A Nation of Unionized Volunteers?

Comment

Comment by Michael Bricault (ret) on November 17, 2010 at 12:57pm

-Paul, it sounds like what you're saying is that because certain firemen work in small towns that have limited finances these workers have surrendered their rights to negotiate work conditions and have also given up their rights to organize. Paul... man you couldn't be more off base so much so that your comments are clearly anti-union.
-That comment about small communities is ludicrous and unAmerican in the extreme. Just because someone works in a small community doesn't mean they should have any less of an opportunity or right to negotiate the conditions under which they work.
-Art, as someone who reads and enjoys some of your work I really hate to say this but your comments smack of a volunteer upset with career firefighters... for whatever reason. I certainly hope this is not the case but the overall tenor of the commentary is decidedly so. Your thoughts are unmistakably anti-labor.
-At this point I'm really just waiting for someone to resort to BS scare tactics management jargon by saying, "Just be happy you have a job". Man... People have a right to negotiate their work conditions and try to improve them... it is their right as citizens of the good ol' U.S. of A! Workers also have a right to try to make their lives better; regardless of where they live. Anything less is pure bullyism that harkens back to life before the labor movement or the creation of the Middle Class.
-33% of American workers are part of a labor union and yet nearly all American workers benefit from the efforts of labor unions. This is undeniable. Hell, most of us Middle Class folks exist because of Unions. To say that a small community cannot have organized labor because of their size is plain old union busting. All workers should be protected without having to involve the state or federal red tape of EEOC.
-Tom Bouthillet, your comments are right on!!!! The right to work actions in the southern states amount to nothing more than blatant union busting tactics. Anyone that thinks this stuff is such a good idea should go talk to THE WORKERS in the effected right to work states. Ask them how well things have worked out to insure their personal quality of life and you'll learn that things are worse for them after the Tycoons busted up organized labor and can now push around the worker with relative impunity.
-Cory, you have hit on something I have said for years, people in general are what I call "headline readers" that don't bother to actually read an entire article or document. More times than not the average Joe satisfy themselves with reading inflammatory headlines and then assume they understand an issue, article or whatever. And Brother are you right in saying, " Those of us who are responsible union leaders deserve the right to collectively bargain instead of leaving our careers and safety in the hands of local politicians who have no clue about the job of a firefighter or police officer."
-It's to easy for everyone to blame unions for what is happening in the economy (which is in fact on the rebound). Its to easy to make the career firefighter the problem when you're the angry volunteer. And NO, this isn't an anti-volunteer rant, I'm just pointing out what I see, that being many of these anti firefighter union proponents are just that, small town volunteers trying to imply career firefighters have ruined everything in their world.
-A man deserves a fair wage for doing a job. And it is a right in this country to try and negotiate improved working conditions thru the efforts of organized labor.

Comment by Cory Bergstrom on November 17, 2010 at 11:02am

Have you actually read the bill "Chief Reason"? Or are you just listening to the right wingers from Faux News.. I mean Fox News. I have read the bill and it states that it is to protect the rights of those who want to join and also those who do not. This bill does not make unionizing mandatory. All it does it give public safety employees the right to Unionize and be able to make descisions about our workplace. This bill will not bankrupt cities as so many anti-union people are saying. The financial responsibilities lie on the union and its employees. Most IAFF and FOP members are all about looking out for what is best for their city and their employees. If a city gets into financial trouble due to collective bargaining, it is not because this bill was passed, it is due to irresponsible members of that individual union. Those of us who are responsible union leaders deserve the right to collectively bargain instead of leaving our careers and safety in the hands of local politicians who have no clue about the job of a firefighter or police officer.

Comment by Tom Bouthillet on November 17, 2010 at 7:38am

"...if this was such a sweet deal for the public, then you'd think that there would be more public dialogue and content on it..."

You mean like the public dialog that took place when powerful business interests led by the Chamber of Commerce passed "right-to-work" legislation in the southern states for the express purpose of fighting unions? The National Right To Work Committee isn't a grass roots movement "protecting the rights of workers".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Right-to-work_law#Arguments_against

Comment by john s cinque on November 16, 2010 at 10:07pm

THE FOLLOWING IS A LETTER I SENT TO MY UNION LEADERSHIP IN WASHINGTON
MAYBE IT COULD CLEAR A THING OR TWO UP

.

