3 ms·
There's a major difference between a public employee union and a private sector union. In the private sector, a union organizes to put leverage on management, w
by padobson 11y ago
There's a major difference between a public employee union and a private sector union. In the private sector, a union organizes to put leverage on management, who represents ownership (i.e. the stockholders, the partners, etc). Ownership made a choice to invest in the company, and was able to weigh factors like labor rates and work environment before they invested.
But in a public employee union, labor is organizing for leverage against ownership, which in a democracy is everyone under the government's jurisdiction. In this case, ownership is investing in the union without the same choice.
If we live under a government that is of, by, and for the people, collective bargaining via unions is oppressive. Labor negotiations should take place at the ballot box, and public employees should live with what's decided there.
- jazzyk 11y agoThank you. It is astonishing how few people understand the distinction (public/private).
- tamana 11y agoCan you explain the relevance of the distinction?
- ethbro 11y agoWe live under a government where oppressive discrimination by the majority is also illegal. You're expecting a majority to care about a livable wage for their fellow man or woman more than an extra dollar in their pocket saved from taxes. That's not a very realistic expectation and taken to conclusion, damaging for the country and the services provided by those employees (no expecting Ritz treatment at Walmart salaries). I included a caveat about how unions need to be bounded, and there are additional needs in the public sector, but the same tensions that drive their necessity exists for public employees as well. Just because you choose a government job shouldn't mean you sign your rights away.
- tamana 11y agoWait but why? We vote for representatives to negotiate with their labor force and contractors.