appDude

Exactly.
The system was never set up for the cronyism between government worker unions and politicians.
It is one of the things ruining governments form city to state to federal.

Gunter

FDX would see a big furlough if they imposed PBS. Not to mention a tremendous loss of our quality of life. We would NEVER get that back. The only thing keeping them from doing it is a union.

There is often no reasoning with management. Look at FDX. Instead of getting what we are telling them they are "rolling up sleeves for better communication". Despite the Message Lines, FCIFs, blog and BBQ events, they just know the way out of the impasse is to find another way to get their message across. They really think we aren't listening when, in fact, it is they who need to learn how to listen. Reminds me of a Captain or two.

"If the checklist sideways, I do not want you to talk"

dckozak

I'm curious, what rights do you think public employees should have? Should they be just right to work? Most local budgets are voted on at the local level, (where I am) the schools in particular. If the will of the people is to cut education spending (or just vote NO on any budget presented) and is cut, say 25%, should all staff just be obliged to take a pay cut? If you or someone you know and love worked in government, would you think its fair that they have no right to bargain for pay and benefits? Of course elected officials would never put whats best for the community above their own political desires.

I understand the need for safety related positions to not be jeopardized by a strike, but is it fair that you should be able to negotiate with your employer but your son's school teacher not?

Busboy

Particularly the military?

That's a good one.

FrankTheTank

Where I live there are 2 school systems, one is unionized and one is not. Wanna guess which has better teachers. Here's a hint: it ain't the teachers union. Guess all those private school teachers aren't making a livable wage.

Negotiating with tax payer money should not be legal!

And unionized is more than just the power to strike. Should "workers" be treated fairly and paid fairly, you bet. The military is not unionized, how do they survive? That is why they have SOPs for lack of a better term. If you don't like it don't apply. Look for work elsewhere or something more fitting with your risk/reward ideals!

They do have rights and should they not agree with those outlined, quit and move on. And if those agreed rights are infringed on then a lawsuit should be filed and should be an easy win!

Sideshow Bob

Public employee and teacher's unions now have a mob-like quality, and are very different from in particular unions governed by the RLA. But beyond that, they in some ways are a public and moral hazard.

For starters, they virtually all work on behalf of bankrupt entities. California is a classic example. My neighbor is an engineer on the over 300% over budget, several years late Bay Bridge. His retirement is effectively 100% of his ending salary and he gets free medical for life...something WE could never dream of. And unlike FDX and UPS, they are beyond broke and getting worse everyday. If they choose to go on strike, they just go...there is no RLA to stop them, and like teachers hold everybody effectively hostage, constantly telling us we need to pay more taxes so they can continue to get raises we can only dream of. NEA, SEIU and the like are the ONLY unions that get any support from this administration. The only thing we have going for us is we work for immensely profitable companies...well, until that same administration starts it's coming jihad on oil, and it's coming.

In the eyes of Joe six-pack and the government we are NOT union...anybody who thinks otherwise is deluded.

FDXLAG

Why yes of the 5 military pilots in my class all were glad to be apprentice members of the FPA. Especially when the mustached dudes bought us drinks. Military members are not stupid; coming from a background were the company was always right, Uncle Sugars way or the highway, yes they were glad to members of a union. I remember a couple of the civilians were not overly found of Alpa, though.

MEMFO4Ever

Wouldn't it be great if we had this kind of leverage.

Moral hazard? It's just about basic human greed. No different than the power hungry types at the top of the public food chain.

Sideshow Bob

At the public school up the street leading up to a bond issue, teachers were brain washing the kids that they better pressure their parents to vote for massive tax increases, and using teaching time to do so. The majority of the windfall of those taxes solely funded their retirement...the classroom got little of that money.

THAT is a moral hazard if ever I've seen one.

dckozak

Let me guess.... you have a child in a private school. So what rationale would you have for paying for what free down the road other than.... bashing the public institution.

I can see the mob like qualities of the teachers in our local school system. They beat the students, and each other if you don't play by the rules. One of the dumbest analogies I've read on APC, and I've read some real winners.


Of course teachers brainwash students, teaching all that science and stuff. More un substantiated BS.

We know all public unions are bad (especially teacher unions)
All public employees are lazy, over paid and have way too much time off. Government is the problem. I know because FOX news saids so, and you know they don't lie because they tell you they are "fair and balanced" . Case closed