Ace of Spades HQ

December 12, 2012

Ezra Klein: Often Wrong But Never In Doubt
— andy

Right-to-work is some incredibly misleading framing. It's right to not-pay-union-dues, or right-to-free-ride
— Ezra Klein (@ezraklein) December 11, 2012

Right to free-ride? Really?

Via Heritage's Lachlan Markay (as noted by Gabe in this morning's headline post) comes this piece entitled The Right-to-Freeload Myth that hits Juicebox square in the junk.

Right-to-work laws prevent unions from imposing mandatory fees, giving employees the right to work without paying union dues. Otherwise, right-to-work has no effect on collective bargaining. All other negotiations continue as before. What's wrong with that?
Unions object that right-to-work is actually "right-to-freeload." The AFL-CIO argues "unions are forced by law to protect all workers, even those who don't contribute financially toward the expenses incurred by providing those protections." They contend they should not have to represent workers who do not pay their "fair share."
It is a compelling argument, but untrue. The National Labor Relations Act does not mandate unions exclusively represent all employees, but permits them to electively do so. Under the Act, unions can also negotiate "members-only" contracts that only cover dues-paying members. They do not have to represent other employees.

Why all the anger then?

Unions are businesses and their top line revenues are dues #itsthemoney
— Dave in Texas (@DaveinTexas) December 11, 2012

Oh, right. If you're in the union leadership, not representing non-members doesn't pay nearly as well as forcibly extracting dues from people who wouldn't otherwise join the union. And lower dues coming in means less money to shower on politicians who'll vote to keep the scam going.

Frame that, Ezra.

Posted by: andy at 05:30 AM | Comments (105)
Post contains 273 words, total size 3 kb.

1 Awww, the more feminine version of Rachael Maddow. So cute.

Posted by: RWC at December 12, 2012 05:32 AM (fWAjv)

2 the president is a scoamf

Posted by: phoenixgirl at December 12, 2012 05:34 AM (GVxQo)

3 Oh look over there! Gay marriage!

Posted by: torabora at December 12, 2012 05:35 AM (I+Z9T)

4 "It's right to not-pay-union-dues"

I agree with that part.

Posted by: Dang at December 12, 2012 05:35 AM (R18D0)

5 Misleading Framing? That's a serious concern for Young Master Klein? I reckon the 'Affordable Care Act' damn near killed him ... with concern. _

Posted by: BumperStickerist at December 12, 2012 05:36 AM (RuUvx)

6 Wasn't gay marriage October and November? December is atheism and the rights of atheists to see and hear no religion.

Posted by: RioBravo at December 12, 2012 05:37 AM (eEfYn)

The AFL-CIO argues "unions are forced by law to protect all workers

***

Protect? I think laws 'protect' workers. The unions are thugs that bully employers, protecting no one.

***

I'm LOL at this, Andy >> Frame that, Ezra.

Posted by: Liberty Lover at December 12, 2012 05:38 AM (encrR)

8 "There will be blood."

Posted by: nip at December 12, 2012 05:38 AM (11Tdq)

9 Unions object that right-to-work is actually "right-to-freeload." The AFL-CIO argues "unions are forced by law to protect all workers, even those who don't contribute financially toward the expenses incurred by providing those protections." They contend they should not have to represent workers who do not pay their "fair share."

HAHAHAHA!!! What the hell is obamacare then? Oh that's right! The people who pay are forced to cover the people who don't pay.

Posted by: EC at December 12, 2012 05:38 AM (GQ8sn)

10 how many of these thugs will voluntarily pay their dues now that they aren't being forced to? hahahhahahahhahahhahahahah

Posted by: phoenixgirl at December 12, 2012 05:40 AM (GVxQo)

11 Does this affect "Supplemental dues" as well? I have strong dislike for my union.

Posted by: nip at December 12, 2012 05:41 AM (11Tdq)

12 Heh, unions calling RTWers freeloaders ... I guess it's opposite day again !

Posted by: Peyton Manning at December 12, 2012 05:41 AM (bS6uW)

13 It's right to not-pay-union-dues, or right-to-free-ride So what? That is a problem for unions to resolve with better recruiting. Unions are not entitled to have the force of law to make recruiting easier for them.

Posted by: Gregory of Yardale at December 12, 2012 05:42 AM (QXlbZ)

Ezra dutifully performs his Journolist duties of talking the Democrat party line.

Union employees = Union dues = Union money in politics = 100% to Democrats. I've had to work alongside "union" guys for years, and their attitude varies from "it's not my job" to "is it break time yet?" all the way to "this company sucks and treats it's workers like slaves". And the ever popular - "what can I get away with?" because "they owe it to me, because we do all the work."

