13 votes

Supreme Court delivers a sharp blow to labor unions

9 comments

  1. [9]
    nacho
    Link
    I mean, the jurisprudence makes sense, but it's quite an indictment of the state of constitutional labor rights in the US. This is such an unthinkable situation in the EU there's be huge protests...

    I mean, the jurisprudence makes sense, but it's quite an indictment of the state of constitutional labor rights in the US.

    This is such an unthinkable situation in the EU there's be huge protests if something like this became reality here. All the power in the hands of the employers. Divide et impera: divide and rule indeed.

    10 votes
    1. [8]
      Archimedes
      Link Parent
      I have mixed feelings about this. If I were an employee unhappy with the way my union was doing things, shouldn't I be free to dissociate and not be billed for negotiations I don't want to be a...

      I have mixed feelings about this.

      If I were an employee unhappy with the way my union was doing things, shouldn't I be free to dissociate and not be billed for negotiations I don't want to be a part of instead of essentially being forced to belong to a union?

      4 votes
      1. [4]
        Gaywallet
        Link Parent
        Who is to argue on your behalf if not for a union? Certainly your individual voice falls on deaf corporate ears.

        Who is to argue on your behalf if not for a union?

        Certainly your individual voice falls on deaf corporate ears.

        17 votes
        1. Archimedes
          Link Parent
          I guess it depends on the institution you are working for. Large bureaucratic institution likely do need sufficiently powerful unions to help balance powers. Unions can be pretty deaf to...

          I guess it depends on the institution you are working for. Large bureaucratic institution likely do need sufficiently powerful unions to help balance powers. Unions can be pretty deaf to individual voices as well though.

          4 votes
        2. [3]
          Comment deleted by author
          Link Parent
          1. [2]
            rodya
            Link Parent
            You have a much better chance of voting out the union reps than of voting out management or a government bureaucrat.

            You have a much better chance of voting out the union reps than of voting out management or a government bureaucrat.

            11 votes
            1. [2]
              Comment deleted by author
              Link Parent
              1. rodya
                Link Parent
                Who is boycotting who in this situation? Boycotting your employer is a strike, something that usually doesn't go too well unless it's organized. A union is its members. That's the whole point,...

                Who is boycotting who in this situation? Boycotting your employer is a strike, something that usually doesn't go too well unless it's organized.

                what incentive do the unions have to be responsive to their members?

                A union is its members. That's the whole point, that the workers come together to protect themselves. It's based on camaraderie. You can probably find bad unions that have strayed from this, but that's the idea.

                10 votes
      2. [3]
        harrygibus
        Link Parent
        The recent teachers strikes being started by the members against their leaderships recommendations shows that people are fed up with the status quo in unions but how else do you fund the union?...

        The recent teachers strikes being started by the members against their leaderships recommendations shows that people are fed up with the status quo in unions but how else do you fund the union? and why would you let people freeload on the gains given them by union membership without paying their fair share?

        5 votes
        1. [2]
          Archimedes
          Link Parent
          The free-rider problem is indeed an issue, but is the best solution to go the route of governmental taxation and essentially have mandatory membership regardless of whether the union is aligned...

          The free-rider problem is indeed an issue, but is the best solution to go the route of governmental taxation and essentially have mandatory membership regardless of whether the union is aligned with your interests or not?

          1 vote
          1. harrygibus
            Link Parent
            You don't always get what you want, but sometimes you get what you need.

            You don't always get what you want, but sometimes you get what you need.

            1 vote