Kagen Loves Unions
"We have an economy today because we had strong and effective leaders in the union movement.”
Hat tip Kagen Watch.
And Unions love Kagen. One look at his PAC contributions is ‘nuff said.
Not that I look at that sort of thing…
Posted by Kevin Binversie on July 22, 2008 at 0510 hrs
What’s sad is so many people who have fathers or grandfathers who got a leg up from being working/lower class is because of union membership.
It is no accident that the middle class is going no where because of the decline in union membership.
Posted by on July 22, 2008 at 0609 hrsKeith, why is it that union membership has declined? I’ve worked for a company which strongly encouraged its unions to disband—but ultimately it was up to the union members themselves and they voted to do so. They could have voted to remain.
The “Free Choice” act hopefully will work both ways—that people are free to choose either to join or not join a union, with no pressure from the company or the union.
Posted by hsgbdmama on July 22, 2008 at 0633 hrsThe Bill Cong. Kagen is taking about is the most Orwellian named, anti-democratic piece of legislation ever to come around. He’s touting his sponsorship of HR 800, the so-called “Employee Free Choice Act,” a bill that makes union organizing subject to check card strong-arm tactics, not secret ballots as has been the way in the past. It is the AFL-CIO’s last grasp to try to undo the trend of declining union memberships. They plan to go legit mobster on laborers forcing them to join a union even they might not want to.
That’s not democracy. There’s a reason that when the more people hear about this bill, the less likely they are to want to see it as the law of the land. (Some 75% oppose the bill in the very union state of Minnesota.
America is a land based on the secret ballot, of your vote being your own, and not having to tell which way you voted, and having the right not to be forced into voting one way or the other in the open.
This bill is an abomination to the democracy itself. Kagen should be shamed for his sponsorship, not applauded.
Everyone needs to see this site: http://www.myprivateballot.com and this ad.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N6yrZtq27e0
Posted by Kevin Binversie on July 22, 2008 at 0703 hrsOh, you don’t think efforts on the part of big business, including Wal-Mart, to make unionization difficult have nothing to do with it, including major help from hacks in the Bush administration?
Posted by on July 22, 2008 at 0836 hrsHey Kev,
And Unions love Kagen. One look at his PAC contributions is ‘nuff said.
So the unions won’t be doing TV ads for Gard this time around?
I wonder if Chenney will do a visit in support?
Oh and thanks for the link. Great to see those champions of the everyman WMC are part that my private ballot org.
Hope the pool biz in DC is going well!
Posted by on July 22, 2008 at 0901 hrsKeith,
So let me get this right, strong arming by union officials, IN BROAD DAYLIGHT, is okay with you; people exercising their right to vote to unionize by means of secret ballot is bad?
Because that’s the impression I’m getting from you.
Posted by Kevin Binversie on July 22, 2008 at 0905 hrspjr,
Wow, a liberal bringing up a WMC reference when they have nothing else to go with. Good to see nothing’s changed.
The source of the Kagen YouTube’s the Wisconsin Labor Alliance blog, know that? Or know that the AFL-CIO and SEIU’s been doing mailings for Kagen since Election Day 2006 to boost him up back home?
Guess I’ll have to write a post on this at Wiggy’s tonight then.
Posted by Kevin Binversie on July 22, 2008 at 0936 hrsUnions served as a voice for those who needed one back in the late 19th century and into the early 20th when workers were regularly exploited. Today we have laws to protect workers.
What purpose do unions serve today? They are one of the top ten reasons the middle class is going somewhere - China.
What does WEAC do for Wisconsin’s children?
Taking away the secret ballot proves who union leaders want to protect these days - themselves.
unionfacts.org
Posted by on July 22, 2008 at 1032 hrsI;ve witnessed union organizing and it isn’t pretty. The arm twisting, the promises, the threats and a secret ballot is the only way someone could protect themself. I’ve seen first hand the horrible work conditions left by union organizing, I’ve seen it turn neighbor against neighbor, brother against brother, father against son, etc.
Posted by on July 22, 2008 at 1054 hrsBig T
They are one of the top ten reasons the middle class is going somewhere
And the other 9?
Kev, just pointing that the link leads to a less than objective source.
How about Gard’s union support, is he going to walk away from that?
Oh and finally what has John been doing for the last 2 years? Working in the private sector?
Posted by on July 22, 2008 at 1138 hrspjr,
Again, this is about the bill and what it does, not who’s got what for union support. Something that once again, you failed to address in your earlier comments. Seriously, if you can’t comment on HR 800, stop adding your two cents.
I’m sure whatever happens with the roadbuilders’ union (The union in the Gard ad you mentioned.) this time around is gonna happen whichever way they decide. Big shock here, but most unions have always had Kagen in their back pocket.
As for Gard, last time I ran into him he told me had started a part-time consulting firm for businesses in the Green Bay area to help them map their way through the regulatory hell that is Wisconsin and (surprise!) running for Congress. That was this March.
He doesn’t have a Congressional Office to use as a campaign entity like Kagen does.
Posted by Kevin Binversie on July 22, 2008 at 1243 hrsAgain, this is about the bill and what it does, not who’s got what for union support.
Silly me,
I thought that a post titled “Kagen Loves Unions” would be about Kagen’s relationship with unions.
I read it a couple of times and looked at the post over at Kagen’s watch after your last comment to see who mentioned HR 800 in their post.
Guess what neither blogger did. Just Kagen in the video.
Your first comment referencing campaign money sort of led me to believe that it might be about the upcoming congressional race between Kagen and Gard.
So I naturally wanted to know what Gard’s current relationship was with the unions giving all the hugs and kisses in 2006.
Now I am even more curious as to Gard’s position on this bill as it looks like this should be part of the campaign’s dialogue.
I’ll give HR 800 a read tonight and get back to you.
Don’t you just love the Metro?Can you get me a deal on that lake property in Hayward? Does it have a pool?
Posted by on July 22, 2008 at 1632 hrspjr,
My quick top ten. Feel free to pick and choose.
1. Global competition
2. Democrat party supporting unions to ensure the USA will not be able to compete globally
3. Government inaction to stop ~20M Illegals from crossing our borders
4. Democrat party creation of welfare class
5 Union supported lowering of public education standards
6. Lower morality/work ethic
7. Illegal drugs
8. High taxes
9. High college tuition
10. Matriculation of middle class to wealthy class by corporations who pay well for talent (Yea capitalism! And happy to be a part of I must say.)Now back to the point of my post. These aren’t your grandfathers unions anymore. Yes they helped raise the standards of working class people 100 years ago. But what value do they add to todays society? What is the value of eliminating the secret ballot other than protect the slimy union bosses?
Posted by on July 22, 2008 at 1817 hrsBigT....Sum it up in one if you like. “Unions are worthless”.
They do NOTHING to help their members.
Posted by The Asian Badger on July 23, 2008 at 1410 hrs
Ol' Army