It's the money train. And yes, big unions are big business. And they are a monopoly in some places.

Posted by: Reader C.J. Burch carries matches.... at December 12, 2012 05:42 AM (RFeQD)

15 EC, while exempt themselves from paying. Also quite a sweet deal to make hundresd of millions of dollars , living high while never actually paying taxes yourself (Unions) . But advocating everyone else pay their fair share .

Posted by: tee'd off ette. at December 12, 2012 05:44 AM (nqBYe)

16 To Ezra, From Snyder: We won. Get over your size.

Posted by: beach dozen at December 12, 2012 05:45 AM (LpQbZ)

17 I would like Ezra Klein to explain how forcing me to join a union when I don't want to do so is protecting my rights. I'll even spot him three giant papier mache puppet heads.

Posted by: alexthechick - SMOD. Now with bacon cheddar fries. at December 12, 2012 05:45 AM (VtjlW)

18 Good for MI! Workers get a choice. Union thugs get less money. Its all good.

Posted by: carolina at December 12, 2012 05:46 AM (dmqAl)

19 Also, Ezra Klein is an industrial grade wanker. That goes without saying, but it should still be said. Or written. Or acknowledged in some formal manner anyway.

Posted by: Peyton Manning at December 12, 2012 05:46 AM (bS6uW)

20 What an awesome "Dumb and Dumber" remake you could make with Ezra Klein and Matt Yglesias. Ang Lee could direct.

Posted by: Gregory of Yardale at December 12, 2012 05:46 AM (QXlbZ)

21 Crowder should MMA Ezra's @$$, too.

Posted by: beach dozen at December 12, 2012 05:47 AM (LpQbZ)

22 How many workers, blue collar workers, are going to be harassed and victimized when they stop paying? Then can some RICO laws be dusted off and used by the state attorney general?

Posted by: Dang at December 12, 2012 05:48 AM (R18D0)

23 Do the Hostess workers get a refund?

Posted by: eman at December 12, 2012 05:49 AM (fGw3R)

24 I honestly wonder if they want blood? It's all fun, until it's your ass on the line.

Posted by: rickb223 Let. It. Burn. at December 12, 2012 05:49 AM (GFM2b)

*clearing throat*

*stepping on soap box*

DISBAND AND DISMANTLE ALL UNIONS!!!!!

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Hobbit [/b][/i][/u] at December 12, 2012 05:49 AM (4df7R)

26
Dear Ezra,

You mean.... like those parents of disabled children the SEIU got the State of Michigan to classify as "home health care providers" so they could skim $30.00 a month off their kids disability checks???

Those freeloaders?????

Posted by: fixerupper at December 12, 2012 05:50 AM (nELVU)

27 What an awesome "Dumb and Dumber" remake you could make with Ezra Klein and Matt Yglesias. Ang Lee could direct. Posted by: Gregory of Yardale at December 12, 2012 09:46 AM (QXlbZ) OK, but I'd rather see ezra and Marcos masawhatthefk.

Posted by: Oldsailors Poet, Wonders what Dagny thinks at December 12, 2012 05:50 AM (3Y7RV)

28 Free ride to the poor house when the company you work for can no longer pay for bloated union bennies Twinkie anyone?

Posted by: Nighthawk at December 12, 2012 05:51 AM (paPv4)

29 Repost from morning... I think it would be a good idea for anyone having any iota of support for unions to get a good look at the outside and inside of a union hall. You know the 'footprint' of a 'big box' store like a Lowes or Home Depot? Bigger then that. I had to go to a funeral 'party' once inside of one, and it felt like all the union dudes looked at me like a traitor in their camp, I guess since I don't have an ass the size of a semi trailer. Projection screen was probably 40 foot wide by 30 feet high. One hundred foot long bar at the back with four different beers. Fully stocked liquor. Seating for about 500, I'd guess. I see where a bunch of union dues gets dumped. Into a 'clubhouse' for a buncha guys who like to drink.

Posted by: Schrödinger's cat [/i] at December 12, 2012 05:51 AM (feFL6)

What an awesome "Dumb and Dumber" remake you could make with Ezra Klein and Matt Yglesias. Ang Lee could direct.

Posted by: Gregory of Yardale at December 12, 2012 09:46 AM (QXlbZ)

Call me cruel if you will, but I'd rather see them in a remake of "Hostel."

