Articles tagged as

Right to Work

So why is NH State Rep Mark Proulx against the GOP Platform? And against Private Contract? And Self-Agency. Freedom?

by Skip

It is because of HIM I have to join a union against my will and contra my Freedom! Thanks for nuttin.  In this, you are a totalitarian simply because I want to freely contract with my employer – and you decided to not let me. So what WILL you run on if the Janus vs … Read more

Quick Thought: One would think that all Republicans would be voting FOR more Individual Freedoms…use your vote against them

by Skip

Right to workFrom the NH GOP Platform:

  • Support legislation to allow workers to decide the allocation of the portion of their union dues used for political purposes
  • We believe in free people, free markets and free enterprise

To that latter point – if unions have the mindset that they can prevent competition and lock potential workers out of jobs, that’s no longer a free labor market. And those locked out of a job because it is a closed shop are no longer free to compete. On those two points,  Americans For Prosperity NH (“AFP”) is now about to do the job that the NH GOP continuously fails to do – holding RINOS that stray to supporting the Democrat agenda accountable. From the Union Leader (emphasis mine, reformatted):

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Scoring Legislators, State Economies, and Even Voters

by Steve MacDonald

We discuss AFP’s legislative scorecard for New Hampshire, scorecards, and surveys in general, the advantages for workers and state economies of passing Right to Work, a tiny diatribe to the grumpy electorate, why votes matter, and more.  

GrokTALK! Show #155

by Steve MacDonald

Greg Moore from AFP-NH and NH House Rep JR Hoell join us to discuss Right to Work, economic freedom, business taxes, Medicaid expansion and Obamacare, wages, free markets and more.  

Data Point: When the Government isn’t collecting the check for unions, guess what happens…

by Skip

It seems that the Public Sector union members decide to tell the union leadership “Check’s in the mail!”.  Imagine that – for all of the bluster of “Solidarity Forever!”, “Workers standing side by side!” and “Mighty, Mighty Union!”, as soon as these Union Members have the Freedom to decide “er, SHOULD I send that check in, now that the Government isn’t TAKING it from me automatically”?

More than two years after Scott Walker’s showdown with organized labor in Wisconsin, the official numbers for the state’s public sector union membership are in — and they are down. Way down.

You betcha! American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 40:

  • 2011 – 31,730
  • 2012 – 29,777
  • 2013 – 20,488 now.

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Notable Quote – Governor Scott Walker, Wisconsin

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“Real reform doesn’t happen in our nation’s capital; it happens in our statehouses all across this great country.”

Are You a Union Member or a Lease?

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Listen closely to what I'm saying...
Listen closely to what I’m saying…

After reading an article posted by Mike Antonucci yesterday at HotAir – included in it’s entirety below – I went to the NH Public Employee Labor Relations Board site to scan some NH collective bargaining agreements to learn whether this question should be asked here in NH.  In at least one case – the first one I read, in fact – the answer maybe ‘yes’.

7.3.1 Breaching of Contract.

Bargaining unit members will not be released from their individual teacher contracts without special permission and agreement from the Merrimack Valley School Board. Board action will be taken at the next regularly scheduled Board meeting after receiving such a request.

Any attempt by a bargaining unit member to resign, except in extenuating circumstances and when released by the School Board as set forth in this section, will constitute a breach of contract. A premature departure cost equal to 2% of Bachelor Step One (payable to the District before a release is granted) will be levied against any bargaining unit member who attempts to breach their individual teacher contract after June 1st. The amount will increase to 4% of Bachelor Step One after July 1st and will increase again to 6% of Bachelor Step One after August 1st. In addition, the District may charge the departing bargaining unit member legal fees incurred while enforcing this part of the collective bargaining agreement.

So, is this a bad thing?  Read the rest of the story.

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Unedited Union Attack Video

by Steve MacDonald

Steven Crowder answers the question of pretext to the union violence in Michigan with this unedited video and asks, why are their no union protesters video taping the goings-on while the Right to Work folks have multipe cameras recording activists on both sides. Maybe this is why?   Hot Air

Michigan Right To Work…Voters Set The Stage

by Steve MacDonald

Lee Stranahan has a nice Graphic that gives us a view of how voters in Michigan sent a signal to their state representatives.

