The political spotlight is focused directly on Madison, Wisconsin and the massive protests against reductions in union benefits that may be necessary as the state retrenches in an effort to remain economically viable. Ohio may be the next scene of union ill-will as the state house struggles with similar budget woes.
There is, however, a strategy that could level the playing field.
Organizers Move In
Unions in Wisconsin are receiving assistance from outside the state’s border. Former community organizer, President Obama, has weighed in on the side of the unions, seemingly unaware that he is facing the same problem on a federal level that Governor Walker faces in Wisconsin. Union organizers and strategists are coming in to Wisconsin to bolster the protest in an attempt to tip the scale in favor of collective bargaining rights - regardless of the ultimate damage to the state and its citizens.
Unions Have Too Much Power
At an earlier time in our nation’s history unions played a vital role as employment numbers ballooned in particular industries. As the days of hiring a few farm hands or laborers were coming to an end, the United States began working through issues of compensation, working conditions, and management/labor relationships.
The twenty-first century is one of global communication on an instantaneous basis. The recent uprising in Egypt proves that news will find its way out into the world. Individual workers are hardly oppressed and locked away anymore.
The Face of the Oppressor Has Changed
Big business used to oppress the workers, at least in some cases. Today, it is far more common for the unions (even bigger business) to oppress the citizens and tax-payers of the nation. It is time to call their bluff.
Unions are far more likely to use threats and blackmail to get their way than business anymore. And, just as the bad behavior of industry management in the past century was not an accurate representation of the workers on the shop floor, union management today doesn’t necessarily reflect the ideology of the membership they are supposed to represent.
Union managements now oppress our nation by misusing the power of their representative position to spend their members' money in the same way state and federal governments oppress the citizens by wasting and misplacing their tax dollars.
Unions and Government
- Both are representative, yet neither represents their electorate faithfully.
- Both union bosses and politicians have become gluttons for personal power.
- The power of the people is in the pocketbook; yet the power of their money has somehow made it into the pockets of union and government bigwigs.
Strategy to De-Fang the Unions
If every one of the twenty-plus states who are not right-to-work states would introduce legislation to limit the parameters of collective bargaining, the union apparatus would not be able to fund, staff, and bully their opposition.
Unions are better funded than any government. Unions have the power to 'tax' just as governments do. The smart plan would be to stress the bank accounts of the unions until they have the same issues as governments. When they go to their membership and ask for an increase in union dues of 20-55% so they can fight the good fight, how might their members respond?
Unions are replacing the government as the oppressors. By increasing the number of fronts they have to defend, a fair fight might be waged. Call the union's bluff nationally, and the idea of coming to the table to re-negotiate contracts may start looking like a good plan. There is plenty of evidence that unions have a strong survival instinct. Let's take advantage of it and give the average guy a chance.
Lynn Baber - Lynn Baber, Christian writer specializing in leadership, relationships, and all things equine.