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Hobbit [/b][/i][/u] at December 12, 2012 05:51 AM (4df7R)

31 It is a compelling argument, but untrue. The National Labor Relations Act does not mandate unions exclusively represent all employees, but permits them to electively do so. Under the Act, unions can also negotiate "members-only" contracts that only cover dues-paying members. They do not have to represent other employees. **** It's more than the fact that they are not required by law to represent non-dues-paying employees, it's that their entire concept of "pay" is completely fucked. What part of doing a job, the same job as a dues-paying employee, exempts the non-dues-paying employee from the pay which, according to the unions, is a fair wage for the work performed? Are the employers paying for the work which is performed, or for the union negotiations? Is labor arguing that the work performed in the course of a day is more valuable, by some stretch, simply by the nature of being performed by a union member? Yes. That is precisely why they CHOOSE to negotiate non-union wages as well. They know that the market will not bear their demands and thus the company could and would simply hire non-dues paying members at the non-union/market wages for the work. Which, is exactly what will happen now. Go ahead thugs, make your call. Fail to negotiate on their behalf or STFU. Either way, you lose.

Posted by: Niedermeyer's Dead Horse at December 12, 2012 05:51 AM (piMMO)

32 Or when sending my unions dues to support some Dem grog, that will steal from the ward, state or national treasure , Causing another increase in All Citizens and their Workers taxes then everyone ncluding the Union worker screams about the increases in property taxes, state taxes , federal taxes going through the roof!
and they refuse to connect the dots.

Do they realize a lot of their pensions were sucked into the abyss by the GM deal?

no choice in the matter. just vote as you're told.

Posted by: tee'd off ette. at December 12, 2012 05:52 AM (nqBYe)

Since when do Dems care about preventing "free-riders". You know, like welfare, SSDI, food-stamp, medicaid folks living off my tax money while I work and they don't.

Posted by: FNFax at December 12, 2012 05:52 AM (ylre0)

34
30 What an awesome "Dumb and Dumber" remake you could make with Ezra Klein and Matt Yglesias. Ang Lee could direct.
Posted by: Gregory of Yardale at December 12, 2012 09:46 AM (QXlbZ)

-----------------

Call me cruel if you will, but I'd rather see them in a remake of "Hostel."

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Hobbit at December 12, 2012 09:51 AM (4df7R)

Human Centipede?

I denounce myself and I'm going to throw up.

Posted by: BCochran1981 at December 12, 2012 05:53 AM (da5Wo)

35 Posted by: Dang at December 12, 2012 09:48 AM (R18D0)

I don't know, when the Wisconsin teachers opted out of their dues were their any reports of payback/repercussion from the union?

Posted by: Samuel Adams at December 12, 2012 05:53 AM (ZOf1l)

36 Those freeloaders????? Posted by: fixerupper at December 12, 2012 09:50 AM (nELVU) An ex-gf worked for the SEIU several years ago. They are crooks from Private to General. They told her you have to join the scam too because we don't let folks rock the boat. She said, see ya.

Posted by: eman at December 12, 2012 05:53 AM (fGw3R)

37 I would like to know the percentage of the DNCs funds that are made up of union dues

Posted by: Oldsailors Poet, Wonders what Dagny thinks at December 12, 2012 05:53 AM (3Y7RV)

38 So NOW the left is against some sort of "FREE RIDE"? They think non-union workers shouldn't benefit from the labors of union negotiation? WHAT THE HELL DO THEY THINK SOCIALISM IS ALL ABOUT ANYWAY? They base everything on "those who have" have a duty to suport "those who have not." They are for equality, except when it comes to unions.

Posted by: Adirondack Patriot at December 12, 2012 05:54 AM (iAUf+)

39 Is there any pundit active today with a more punchable face than Ezra Klein? Also I want to know how he sees to type this stuff with Obama's hog stuck down his throat the whole time.

Posted by: David Gillies at December 12, 2012 05:54 AM (OLivq)

I've asked this in the past and I'll ask it again now: tell me one thing that unions have done in the last thirty or forty years that have either improved the workplace, created a smart, dedicated workforce, or encouraged economic growth.

Unions served a purpose once upon a time. They serve no purpose now. DISBAND AND DISMANTLE ALL UNIONS!

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Hobbit [/b][/i][/u] at December 12, 2012 05:54 AM (4df7R)

41 As to the 'freeloader' argument... If you are a non-union worker in a business which has become grossly inefficient due to union workrules, then you are penalized by the union, as your pay will be less, as it has to cover their inefficiency.

