Showing posts with label collective bargaining. Show all posts
Showing posts with label collective bargaining. Show all posts

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Scott Walker: Sadistic, twerpy little asshole who thinks he's got a shot at becoming president.


Scott Walker announced his candidacy for president today. The guy barely survived a RECALL election in his own state (Wisconsin). Ask yourself how many governors are subject to recalls?

This wannabe bully trampled all over working people's rights in his state. He and Wisconsin's Republican controlled Legislature rammed through a vote that ended collective bargaining for public employees. He's come out against the minimum wage calling it lame and calling any discussion of it, lame.

Then he rolls out the same, tired, debunked, bullshit arguments that all Conservatives (e.g. Chris Christie) spew out: that all we need to do is improve worker skills and training. Hey, morons...wage and salary gains of the most highly trained workers, like fucking software engineers, for example, have not kept pace with corporate profits so please explain to us how all we need is more training.

Please, whoever's saying this...a) stop with the bullshit already and; b) wise up.

He cut education funding. I didn't know this until recently, but Madison, Wisconsin ranks 26th in the nation as the city with the most PhD's per capita. Let's see how long that lasts. It's gonna look like Biloxi, Mississippi pretty soon.

He's sadistic as most Conservatives are. They take pleasure in harming the most vulnerable. It makes them feel superior, I guess.

Finally, Walker is a sink hole for Koch bro's money. That ought to tell you something right there.

And there's all you need to know about Scott Walker, asshole and Republican candidate for  president.

Monday, June 2, 2014

William Black — The 80th Anniversary of the Strike that Freed Minnesota from Tyranny

 The old trade unionism that began as a mass movement, a revolt really, by workers against working conditions and compensation is over and has been over for some time since the context has changed. Those strikes are now taking place in other parts of the world, such as China.

However, it would be a grave mistake to ignore history and not to learn from it, as well as to remember the sacrifices that changed that context.

At the same time, it is also good to realize that while the context has changed, different conditions now apply that involve many of the same issue. Now the trend is in the opposite direction, where hard won rights and benefits are being taken back by the owners to increase owner share. Thus, a similar response is required but it needs be framed in the present context rather than looking backward for solutions that worked then but may not be suitable now.

In order to balance the power of capital, labor needs the power of collective bargaining. That needs to be rebuilt without repeating the mistakes that brought the old "unionism" into disrepute, such as the leadership having been riddled with organized crime.

New Economic Perspectives
The 80th Anniversary of the Strike that Freed Minnesota from Tyranny
William Black

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Leo Gerard — When the Boss [VW] Wants a Union, But the [Tennessee] GOP Says ‘No’

The GOP is all about freedom—for corporations, that is. Republicans believe, for example, that business should be free from the kind of government regulation that would prevent chemical companies from spewing poison into West Virginia drinking water.

When it comes to freedom for workers, though, the GOP is all about squelching that. Republicans believe workers should not be free to form labor unions, that they should not enjoy freedom of association, that they should be denied their right to collective action.
In These Times
When the Boss Wants a Union, But the GOP Says ‘No’
Leo Gerard, United Steelworkers President


Tuesday, September 4, 2012

The Republican mindset: subjugate workers, make corporations rich

Here is a quote from South Carolina Governor, Nikki Haley, who's a Republican. I think it sums up the Republican mindset quite well.

"What I'm saying is, if you come to South Carolina, the cost of doing business is going to be low here. We are go going to make sure that you have a loyal, willing workforce and we are going to be one of the lowest union-participation states in the country."

Translation:

They will be loyal and willing, as in, we will make it so they have no choice but to work for your low pay, poor benefits' jobs. We will get rid of unions so that corporations will have total, unchallenged, power with workers having nothing.

In so doing, we will see to it that the state of South Carolina continues to rank among the lowest in the nation when it comes to per capita income, Gross State Product, education, health care and all things that define standard of living. But it will be a great place for corporations to boost their profits, which will be shared by only a few.

The Republican state...great place to live!!

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Walker hangs on in Wisconsin

This could be a glimpse at the presidential election later this year. Despite Republicans' anti-worker/austerity/safety-net-cutting platform, the Dems are tainted by Obama, his perceived failed policies, the lack of jobs, the economy, the deficit, etc.

This is bad news for Obama.