In a state Obama won easily by 9 points, a ballot measure to make collective barging a constitutional right in that state failed by 15 points.  Stranhan suggests that the confluence of these to sets of votes–as contradictory as they might seem–was  a message to legislators that there was room for Right to Work in Michigan.

MI-Mandatejpg Voters reject union amendment taken as sign to pass RTW

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Witness To Union Thuggery

by Steve MacDonald

Breitbart is posting a series of statements by people who observed or were objects of Union thuggery in Michigan.   I’ve posted one here on the front and several more on the jump.   They are each relatively short so take a few moments to watch them.  It is important to understand that this was not just a bunch of toughs flexing, people who followed the law were denied the right to peaceably assemble for no other reason than that they had an opinion different from that of the union protesters.

Oh, and then there’s the profanity, spitting, threats, and physical abuse.  And make sure you watch the last video with Tim Bos.  He’ll tell you about the Lansing Union cops who watched the whole thing unfold…and did nothing.

Stu Sandler

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Footage from Inside AFP Tent In Michigan

by Steve MacDonald

This is footage shot from inside the AFP tent in Lansing as the tent was overrun by angry union protesters and began to come down.  It’s very shaky but here it is. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=0NUGfR4cWkM

Michigan AFP Tent Truthers?

by Steve MacDonald

You’ve heard by now, I hope, that the American’s for Prosperity (AFP) Tent in Lansing, Michigan (State Capital), was knocked down and overrun by angry Union protesters–while some activists remained trapped underneath?   (You can find Grok Coverage on that and more  here, here, here, and here.) AFP was there on the front lines to educate and … Read more

Tweet of the Day – Week – Ever? on Unions Vs Right to Work?

by Steve MacDonald

Fellow Grokster(ette?) Susan Olsen dropped this into our email this morning.  No, not ‘the royal ‘Our’ as in the royal ‘we,’ as in ‘We are not amused.’  I mean “Our” as in our Grok group email.  Anyway, this hits it out of the park on Michigan and Right to Work, and the Unions and Democrats and Obama (oh, My!), or anyone for that matter,  squawking about benefits for those who accept the choice to not have to pay dues…

Union Benefits in a Right to Work state vs Govt benefits
This guy is officially Our hero.  I am embarrassed that We didn’t think of it first.

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Join the UAW! Smoke Dope, Drink Beer While You Work!

by Rick Olson

 “Stupidity combined with arrogance and a huge ego will get you a long way.” —Chris Lowe

You can’t make this stuff up! “Whistle Smoke Dope, Drink Beer While you work!” Thirteen UAW auto workers have been reinstated with back pay after being fired when they were caught drinking and smoking dope on break. In my own slice of world, reasonable people agree this rises to the level of workplace misconduct. But not if you are a Union Auto Worker…Clearly, one of the effects of alcohol is pretentiously making one feel, “six foot tall and bullet proof,” but CLEARLY, if one is a UAW Chrysler Auto Worker, that is a literal metaphor.

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Michigan Union Thuggery – Give us what we want or we will hurt you!

by Skip

Union Thug Sucker Punches Steve Crowder

Noted Conservative comedian Steven Crowder (whose videos we have posted here on the ‘Grok) paid a physical price simply for expressing a political  viewpoint.  Grokster Tim posted the video of the union thugs assaulting other peoples’ private property (the AFP tent) and Grokster Steve put up more updates.

This one picture simply confirms what many have said for years – the only tactic that unions can employ against the general public is fear and intimidation – the Rule of the Strong Man.  Sure, they can scream “This is what Democracy looks like” – really, this is how they wish to portray their version of democracy, go for it.

Problem is this  (via Instapundit):

“Question No One Is Asking: Will Obama Demand Union Members Behave Peacefully, Or Will He Bless Their Violence With Silence?”

Answer?

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Update AFP -Michigan

by Steve MacDonald
Right to Work Coming Soon to Michigan
Right to Work Coming Soon… to Michigan!

