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by BabyEagle4U on 08 March 2011 - 17:03
by Mindhunt on 08 March 2011 - 18:03
Yes, BabyEagle4U, many departments are volunteer, especially in rural areas. I grew up in one of those areas and my volunteer department made me want to be a firefighter/paramedic (along with "Emergency"), although I do remember them laughing at the thought of a girl "fireman", how times have changed. 
Many of my co-workers are also on volunteer departments in their home areas. My department and that of my husband have mutual aid agreements with many other departments both volunteer and career. I am not sure how it works in your neck of the woods, but we all have each others' back whether it be a volunteer or career, we show up for everything including parades 
Just saying
Many of my co-workers are also on volunteer departments in their home areas. My department and that of my husband have mutual aid agreements with many other departments both volunteer and career. I am not sure how it works in your neck of the woods, but we all have each others' back whether it be a volunteer or career, we show up for everything including parades Just saying
by CrysBuck25 on 09 March 2011 - 18:03
No.
There are many reasons why I don't believe that public employees should be unionized, but the basic thing is, no.
BabyEagle made some excellent points above. When the economy is bad like it is right now, businesses feel the pinch to cut spending, and we do. My husband and I are self employed, and believe me, we know about cutting spending, both professionally and in our personal lives, having gotten rid of even our home phone line and satellite TV a year ago. We no longer do much of what we used to because we can't afford to, or can't justify the expense. If public employees have to take wage cuts, and not have the right to demand higher wages, then that's the way of it. If a teacher making fifty thousand a year has to pay a larger percentage of his or her wages to insurance and pension because the state no longer can, then that's the way of it. What's worse, less take home pay, or losing your job and pension completely? Yes, I know it hurts. Everyone in the US is feeling that pain, except for the rich, and public and private unionized employees just have to buck up and tighten the purse strings just like the rest of us.
If my hubby gets hurt, we don't get worker's comp. We don't get light, paid duty. If he has no work for a month, six months, or a year, we can't get unemployment. We don't qualify for any of that. Things have gotten to the point where vast amounts of money are promised for pensions, insurances, and other things, but the money doesn't exist to pay for them. This means that promised payouts can't happen, and people are going to start having to act like adults and deal with it. It hurts. Big-time. But this is the result of the times we're in.
And to the individual who stated earlier that our parents would roll over in their graves if they could hear what we are saying...I think they'd be appalled at the demands for more when there is so little to go around. I think they would be horrified to see the teachers' union in Wisconsin and the teachers themselves protesting because they are being told that they must pay more into THEIR OWN retirement fund, and their own insurance! The people who built our country knew what it was to sacrifice for the betterment of a country. Maybe we should all aspire to live up to their examples.
Crys
There are many reasons why I don't believe that public employees should be unionized, but the basic thing is, no.
BabyEagle made some excellent points above. When the economy is bad like it is right now, businesses feel the pinch to cut spending, and we do. My husband and I are self employed, and believe me, we know about cutting spending, both professionally and in our personal lives, having gotten rid of even our home phone line and satellite TV a year ago. We no longer do much of what we used to because we can't afford to, or can't justify the expense. If public employees have to take wage cuts, and not have the right to demand higher wages, then that's the way of it. If a teacher making fifty thousand a year has to pay a larger percentage of his or her wages to insurance and pension because the state no longer can, then that's the way of it. What's worse, less take home pay, or losing your job and pension completely? Yes, I know it hurts. Everyone in the US is feeling that pain, except for the rich, and public and private unionized employees just have to buck up and tighten the purse strings just like the rest of us.
If my hubby gets hurt, we don't get worker's comp. We don't get light, paid duty. If he has no work for a month, six months, or a year, we can't get unemployment. We don't qualify for any of that. Things have gotten to the point where vast amounts of money are promised for pensions, insurances, and other things, but the money doesn't exist to pay for them. This means that promised payouts can't happen, and people are going to start having to act like adults and deal with it. It hurts. Big-time. But this is the result of the times we're in.
And to the individual who stated earlier that our parents would roll over in their graves if they could hear what we are saying...I think they'd be appalled at the demands for more when there is so little to go around. I think they would be horrified to see the teachers' union in Wisconsin and the teachers themselves protesting because they are being told that they must pay more into THEIR OWN retirement fund, and their own insurance! The people who built our country knew what it was to sacrifice for the betterment of a country. Maybe we should all aspire to live up to their examples.
Crys
by Mindhunt on 09 March 2011 - 19:03
Unions were started to protect working people. Are there problems in unions? Yes, just like anywhere. Am I going to count on the honesty and ethics of my employer? No. If there is such a deficit in municipalities, then tax those who are not being taxed currently because they are the top 10% incomes in the nation. It is a sad day when someone like Warren Buffett can comment that his maid pays more in taxes than he does, and this is the type of person that has an employee's best interests at heart? I don't think so. As for those self employed vs. big corporations or municipalities, yes, the self employed are at a disadvantage. I believe whether one group deserves a union or not is a slice of a much larger picture. I don't see those in the top income brackets worrying about whether they will get fair treatment, fair working wage, sick days, retirement, or health care coverage.
by MaggieMae on 09 March 2011 - 20:03
alaman -- Excellent post !
by zdog on 11 March 2011 - 15:03
"These are the values inspiring those brave workers in Poland... They remind us that where free unions and collective bargaining are forbidden, freedom is lost." -Ronald Reagan
we can post quotes all day what does it prove?
we can post quotes all day what does it prove?
by mtndawg on 11 March 2011 - 17:03
this has nothing to do with budgets, and everything to do with attacking democratic funding sources.
by mtndawg on 11 March 2011 - 17:03
I agree w/zdog that posting quotes really proves nothing, but here's one anyway.
"We must close union offices, confiscate their money and put their leaders in prison. We must reduce workers salaries and take away their right to strike" - Adolf Hitler, May 2, 1933
"We must close union offices, confiscate their money and put their leaders in prison. We must reduce workers salaries and take away their right to strike" - Adolf Hitler, May 2, 1933
by desert dog on 11 March 2011 - 19:03
It always amazes me that some people always assume that the unions are run by some private group of thugs that command wages, benifits, and conditions, in which "THE UNION " will abide. Do alot of you people realize that the unions are groups of individuals working people. Before a working AGREEMENT is signed, ratfied, there are proposals presented, then negotiated, then a vote is taken by individuals and either excepted or rejected. That is why we have a working agreement. A agreement between working men and women and contractors. The key being negotiating and agreeing. If anyone says labor union are able to control the economy of the United States, has either never been a voting member or set in any negotiations. If anyone thinks this is anything less than politics and big business , they should go go back and read there history books, and study labor in Ameica.
Hank
Hank
by GSDSRULE on 14 March 2011 - 01:03
No.
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