This should make for an interesting discussion. I am one of those that don't trust unions because many harm the very people they say they are protecting (for example, by strangling the companies that employ them). Yes, they secure higher wages and benefits for their members, but those members only benefit in the short term. In the long term, the business shutters and moves overseas and everyone loses their jobs.

I hope you follow up with a post about what transpired in the meeting.

It's not true union workers only benefit in the short term by being in a union. People are raising their families and sending their children to college because of unions. Unions created the middle class and the middle class made America the greatest country in the world.

Our nation is suffering because the Republicans weakend the unions and destroyed the middle class. The middle class are the ones who were driving our economy. Our economy cannot be succesful being driven by the top 2% of of the population. They simply can't buy enough stuff although they certainly try.

I think that at this point in American History, Unions have served their purpose, are causing more harm than good. I think that concepts such as collective bargaining put an unfair strain on the people that Unions serve. For example, what if the Teamsters re-raise their wages at Sysco warehouse in Oxnard? Starting pay is already $16/hr, but they are pushing to raise it to $24/hr for all employees, whereas before, the salary was deteremined by seniority (another concept which is the epitome of BS). Sysco isn't going to incur that increase in operating expenditures, like all companies, they are going to pass the burden onto the consumer, and considering that Sysco is the largest food company in the nation, that effectively means each and every one of us.

Also, reactionary seems like a pretty natural way to react.

It should be illegal for public employees to join unions.....the business of unions these days is representing public employees and raising our taxes....

And most unions are big supporters of illegal alien labor which has depleted private sector jobs....

Why do police, fire, and teachers need unions....?

Brian,

I'll be speaking on behalf of EFCA at the Wednesday meeting and would happy to debate you on the merits of unionization (mind you we are focusing on national not just California). Mr. Levinson is also welcome to attend to learn about how police and fire are made safer by their unions.

Jason

RE:Mr. Levinson is also welcome to attend to learn about how police and fire are made safer by their unions.

And you are welcome to be educated and learn,too......or are you the self-proclaimed professor?

RE:Unions created the middle class and the middle class made America the greatest country in the world.

Todays unions are anti-middle class....being dominated by public employees...the public employee unions cause the middle classes' taxes to rise, drive them out of their homes and jobs....

Andy,

How are unions pro-illegal immigrant labor? Illegal immigrants work for substantially lower wages than union workers, meaning they directly compete with them for jobs.

RE:How are unions pro-illegal immigrant labor?

How, I don't know....but they all announce on there websites, if you look, that they are pro-amnesty....I don't make this stuff up.

Heck, a large proportion of public employees around here don't even pay social security taxes...

Jason,

andyLevinson can't learn anything, he is a self-proclaimed professor and expert on everything including how labor unions and illegal aliens are in bed with each other. How can you argue with a genius like andy?

Jason,

Thanks for reading and commenting on my blog.

I don't think I would be a good choice to oppose your views. I believe taken as a whole union contributions have been a benefit to our nation.

Unions are important and beneficial to all. One instance:

The IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) and NECA (the National Electrical Contractors Association - made up of union companies) spend a tremendous amount on training through the NJATC (National Joint Apprenticeship Training Committeel). That investment provides the entire American electrical construction industry with not only the most highly trained, technically efficient and productive work force, but also the safest.

No one else makes the huge investment for this entire industry that unions and the companies that employ their workers do. (Click on the link and learn.)

Unions are important and beneficial to all. One instance:

The IBEW (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers) and NECA (the National Electrical Contractors Association - made up of union companies) spend a tremendous amount on training through the NJATC (National Joint Apprenticeship Training Committeel). That investment provides the entire American electrical construction industry with not only the most highly trained, technically efficient and productive work force, but also the safest.

No one else makes the huge investment for this entire industry that unions and the companies that employ their workers do. (Click on the link and learn.)

The UFCW fought the House Democrats in 2007 when they betrayed the American people and added a provision to the Farm Bill (H.R. 2419) that effectively weakens food safety standards and increased the risk of food-borne illness.

The UFCW protected Americans during our last Republican disaster. Unions are a good safety nets when government agencies.

Thank God for Unions! Without them we would have no middle class and the American people never would have had the high standard of living they now enjoy!

Thank God for the Unions who slashed my brothers tires because he opposed the unions and would be unefected by their rule.

Thank god for the unions that took 10% of his check every month....and did nothing for him.

Thank God for Unions for they facilitate organized crime.

Thank god for the Unions that blocked my way into the local grocery store preventing me from feeding my family.

Thank god for the Unions that made threats to me and my family as I pushed my way through their Grocery blockade.

Thank God for the unions that support any political organization (Socialism / Communism) as long as they get what they want. Including amnesty for Illegals.

Friends,
The middle class has not been destroyed, and will continue to thrive as long as the busness owners are able to opperate in a free market. If business owners are burdened with high labor costs. They will move to other parts of the world where its cheaper to run. Harold, Brian & Barone should put down the Marx/Sol Linsky manifests and Read economics 101 instead.

Dale,

No union stopped you from feeding your family.

What nation has a high standard of living, a large middle class, and democratic freedoms that doesn't have unions?

RE: No union stopped you from feeding your family.

The public employee unions take the food right off the table of working families of america....and put it on the table of public employees

Andy,
You love the Republican union. The Republican union doesn't bother negotiating they just flat out steal. What do you call it when the Republicans gave Haliburton no-bid contracts? Is that your Republican version of Democracy and a free market society? Where was Angry Andy then?

Dale,
Who is going to buy the products and/or services from the "business owners" if all the employees are making third world wages?

I'm not talking about political parties...I'm talking about the unions representing teachers, police, fire and other public employees....who have mowed down the taxpayers with the help of the county supervisors and city councilmen...they are all in it together the whole greedy bunch of the.....

Unions are like the government needed but hated. Do very little for the Dues payer unless they/you are a kiss arsh to some business agent.

People like annoy and Dale should avoid putting their complete ignorance on display for others to see on a blog like this. Union haters are usually down on their knees kissing their bosses butt and hoping the boss will throw them a bone.

RE:Union haters are usually down on their knees kissing their bosses butt and hoping the boss will throw them a bone.

The public officials from around these parts are down on their knees kissing the union guys' butts and vice verse...the public employee unions are clearly the enemy of working-taxpaying americans

I did not get that at all from annoy's post. Just meant they are needed but hated and only a but kisser gets anywhere in the union or in the government. The regular person is had.

Axel,
You don't know what your talking about. I don't know anybody in the union I am affiliated with that panders to anybody. That's why people join unions.

Do you have any example of a union worker having to kiss a union leaders butt? Please let me know and I will show you what a regular person can do to a union leaders butt and it sure ain't gonna be a kiss.