President Harold A. Schaitberger 27 October 2010

President International Association of Firefighters

1750 New York Ave. NW

Washington DC 20006



Mr. Schaitberger,

This is my second letter to you regarding my union’s political action and support of candidates. Yesterday I received our SEPT/OCT issues and to say the least I was horrified to read your letter in the beginning.

My past letter dealt with the backing of mostly liberal candidates for political office and how I felt we as a union did not have the best interests of the country in mind. The union leadership, headed by you down in Washington, continually backs liberal progressive candidates under the guise that they are our friends and they give us what we deserve. Exactly what is it that we deserve, as you say in your statement? We work in an honorable profession but it is a job none the less. Those in the public sector pay our salaries. When things are going great they don’t give us a second thought, but now with very difficult times upon us, they are looking to blame someone. Our union should be standing up and saying we understand everyone is hurting and we are going to set the example to everyone that we will work hard helping everyone. That is what honorable leadership is. It means setting the example for others to follow. It is not sitting there saying, “give me, give me”, or “this is what we deserve”. Believe me; those paying our salaries are not going to say, “Oh the poor fireman, they want more”. You think coming out and saying, “Hey guys you have an exemption from health care reform until 2016” is doing us a favor? When the federal deficit crumbles like a house of cards and the smoke clears from the mirrors, then we will get exactly what we deserve and no one in the community will care about the poor fireman.

You talk about preferring Harkin, Pelosi, and Reid because apparently they are “our friends”. They may be yours but they certainly are not mine. If aligning yourself with liberal, socialist progressive’s is what you think is the right path, I can tell you, I will be nowhere near that path. My path is the path of constitutional freedoms which will lead to prosperity. Small limited government beholden to the people, not the other way around. If you want a socialist nanny state then you’re on the right path. When you say there are “fundamental differences between those who work with us and those guided by a different set of principles”, I could not agree more. As you state, the Tea Party is influencing the elections. Yes they are because the sleeping majority has awaken and take it from me, they have no intentions of going back to sleep. If you want our jobs and benefits gutted then keep throwing your lot in with the progressives destroying our Republic. They will be relegated to the history books and the public will remember where we stood as a union. Those without honor will die a traitor’s death in the end and that death will be our jobs. You call Senator DeMint a zealot and Governor Christi an oversized poster child for a reformist agenda, Shame on you. You call that leadership because I call it childish behavior? You offend the very things I hold dear. You go on to say this election is about preserving our jobs but I think you could not be more wrong. This election is about the very fabric of our country, it’s history, it’s values, and it’s very survival. There will be no jobs when the republic crumbles. Exactly who will be left to pay the bills when we are all equal through the delusional idea of wealth distribution? There are storm clouds on the horizon and the barometer you talk about is turning due south to a storm warning. Everything our union has accomplished throughout the years to move our profession along with safety manning and benefits will be squandered in one election cycle.

I have been a member of this union for 17 years and I do this job not because I want to be a fireman but because I am a fireman. It is the calling I chose after my service to my country. That oath I took to protect and defend the Constitution of The United States still runs through my blood. I can no longer sit by and listen to how great our union is while we continue down the path of ruin. I find our union no more respectable then the SCIU and ACORN. We continue our affiliation with the AFL-CIO even when Richard Trumka the president promotes “reviving socialism as a legitimate philosophy”! He travels the world promoting economic and social justice with the European socialist’s forum. Then on October 2nd of this year, he gives a speech in Washington DC to a crowd holding communist party signs and workers of the world unite banners. He says during his speech and I quote “people who want to build a middle class economy make up a majority of Americans whose socialist voices need to be heard. We are hoping that people come together and say, we’re the socialist majority and we can have a different kind of country.” Is this what you believe Mr. President? I find these statements repulsive and vile. In my own state of Connecticut, I receive mailings of who I need to vote for from my local, state representative union. Rosa DeLauro is endorsed because you call her a friend. Here is a woman who is a member of the Democrat socialist caucus in Washington and who also was an honored guest at the New Haven Peoples center here locally in August 2010. A group founded in 1937 and is the local hub for the states communist party. Is this what my union has to offer me, a candidate who is no stranger to communist causes? Then I see we are backing Richard “when I returned from Vietnam” Blumenthal. He was called the worst attorney general in the country by the Counsel for Special Projects and the Competitive Enterprise Institute. They called him a tireless crusader for the growing power of his own office. He stated himself that his goal was to shake up and reshape the way industry does business across the nation. Since when was that a role of a state official? I guess he is just a friend as you say.

I no longer call myself a proud member of the International Association of Firefighters. I hang my head in shame at the very thought of what this union has become.