Posted by: Schrödinger's cat [/i] at December 12, 2012 05:54 AM (feFL6)

42 24 I honestly wonder if they want blood? It's all fun, until it's your ass on the line. Posted by: rickb223 Let. It. Burn. at December 12, 2012 09:49 AM (GFM2b) Alone, no. In a mob where they can abdicate responsibility, yes. Obama and the FSA = Scar and the hyenas from Lion King. (good Lord my brain function is odd in the morning.)

Posted by: RWC at December 12, 2012 05:54 AM (fWAjv)

43 "Unsafe non-union workplaces will kill more workers" screeching in 5, 4, 3, 2...

Posted by: Dang at December 12, 2012 05:55 AM (R18D0)

44 If the union was all that and a bag of chips people would join voluntarily.

Posted by: toby928© for TB at December 12, 2012 05:56 AM (QupBk)

Human Centipede?

I denounce myself and I'm going to throw up.

Posted by: BCochran1981 at December 12, 2012 09:53 AM (da5Wo)

Wait, you didn't know that movie was a documentary? It was found footage from a journalism conference at Northwestern.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Hobbit [/b][/i][/u] at December 12, 2012 05:56 AM (4df7R)

46 "Unsafe non-union workplaces will kill more workers" screeching in 5, 4, 3, 2... Posted by: Dang at December 12, 2012 09:55 AM (R18D0) No shit, the non-union workplace I was in has gone 1054 days without a lost work injury.

Posted by: Oldsailors Poet, Wonders what Dagny thinks at December 12, 2012 05:56 AM (3Y7RV)

47 Someone in the comments mentioned the UAW in Louisiana (RTW) publishes the name and addresses of those workers not paying dues. I wonder why they do that.?

Actually, I don't wonder at all. I tried yesterday to see if I could track down some cases of non union workers harassed by just such a technique and failed. The MI news has cluttered the searches on this topic.

You just know that the MI thugs will make it very uncomfortable to be outed in such a manner. The results will look somewhat like Stuck on Stupid's epic tale as told here. Or like Swayze's character in Roadhouse.

Posted by: GnuBreed at December 12, 2012 05:58 AM (ccXZP)

48 ♫ Look for the Union label ♫ *PUNCH*

Posted by: eman at December 12, 2012 05:58 AM (fGw3R)

49 Wait, you didn't know that movie was a documentary? It was found footage from a journalism conference at Northwestern.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Hobbit at December 12, 2012 09:56 AM (4df7R)

Oh, that's just wrong.

Posted by: BCochran1981 at December 12, 2012 05:59 AM (da5Wo)

Unions are businesses and their top line revenues are dues

Unions are continuous, never-ending campaigns interupted by occasional elections.

They raise funds and use them to alter 1. workplace policy and 2. elections. All the time. Forever.

Posted by: CJ at December 12, 2012 05:59 AM (9KqcB)

51 Freeload? Lemme tell you about freeloading. I once held a job on a temporary basis for nearly two years, while the clerical union and the department VP dithered over officially posting it to be filled. When they did, my boss and I were informed that, thanks to union rules, I didn't qualify to even interview for the position - even though it was actually my job. "Protecting workers" my ass. Part two: I went from there to actually work for the public school system (New Jersey), where I was told that I would have to pay 85% of the union dues even if I didn't want to be in the NJEA. "Right to freeload" my ass. Ezra Klein can cram it with walnuts.

Posted by: nightfly at December 12, 2012 05:59 AM (jiOft)

52 ♫ Look for the Union label ♫

*PUNCH*

Can't read it, I don't speak Chinese.

Posted by: Samuel Adams at December 12, 2012 06:00 AM (ZOf1l)

>>>honestly wonder if they want blood

In Union Speak, they're "warning their members" that "The Management" is going to send Union-busting Goons to break strikes and what-not. *sigh* if it were only so.

Posted by: uterus cannon at December 12, 2012 06:00 AM (3ZtZW)

54 I don't know, when the Wisconsin teachers opted out of their dues were their any reports of payback/repercussion from the union?
Posted by: Samuel Adams

I hope not. But those are mostly fat ladies. They probably just hid donuts from the non-union teachers. These fat guy union thugs are a different breed. I wish I sold tires. I bet lot of them will be getting slashed by union thugs.

Posted by: Dang at December 12, 2012 06:00 AM (R18D0)

55 49 Wait, you didn't know that movie was a documentary? It was found footage from a journalism conference at Northwestern.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Hobbit at December 12, 2012 09:56 AM (4df7R)

Oh, that's just wrong.

It's where the term "ass to mouth" was originally coined.

Posted by: EC at December 12, 2012 06:01 AM (GQ8sn)

The hell with that Eisenhower Era "Fear the Military-Industrial Complex" meme.

