that persons such as Mr. Howell are eagerly advocating for workers in the future.

CSaction.org
Friday, June 20, 2008 › 8:28pm
Of the 15 states with the highest average hourly earnings for manufacturing workers 14 or 93% are free bargaining states.

Workers in "right to work" states earn on average $3,500 - $5,300 a year less than workers in free bargaining states.

Only one Right to Work state out of 22 has per capita personal income above the national average.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kr_9mx7WZFg

Doug
Sunday, June 22, 2008 › 5:26pm
Every union job that has been replaced by a machine or has been sourced outside the United States was signed off on by the union representing those jobs. A great many workers were sacrificed so that a few could recieve higher benefits. At the same time, unions do nothing to guarantee the quality of union assembled products.