Government Employees Unions

The public unions are unique in that in business the stock holders or investors select management and the employees have no say in who makes up management. In public unions the employees have as much control over who is management as the stock holders (tax payers). Public Unions hold a unique positions because they control a large block of votes, similar to a group that owns a large percentage of the stock in a company can influence management decisions. As those who are employed by the government or receive government benefits reach 50% they become even more powerful. In many respects Public Unions are a conflict of interest.

@ParaTed, this is a subject that really gets me going. Unions were designed for truck drivers, factory workers, etc. Unions do not belong in government and state job nor in our school systems. The states and government is broke because of all the nice little retirement packages that the unions have negotiate for them. Did any one ever look into their retirement package that they get never mind what they are paid while working. And they can do as they please because the union backs them up. Makes for us taxpayers to say uhmmmmmmm. None of it makes sense and no one can see that this is a huge part of why we are broke. I work for someone and her husband retired from the state at 55 years old, he gets 75%of his pay or more all his benefits. After he retired he went back and worked for the state while collecting retirement from the state. she is set for benefits if something were to happen to him. How can a state of country sustain all this expense. They Can Not. And yes seiu gets more time with OBAMA than anyone. I find this amazing. It all stinks.

And, just think of all the accusations by obama and company regarding Republicans and special interest groups. As usual, they went on and on about it, but as soon as they get a chance the democrats do the same thing, only to a larger extent. Now the law protects the workers, so there is no need for these unions. Who are they protecting now. Really, these unions are just padding their own pockets, except when they are screwing with other people.

Ted, this is a topic close to my heart! As a former letter carrier with the USPS I can tell you if anyone ever needed protection from management, it's postal workers, those who do the actual work rather than sit at a desk making up rules that make no sense whatsoever. However, it should be pointed out that postal workers' pay does NOT come from the taxpayers but from those who purchase their services. Contrary to popular opinion, postal workers and other federal employees don't have such fantastic benefits and yes, we do pay into Social Security, at least anyone hired after 1984 do. Annie

I support the right of workers to Unionize so I do support SEIU even though they have to be one of the biggest Unions I know of maybe the one I am a part of is bigger. I see the benefits of being a part of a Unionized work force but I can also see the draw backs to it as well. I personally think that there are more pros than cons to it but that is for the Union I am a part of. As you where getting at SEIU isn't protecting the workers from a For Profit Business as I think we can all agree the Government isn't a for profit establishment by any stretch of the imagination :). So why exactly are they Unionized what caused them to do so in the first place as most of the Unions like the Teamsters for Example started because of the conditions in Factories and other Hazardous work environments that exist in the work place that Employers weren't doing anything about and that is why they still exist in the Private sector in some areas extremely so. Some places are still Union Shops. So I have to say even though I support the workers rights to Unionize I am not sure if SEIU was needed at any time as the government is fairly good at paying its people and isn't good at getting rid of rotten eggs. As for the amount of time Obama spends with the Union Leader he kinda doesn't have a choice if they (SEIU) decide to strike on some issue then we will be paying for them to strike or at least SEIU will be paying them. I do think the government hasn't being doing its job in this as Unions generally have to argue with the Employer to get a contract hammered out and SEIU seems to get a fairly easy job at it with the Government not talking of losses or anything but just going okay yeah we will sign that contract that will lock the government in for several years 5 if it is the same contract that I am currently on. The Teamsters has to fight with my Employer and we make some compromises and so does my Employer. I personally like being Unionized and it helps keep the place I work at safe for me to work at. Also I know that I am protected from the company taking risks that will endanger my life or the lives of my coworkers so in some places I think unions are still very much needed in the private sector but not so sure my self about it being needed in the Public or non-profit sector of the Economy.