Today it is "Fear the Government-Union Complex"

Posted by: steve at December 12, 2012 06:01 AM (5iuEW)

57 honestly wonder if they want blood In Union Speak, they're "warning their members" that "The Management" is going to send Union-busting Goons to break strikes and what-not. *sigh* if it were only so. Posted by: uterus cannon at December 12, 2012 10:00 AM (3ZtZW) Where do I apply for that job? I'll even bring my own ax handle.

Posted by: Oldsailors Poet, Wonders what Dagny thinks at December 12, 2012 06:01 AM (3Y7RV)

58 They test drove the freeloader shit after SCOTUS called Obamacare a tax. Wanna pay cash when you visit your doctor? You're gonna need an ER someday, so you're a freeloader. Paying taxes is patriotic unless you're a Dem.

Posted by: Tattoo De Plane at December 12, 2012 06:02 AM (i0vBR)

59 they're "warning their members" that "The Management" is going to send Union-busting Goons to break strikes and what-not. *sigh* if it were only so.

Posted by: uterus cannon

Union busting goons? Are you wearing spats and a top hat? When was the last time that happened?

Posted by: Dang at December 12, 2012 06:02 AM (R18D0)

60 ♫ Look for the Union label ♫

*PUNCH*

Posted by: eman at December 12, 2012 09:58 AM (fGw3R)

Heh. I was watching the "Star Wars Holiday Special" the other day (stop snickering!) and it was disgusting how many commercials were all about celebrating this union, or celebrating that union. We don't get shitty commercials like that anymore. Know why? Because people fucking HATE unions. They're greedy, lumbering leviathans.

Anyone remember the S2 episode of "The Walking Dead" when they found that fat, water-logged Walker in the well? And when they tried to lift it out so it wouldn't contaminate their water supply it ended up tearing in half like wet tissue around a heavy bunch of grapes? Someone needs to get a screencap of that bloated bastard and slap a union label on it.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Hobbit [/b][/i][/u] at December 12, 2012 06:03 AM (4df7R)

61 It's where the term "ass to mouth" was originally coined.

Posted by: EC at December 12, 2012 10:01 AM (GQ8sn)

You know someone's going to be dumb enough to google ass to mouth, right?

Posted by: BCochran1981 at December 12, 2012 06:03 AM (da5Wo)

62 Unions are businesses and their top line revenues are dues They're a protection racket, and the enemy of the union isn't management, it's non-union workers.

Posted by: toby928© for TB at December 12, 2012 06:03 AM (QupBk)

63 Oh, that's just wrong.

Posted by: BCochran1981 at December 12, 2012 09:59 AM (da5Wo)

I speak only the truth, grasshopper. *bow*

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Hobbit [/b][/i][/u] at December 12, 2012 06:03 AM (4df7R)

64 You know someone's going to be dumb enough to google ass to mouth, right?

I'm almost certain that the term is self-explanatory.

Posted by: EC at December 12, 2012 06:04 AM (GQ8sn)

65 Will someone please explain to be how this little no nothing bitch ever became someone 'important' in the media? Is he someone's useless fuckwit of a son that needed to be warehoused at a do nothing job to avoid family embarrassment or something?

Posted by: Blue Falcon in Boston at December 12, 2012 06:04 AM (KCvsd)

66 BTW, how does Ezra frame the argument that an owner/operator of an "in-home" day care in Massachusetts, the sole employee of the "company", is now required to join the SEIU?

Posted by: steve at December 12, 2012 06:04 AM (5iuEW)

67 You know someone's going to be dumb enough to google ass to mouth, right?

Posted by: BCochran1981 at December 12, 2012 10:03 AM (da5Wo)

I'd think the term was self-explanatory!

Now, someone MAY be silly enough to google "Human Centipede," but hopefully they've got Safe Search turned on to rescue at least a shred of their soul.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Hobbit [/b][/i][/u] at December 12, 2012 06:06 AM (4df7R)

68 Since when to progglodytes object to freeloading, anyway?

Cordially...

Posted by: Rick at December 12, 2012 06:06 AM (mOQjx)

69 BTW, how does Ezra frame the argument that an owner/operator of an "in-home" day care in Massachusetts, the sole employee of the "company", is now required to join the SEIU? Posted by: steve at December 12, 2012 10:04 AM (5iuEW) You know at some point people say FK it and work for cash. Like my housekeeper, white woman, not an immigrant. She has a nicer car than me.

