$400 million. THAT is the amount GOVERNMENT UNIONS gave to Democrats last year. Who pays this? The union employee from the public sector who is payed by the taxpayer. Yes, the unions donate to the Republicans – 5%. So someone tell me why it is wrong that the governor of Wisconsin wants to make it illegal for unions to require payment of union dues of all government employees, EVEN IF THEY ARE NOT MEMBERS OF THE UNION? Hey Dems, aren’t you pro-choice? Shouldn’t it be a choice whether you join a union or pay union dues or not?
But hey, these unions in Wisconsin is all about the children, right?
“Despite what some among us would like to believe it is not because of our creative ideas. It is not because of the merit of our positions. It is not because we care about children and it is not because we have a vision of a great public school for every child. NEA and its affiliates are effective advocates because we have power.”
And it is about the right to free speech – the protesting. I mean, come on, it is peaceful, right? “As part of the band’s [Dropkick Murphys] efforts to support the workers, they are working with SEIU and other unions and labor federations to have the song available to be played at rallies across the country,” a post on SEIU’s website says.
I am not a fan of unions. They had their place and now I don’t see how they fit in today’s society. I have worked with unions. Let me show you what I dealt with.
While in college, I knew someone who worked for the local IATSE (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts) union. You know who they are, you see their logo at the end of every movie production in the United States. Since I did technical theater work and was trustworthy, I got to work shows where they needed extra help.
The money was GREAT, especially for a college student. I got paid non-union money, if I were union I would have made much more. But here is what I dealt with on a regular basis:
- Since I was female, I was called everything but my name. Nothing derogatory, but nothing positive either. I can only imagine what was said about me behind my back. My friend who was in IATSE used to have a one on one talk with each female before we would go on a show. Just to let us know what the deal was.
- I always had to work with the deaf guy. He wouldn’t have a dangerous job if it were non-union, but hey, they can’t get rid of him.
- When I worked non-union shows, we were told to follow the box. That meant, when we packed up a box to take it to the truck after a show, we followed it all the way to the truck and took it on the truck. The minute my foot stepped onto the truck I would get yelled at “You don’t get hazard pay!” WTF? How the hell was I supposed to keep the freaking box from falling back down the ramp or onto me if I can’t follow it all the way onto the truck?
- One time I was helping with lighting. A lot of theater is hurry up and wait. I saw an audio cable on the ground so I went to pick it up and coil it. I got yelled at because that wasn’t my job. See, being proactive and helpful is not welcome in union land.
- It was dangerous work. The men, for the most part, were incompetent and wanted the job done quickly and not well. I constantly had to watch myself so I would not get hurt. Especially after a union worker lost a finger loading a truck – his fault of course.
- The union head was great honestly, his son was a loser. But he was union and couldn’t be fired.
That is what I can remember anyway. I am sure there is more. And no amount of money is worth risking a limb or life.
And read this wonderful article Why I Changed My Mind About Unions. Must read folks.
