Taking the train down from Connecticut from a shoot, I actually saw a hobo camp under a bridge. There were those wooden crates and a hobo-fire; it looked like a movie set. I was looking for a polka-dot 'kerchief tied to a stick.
@PontiusPirate: I agree. If my interpretation of your comment is correct: that unions are basically obsolete with the enforcement of reasonable labor/safe-working-conditions legislation.
@EVERYONE: Of course, this certainly doesn't help: [www.pbs.org]
Basically: Both sides share responsibility, or lack thereof.
I'm not a fan of unions because they extort companies to play ball with them. I'd rather that unions be positioned vendors: if they offer good quality product at a fair price and exhibit flexibility, they win the business. If not, their customers (companies) go elsewhere. This way, unions have clout, but not absolutely so. The problem is that the UAW-automaker relationship has been asymmetrical, in that unions could be horrible providers of labor, but the automakers had no ability to switch labor providers.
It's not about the little man versus the big corporation. Unions distort what should be a normal "reward for performance and risk for nonperformance" dynamic that everyone else outside of the union faces on a daily basis. If there is no downside to union workers, what incentive do they have to be productive, create quality work product, etc.? Judging from what I've seen of union shops, the answer is none. Most do their eight and hit the gate.
11/16/09
"Just call me Soylent." #thepoors
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10/21/09
(and maybe good for Goldman - quality books of business will move to a firm that can pay for them) #bailouts
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We've got 99.44% problems, and a salt lick ain't one?
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06/03/09
@EVERYONE: Of course, this certainly doesn't help: [www.pbs.org]
Basically: Both sides share responsibility, or lack thereof.
Sí, se puede?
06/02/09
It's not about the little man versus the big corporation. Unions distort what should be a normal "reward for performance and risk for nonperformance" dynamic that everyone else outside of the union faces on a daily basis. If there is no downside to union workers, what incentive do they have to be productive, create quality work product, etc.? Judging from what I've seen of union shops, the answer is none. Most do their eight and hit the gate.
06/02/09
Then you must really hate executives. Which I think is taking things a bit too far.
06/02/09