Posted by: Oldsailors Poet, Wonders what Dagny thinks at December 12, 2012 06:06 AM (3Y7RV)

70 Alone, no. In a mob where they can abdicate responsibility, yes. Obama and the FSA = Scar and the hyenas from Lion King. A mob by any other name = target rich environment , which makes Mr. Mossberg happy.

Posted by: rickb223 Let. It. Burn. at December 12, 2012 06:06 AM (GFM2b)

71 It's where the term "ass to mouth" was originally coined.

Posted by: EC at December 12, 2012 10:01 AM (GQ8sn)

And then our sales went through the roof!

Posted by: Altoids at December 12, 2012 06:06 AM (R18D0)

I was watching the "Star Wars Holiday Special" the other day

That special and the story behind it and Lucas burning all the copies is a wonderous, wonderous thing.

Posted by: CJ at December 12, 2012 06:07 AM (9KqcB)

73 You know at some point people say FK it and work for cash. Like my housekeeper, white woman, not an immigrant. She has a nicer car than me.

Posted by: Oldsailors Poet, Wonders what Dagny thinks at December 12, 2012 10:06 AM (3Y7RV)

Whenever possible, work for cash.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Hobbit [/b][/i][/u] at December 12, 2012 06:07 AM (4df7R)

74 71 It's where the term "ass to mouth" was originally coined.

Posted by: EC at December 12, 2012 10:01 AM (GQ8sn)

And then our sales went through the roof!

Posted by: Altoids at December 12, 2012 10:06 AM (R18D0)

It's like going full-retard. You never do it.

Posted by: EC at December 12, 2012 06:07 AM (GQ8sn)

75 That special and the story behind it and Lucas burning all the copies is a wonderous, wonderous thing.

Youtube is forever.

Posted by: EC at December 12, 2012 06:10 AM (GQ8sn)

76 That special and the story behind it and Lucas burning all the copies is a wonderous, wonderous thing.

Posted by: CJ at December 12, 2012 10:07 AM (9KqcB)

It's a secret hope of mine that one of the outcomes of Disney buying up the rights to Star Wars is that they'll release the SP on DVD or Blu-Ray. Then George Lucas can piss and moan all he wants.

Honestly? It's not even that bad. It's just not Star Wars. It's some horrible acid trip taken while shooting some horse and drowning in Pabst Blue Ribbon.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Hobbit [/b][/i][/u] at December 12, 2012 06:10 AM (4df7R)

77 Now, someone MAY be silly enough to google "Human Centipede," but hopefully they've got Safe Search turned on to rescue at least a shred of their soul.

I believe you get the same results if you just google "Deutschland."

Posted by: Samuel Adams at December 12, 2012 06:11 AM (ZOf1l)

78 I believe you get the same results if you just google "Deutschland."

Posted by: Samuel Adams at December 12, 2012 10:11 AM (ZOf1l)

'Struth.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Hobbit [/b][/i][/u] at December 12, 2012 06:13 AM (4df7R)

79 New thread up already!

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Hobbit [/b][/i][/u] at December 12, 2012 06:13 AM (4df7R)

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Hobbit at December 12, 2012 10:10 AM (4df7R)

Here's wishing you and yours a joyous Life Day.

Posted by: CJ at December 12, 2012 06:14 AM (9KqcB)

81 I think they would do better to open union shops in china, We cannot compete on the world stage with their workers pay and benefit plans.

Posted by: tee'd off ette. at December 12, 2012 06:15 AM (nqBYe)

82 What's funny about liberal idiots like Klein -- in the vein of a tragic ironic farce -- is that if he and his airheaded cohorts in the left-wing punditocracy attempted to form a union their big corporate employers would fight tooth and nail to crush it in utero, and Klein et al. would not be able even to grasp the irony. Plus if Klein ever did for some reason join a union and then found out that dues mandatorily were withheld from his paychecks he'd scream like a stuck pig; again, without being able even to grasp the irony.

Posted by: Tsar Nicholas II at December 12, 2012 06:15 AM (r2PLg)

>>>>Are you wearing spats and a top hat?

I AM NOT AN ANIMAL!!!

Posted by: Mr. Peanut at December 12, 2012 06:16 AM (3ZtZW)

84 Here's wishing you and yours a joyous Life Day.

Posted by: CJ at December 12, 2012 10:14 AM (9KqcB)

The same to you, CJ. Don't forget your red cloak and glowing ball thingy! It wouldn't be a proper Life Day without them.

