Unions, Thugs or Freedom Fighters?

I have been paying pretty close attention to the Union strike in WI.  I worked for a union once back in 2001.  I was paying about $90/month to belong to the union.  I was working part time and was getting paid about $11.00 per hour.  I actually asked if I could elect to not join the union but this was not an option.  I was forced to join.  That just didn’t sit right to me living in a “free” country.  I did not have medical, dental, or any type of pension since I was working part time, so what was I paying $90/month for?  I know I am going to ruffle some feathers for some people with this write up…but it is time to have an open debate about this issue.

I just watched Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio) say that if Unions don’t have collective bargaining rights then the people working are essentially slaves.  That statement is ridiculous!  In a free market if my employer and I can’t come to an agreement on my wages then I can quit.  If I can’t quit because I am living paycheck to paycheck then that is my own fault.  That doesn’t make me a slave, if I would have prepared properly then I could have found another job.  Again, what happened to personal responsibility?  Why do people need a Union to negotiate for them?  If you’re not being paid a wage that you are worth, then you should be able to find another job that will pay you that wage.  If you can’t find that wage somewhere else, then I’ve got news for you…you’re not worth that much.  Sorry, but that’s life.  If you’re not happy with that wage, learn a trade or get the education you need to increase what your services are worth.    

In my opinion Unions make people a slave.  There is no incentive to work hard, your pay is based on how long you have worked at your current position, in a free market your pay is based on how productive you are.  It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that companies with Unions are less efficient than their non-unionized competitors.  I couldn’t imagine working at a place where it doesn’t matter how hard I work, that the guy next to me who does half the amount of work is getting a pay increase because he started 6 months before me. 

Since working full-time, I have never worked for a union.  There was a time when I felt like I wasn’t being paid what I was worth.  So I scheduled a meeting with my boss and explained to him why I should be paid more.  At first he said that at the moment he couldn’t boost my pay.  So I politely told him that I would be forced to look elsewhere then.  Knowing that I was better than the other employee’s, and my numbers proved it, I was in a position to do that.  He came back a day later and offered me a $7,000 per year raise.  I was happy with that, he was happy to keep me.  I would have been a big loss of production if he had to replace me.  This is the essence of a free market system.  And if you’re a go-getter then that system rewards you. 

But if you’re not a go-getter then Unions do benefit you.  The union can demand a higher wage than your worth.  If you’re one of those people who love unions I would suggest re-thinking you’re work ethic.  Have you stopped learning how to make yourself a better worker, have you become complacent in where you’re at?  This is definitely a result of joining a union. 

I can see how millions of people have been suckered into thinking that they need to be supported by a Union.  The Union bosses do a great job of making people feel like all corporations are evil and are just out to exploit the employee.  Unions are great marketers; Unions now have amassed the power to have politicians in their back pocket.  The corruption between Unions and politicians are out of control.  I’m sure most of these people protesting in WI are good people.  I just wish they would take a step back and realize the answer isn’t to pay a Union to bribe politicians to pass legislation that forces employers to have to bargain with Unions.  The benefits in WI will be cut, it’s just a matter of whether they do them now, or whether the market will force them to do it once their state can no longer issue bonds.  Remember, the so called “rich” are the ones purchasing state bonds allowing the states to continue to borrow.  Without these “rich” people, the state would go bankrupt over-night. 

I’m sure some of you are mad at this point and completely disagree with me.  That’s fine.  But this is a debate we need to have.  Too many companies are moving their manufacturing over-seas due to the lower cost of doing business.  Pro-union legislation across the U.S. is forcing companies to move to states that don’t have this type of legislation. 

Many people think that if it weren’t for Unions we would all be chained in the bottom of a coal mine working 16 hours per day.  That is laughable!  Actually what I would do is just refuse to work there, if everybody did that then the employer would have to improve the working conditions or be forced out of business.  Again, this is how a free market works.  Another argument is well all the employers would hold out and everyone would starve.  No…you would just have to cut back your expenses. Your whole family wouldn’t be able to afford an iphone, going out to eat 3 times per week, buying new cars, going  to the movies, buying 60 inch flat screen T.V’s, ect. But at least you would be free, how much is freedom worth to you?

One of the protesters in WI had a sign that said, “Tax the Rich instead.”  Some of you might agree with this.  And here is what I tell WI…go for it.  My great state of Texas could always use more businesses moving into our low tax, low regulation, pro-business climate.  Taxing the rich causing class warfare has never solved any countries problems, just look at France.  If states take the stance of raising taxes on the rich (which I expect CA, NY, CT will do), then their unemployment rates will get worse and more businesses will move.  It’s that simple. 

I think our public educational system has pretty much succeeded in brain washing most of the younger generation (ages 35 and below).  They train us that we have to go to college, even if it means going $100,000 into debt to do it.  When I was a mortgage underwriter I can’t tell you how many people I saw that graduated with over $100,000 in debt and were making about $36,000 per year.  And that was back in 2007, can you imagine how much more college costs now and how much harder it is to get a job in this stagnant economy?  Our educational system also teaches us that we need to work for someone else.  They don’t encourage entrepreneurship at all.  The text books are full of lies, especially when it comes to history.  We are all taught that Lincoln and FDR were two of the greatest presidents.  What a joke!  Lincoln ripped the constitution to shreds!  Lincoln suspended Habeas Corpus essentially throwing over 13,000 people in prison on charges never brought about or made known, he said all citizens engaging in “disloyal practices” would be tried in military tribunals, he also allowed his generals to shut down over 300 newspapers that he saw as a threat (think of Fox News today).  Lincoln claimed that he needed to allow some temporary sacrifice of the constitution in order to save it.  Sounds familiar doesn’t it?  I wouldn’t doubt if what I just told you above you had never heard before.  This is the state our educational system is in.  Please, research what I said above about Lincoln.  Don’t take my word for it. 

Back in the industrial revolution unions may have had a place in society.  But with all the laws, regulations, and organizations that keep a close watch on working conditions, unions really don’t have a place here anymore.  Take your life into your own hands.  With the managing of investments I like to say, “Nobody cares more about your money than you do.”  This is why I don’t trust many financial advisors; they have their own interests at heart.  Same with Unions, nobody cares more about your wages and benefits than you do.  Negotiate those yourselves.  Don’t be fooled into thinking that you can’t negotiate with businesses; you have a lot more power than you think.