John S. Cinque



Local 1205

East Haven, Connecticut



.

Comment by Art "Chief Reason" Goodrich on November 16, 2010 at 9:24pm

In the famous words of Da Gonz: Bing-freakin'-O!

Comment by Paul Combs on November 16, 2010 at 4:38pm

Michael: This commentary isn't debating or diminishing what unions have done for this country or our cherished fire service. Chief Goodrich's message is simple, if not straight forward: Small communities can not afford to be forced into labor negotiations. Politics are politics, and everyone understands that morsels are always tastier when they can be had for next to nothing (or nothing at all). However, this debate should be the individual right of the township and their firefighters to discuss, negotiate and settle - not mandated by a labor organization or the Federal Government.

This is wrong!

Comment by Michael Bricault (ret) on November 15, 2010 at 1:15pm

-Like all things in this world there needs to be a balance stuck between the extremes. But as we have already seen, the anti labor folks are only to happy to use the economy and labor as an excuse to cut essential jobs, reduce safe staffing levels and slash benefits; all the while protecting themselves. Whatever happened to lead by example. I've yet to see the mayor or any of his extraneous, politically rewarded staff receive a pay cut or have their departments reduced.
-In fact here in my city, while the city administration howls about labor costs, cops and firemen they continue to add BS political positions and made up jobs and give themselves raises.
-Everyone wants something for nothing. Communities demand services but hate paying for them. How about all of us in public service just decide to do all everything for free, volunteer our time while ignoring our families and bills and collectively say to hell with a man deserving a wage for his time? We'll just do the Lord's good work for free and return to our homes covered in sack cloth and ashes and be satisfied in our poverty with the knowledge of a job well done.... And some would still find reason to complain about us.
-The bedrock of this argument is that people live in communities to enjoy the quality of life provided by essential services. But those services cost something and therein lies the debate. Everyone wants something for nothing. People don't like to pay but want the services.
-It harkens back to the days of the Industrial Revolution Tycoons. Make more money by keeping labor costs down and doing this by keeping the Serfs in their rightful subservient place. Its much to easy and convenient to blame labor for everything.

Comment by Art "Chief Reason" Goodrich on November 15, 2010 at 12:50pm

Michael:
Thank you for your reply.
Again; I want to stress that I am not anti-union.
I am opposed to card check and anything that forces companies and their employees to abdicate some of their God given rights.
I wasn't being rhetorical. I looked at several documents from several sources and can see little benefit to the small communities that make up the vast majority of the fire service.
I understand and appreciate what the IAFF has done on behalf of all firefighters safety.
But again, if this was such a sweet deal for the public, then you'd think that there would be more public dialogue and content on it.
It benefits no one if it's too costly and lay offs and cutbacks are the end result.

Comment by Michael Bricault (ret) on November 15, 2010 at 12:39pm

-Like you I am a member of a union and proud of it.
-I do agree that unions may sometimes meddle in affairs that are beyond the scope and I too am not crazy about that either.
-I disagree that right to work states are the utopia of the workers paradise. In fact when reviewing the states that have taken away collective bargaining rights, specifically firefighter wages and as a consequence their quality of life, was irrevocably impacted, reduced and harmed.
-I agree that someone should not be compelled to join a union. However, if you work in a situation in which you directly benefit from the efforts of the union you should have to pay for that in some manner.
-In fact, labor conditions and practices in this country; working hours, benefits, pensions and healthcare even the existence of OSHA, are indisputably the direct result of the efforts of organized labor. Moreover, it is freely acknowledged and accepted as fact by economists and historians that the Middle Class (people like you and me) owes its existence and quality of life directly to the efforts of organized labor.
-Before you decry labor unions we must take stock of all they have accomplished for us. What's more, make no mistake that those with means and in positions of authority would happily turn the clock back on the efforts of organized labor and the Middle Class if just given the opportunity. This is evidenced in every city across the country in which city administrators reduce firefighter positions and cut salaries and benefits while all the while maintaining their own position and salary. There is no commensurate reduction of extraneous positions within management nor of their salaries. It is almost axiomatic that those governing do so on the very backs of those providing the essential service.
-Remember, it was Napoleon that said, "Absolute power corrupts absolutely". Labor unions are the checks and balances in place to keep the rest of us from being pushed around while insuring we continue to live enjoyable, peaceful and productive lives.
-Be careful about advocating throwing the baby out with the bath water. This kind of antagonistic antagonistic rhetoric is exactly what labor unions are ever watchful of.

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