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Hobbit [/b][/i][/u] at December 12, 2012 06:18 AM (4df7R)

85 Yeah, but the NLRB's like 100 years old or something.

Posted by: speedster1 at December 12, 2012 06:21 AM (v40Bj)

86 47 Someone in the comments mentioned the UAW in Louisiana (RTW) publishes the name and addresses of those workers not paying dues. I wonder why they do that.? Actually, I don't wonder at all. I tried yesterday to see if I could track down some cases of non union workers harassed by just such a technique and failed. The MI news has cluttered the searches on this topic. You just know that the MI thugs will make it very uncomfortable to be outed in such a manner. The results will look somewhat like Stuck on Stupid's epic tale as told here. Or like Swayze's character in Roadhouse. --- GnuBreed, Do a search on the LSU message board "Tiger Droppings" for unions. There are some people from Shreveport who have talked about their experiences dealing with UAW bullshit in a RTW state there, including at least one strike because a guy got fired for taking a leak, on camera, into a $10m piece of equipment.

Posted by: Brandon In Baton Rouge at December 12, 2012 06:21 AM (e0xKF)

87 Back in March 2011, right around the time the whole Wisconsin thing went down, I attended my union local's quarterly meeting for the first and only time. The meeting included a teleconference with the local's main office upstate. I went there to find out what they were planning to do to help my office with establishing a career ladder system, since all my coworkers and I are in the same paygrade and we can't a raise or promotion unless we leave the agency to work for the Feds or private sector, essentially causing my office to hemorrhage otherwise qualified employees on a regular basis. I'm a member of the Communications Workers of America, even though no one in my office works in that field, because that's the one that another office in our division chose since it is tangentially related to their work. So basically everyone at the quarterly meeting was a Verizon employee (except for my division's union rep), none of whom who could give a shit about a state worker's complaints.

Anyway, the subject was brought up, and all we got was "we're working on it" (and nearly two years later, they've done fuck-all). They then proceeded to go into a 45-minute + diatribe about Wisconsin. They had four complaints, three of which were about the loss of union dues, and the last one was, in totality and with no furtherd "Also, state workers won't be properly represented." The local president then continued to rant about the loss of funds and how much of a rat Walker was. I ended up leaving 1.) because I got sick of listening to that bratwurst stuffed motherfucker whine, and 2.) I had a Gadsden flag on my then vehicle and I didn't want to have it keyed/smashed.

And this is what I'm obligated to give 1.5% of my paycheck to. And as an added bonus, I'm in a non-right-to-work state, so I can't leave.

Posted by: Professor Marius von Totenkopf (formerly Hoss Fuentes) at December 12, 2012 06:23 AM (aozUR)

88 You bring a giant inflatable rat....we bring a giant inflatable Leech.

Posted by: Stirner at December 12, 2012 06:29 AM (Ytuz8)

Posted by: MWR, Proud Tea(rrorist) Party Hobbit at December 12, 2012 10:18 AM (4df7R)

OK now I have to go watch it again. I think I'll make the wife join me.

Posted by: CJ at December 12, 2012 06:34 AM (9KqcB)

90 Unions served a purpose once upon a time. They serve no purpose now. DISBAND AND DISMANTLE ALL UNIONS! Please don't give them this. They have always been nothing more than a protection racket. All the [ arguably ] good stuff attributed to unions were actually accomplished by the muckrakers starting around the turn of the century. When the muckrakers finally accepted that they were socialists, they allied with the unions and retconned their own muckraking victories into the history of the unions.

Posted by: FRONT TOWARD LEFT at December 12, 2012 06:36 AM (V3kRK)

91 For the benefit of Ezra the Boy Wonder Pundit, who has apparently never been closer to a real union shop than the AFL-CIO website, here's how they work: Let's say you're a welder, and a damn good one. You get a job at the Weldco plant. As a result you join the union, complete with paycheck withholding for union dues. "Thanks" to your union membership you get $14 / hour starting wage, 4 scheduled breaks, 2 weeks vacation. By the third day on the job you start noticing, man, some of these other guys can hardly weld anything but birdshit. One or two guys show up every day smelling like a still. Then the shop steward shows up with a clipboard asking who wants overtime. You throw you hand up hoping for that sweet $21/hr boost in your paycheck. Then the stinkeye from the other union guys because you're too stupid to realize that overtime goes by seniority. Drunk #2 gets first pick, and you're last. After a few months you start to realize that the $14/hr the company pays is based on how much they can afford pay the average guy. Hell, you think, I'm one of the best welders in the place, and reliable. Rather than wait for the next union contract, or the seniority raise, I'll just ask the manager for a buck raise to $15. He ought to be happy to pay it, 'cause he wouldn't want to lose me to SeamCo. So you walk into his office and the manager explains, well, son, your work's been great and I'd love to give you a raise and a promotion, but I have a wife and kid and I don't want them to get hurt. When you get to the parking lot someone has slashed your tire. Unions don't "protect workers." They protect the worst, most incompetent and potentially violent workers. The union didn't "get" workers that $14 / hour. The union takes it from the guys who the company would happily pay $15 or $16 or $20 per hour and gives it to drunk thugs they only employ as a matter of necessity. That's why, if you're the welder in this parable, you go off and start your own welding shop, because you realize the Weldco and Seamco plants will be closing soon. Dave Burge former Teamster Local 383 former Machinist Local 1426