Right to work Bills have passed both Houses of the Michigan State Legislature and the governor has already said he’d sign them into law.

Earlier today Tim Condon updated us with the video of union protesters knocking down the Americans for Prosperity tent in Lansing, trapping some activists under it.  It’s sad but none of us were surprised by this. Nor are we surprised by this from a recent email blast by Tim Phillips, President of Americans For Prosperity…

Right now, the Left—union bosses, special interest groups, and even President Obama himself—is ramping up pressure for him to not sign these necessary workers’ rights reforms.

Tim Phillips continues…

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Revolution Foundation

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Obamacare SEIU

The Daily Caller ran a story this weekend about a book set to come out tomorrow, by Mallory Factor, called “Shadowbosses: Government Unions Control America and Rob taxpayers Blind“.

The premise of the book is that Obamacare was just a big ploy to unionize the estimated 16-17 million strong healthcare workforce (12.5% of US workers, 17% of US GDP/economy – projected to reach 20%), and that by proposing an acceptable plan for nationalized/unionized healthcare, the union got behind Obama in the election of 2008, helping him win the Presidency.

But by the looks of this, Obamacare wasn’t just about healthcare, in the same way that “sustainability” isn’t just about the environment…

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Labor Department Report Reveals Billions in Additional Union Political Activity

by Steve MacDonald

From 2006 to 2011, Unions in the United States spent $4.4 Billion dollars on political activity, $3.3 Billion more than typically advertised.  This astounding number comes from the Center for Responsive Politics, which collected data from a set of obscure annual reports that Unions are required to file with the Department of Labor regarding detailed … Read more

Tyranny Plain and Simple – Public Sector Unions

by Steve MacDonald

“Every lazy nation is grave; for those who do not work regard themselves as sovereigns of those who work.” – Montesquieu For those who do not work regard themselves as sovereigns of those who do work.  This could not be more true. It also occurs to me that this also applies to public sector union … Read more

The unions have been defining “the Middle Class” as themselves – so what happens when members become UMINOs?

by Skip

UMINOs – Union Members in Name Only (e.g., still belonging to the Union, but no longer paying the dues?)

I saw this a couple of days ago and didn’t blog it then because I got distracted.  However, I think it is a very important turning point in the Union political battles and that it shows a major chink in the vaunted “Solidarity Forever!” that is constantly blasted out in the political and cultural realms.  Frankly, this gives lie to the union yell of “Mighty, Mighty Union!” we hear at protests – the only takeaway from this news is now going to be “Mighty, Mighty Poorer!”.

I think this is rather amusing myself – after all the trouble and money spent by Unions all over the country as Right To Work efforts have become law in several states (alas, not here in NH because of some squishy Republicans not understanding that they were actually keeping their political foes strong and flush with political funds from their members’ dues by not following Gov. Scott Walker’s example in this).  And of course, the most well known state is that of Wisconsin where the Left is going all in AGAIN to try to stop “the destruction of the unions by Republicans!”.

This is just laughable – as they have a much more serious problem (as reported by the Wall Street Journal (paywall) via American Thinker).  Solidarity?  Not so much – given the chance, given the Freedom to Choose (after all, what IS freedom but the ability to choose among alternatives and letting someone choose something that satisfies their own needs and self-interests?), union members are choosing to not pay their union bills (emphasis mine):

Wisconsin membership in the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees-the state’s second-largest public-sector union after the National Education Association, which represents teachers-fell to 28,745 in February from 62,818 in March 2011, according to a person who has viewed AFSCME’s figures. A spokesman for AFSCME declined to comment.

Much of that decline came from AFSCMECouncil 24, which represents Wisconsin state workers, whose membership plunged by two-thirds to 7,100 from 22,300 last year.

A provision of the Walker law that eliminated automatic dues collection hurt union membership. When a public-sector contract expires the state now stops collecting dues from the affected workers’ paychecks unless they say they want the dues taken out, said Peter Davis, general counsel of the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission.

In many cases, AFSCME dropped members from its rolls after it failed to get them to affirm they want dues collected, said a labor official familiar with AFSCME’s figures. In a smaller number of cases, membership losses were due to worker layoffs.

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