Posted by: iowahawk at December 12, 2012 06:41 AM (HNqxs)

92 By the way, the company that makes those giant inflatable rats is based in Chicago and is a non-union shop.

They also provide searchlights, balloons, and giant inflatable cockroaches.

Posted by: Miss Marple at December 12, 2012 06:43 AM (GoIUi)

93 Unions don't "protect workers." They protect the worst, most incompetent and potentially violent workers. ---- Which is very evident in the videos being posted lately. What I wouldn't give to see that fat fuck with sunglasses ("step the fuck back!!") slammed with a tire iron.

Posted by: RWC at December 12, 2012 06:45 AM (fWAjv)

94 Union thugs destroy hot dog stand:
http://is.gd/y8n27b

Posted by: Barry at December 12, 2012 06:52 AM (8WExi)

95
Shorter Ezra Klein: when you're a tool, every problem looks like a nail... or something.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars at December 12, 2012 06:56 AM (Jcd0S)

96
Shorter Michigan unions' lament: "Sure is a nice racket we got going here; it would be a shame if anything happened to it."

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars at December 12, 2012 06:58 AM (Jcd0S)

97 Jesus Christ Burge. I thought I had some big balls.

I have met plenty of unionized clerical and industrial workers who didn't like "collective bargaining" at all. Usually it's not the merit thing, but more like seniority rules governing overtime (in many cases, the desired lack of it -- juniors get forced first) and time off. The local agreement pages are all set up for the good old boys.

In my plant the local president was a hopeless alcoholic who management could count on to cave on anything important or expensive, since his job hung by a thread. And his old buddies just kept voting him back in. The younger workers just hated his guts.

They worked on the assumption that management wanted the collective framework contract, so they wouldn't have to pay attention to the quality of individuals' work, their desire for some flexibility in their schedules, or their personal issues. Sooner or later, the square pegs began to fit the round holes.

So, collective bargaining is not, and was not 40 years ago, a universal good.

Posted by: comatus at December 12, 2012 07:02 AM (qaVK+)

Unions object that right-to-work is actually "right-to-freeload."

We're just trying to break the union monopoly on free-loading.

Posted by: Jay Guevara at December 12, 2012 07:21 AM (4u2LN)

99 If labor unions are so great, why do states like New York and California make participation mandatory?

Posted by: TOF at December 12, 2012 07:41 AM (2Aw0E)

100 I don't understand how anyone who is for freedom of choice can be against right to work. Read my blog small craft advisory chronicles at blogspot.com

Posted by: Damon at December 12, 2012 07:59 AM (3q4O6)

101 Go listen to Rush today 12/12/12Â…. Good explanation on how union dues are really a money laundering operation for democrats. Democrats in turn reward unions with bloated contracts. Give em hell "right to work" states!!!!

Posted by: izoneguy at December 12, 2012 08:21 AM (oKH8p)

102 Klein is correct: Without forced dues-paying, free-riding will destroy unions. Of course, the larger point is that unions represent a right to collude. I thought the liberals were against collusion? Firms, nor workers, should be allowed to collude.

Posted by: Spike at December 12, 2012 08:21 AM (wtnmC)

103 Ditto on the breakdown Iowahawk.

Posted by: dano at December 12, 2012 08:27 AM (bPKsO)

104 I understand the union frustration.my ex husband worked in the oil field in Texas. His company wasn't union, but they got exactly the deal the union got. They were actually pretty smug about it. Not fair, but the company knew they would unionize in a shot otherwise. But absolutely nobody wanted the union in. It would be like infecting yourself with a tapeworm to lose weight. In the normal cycle of things, unions are now the ones to be feared.

Posted by: ticklebee at December 12, 2012 08:29 AM (ImLKS)

105 I think this about sums it up ...

FOOD STAMPS UNIONS

Posted by: Ed Wood at December 12, 2012 01:54 PM (e8kgV)

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