More than 100 years after the first Labor Day celebration on Sept. 5, 1882, the labor movement that once advocated worker rights is working hard to trade those rights for government handouts.
Kentucky union members accounted for just 8.6 percent of wage and salary workers in 2008, compared with the 9.1 percent posted in 2007. Yet union influence on our legislators and administration is tremendous. Too many legislators and administrators bow to the union agenda in hopes of remaining in power. So much for country and commonwealth first.
What unions can't achieve in growth through performance and service to their members they try to get from politicians as payback for helping get them elected. The Employee Free Choice Act, known as “card check,” is tops on big labor’s agenda. This legislation would greatly empower unions, hamstring business, force unrealistic bargaining timelines with mandatory binding arbitration lurking in the background, and limit worker freedom. Kentucky representatives Ben Chandler and John Yarmuth voted for this legislation.
If the big labor bosses had confidence in their approaches, they would say to their legislator friends:
- “Get rid of prevailing wage legislation and Project Labor Agreements. We can effectively compete on price/performance with anyone.”
- “We support right-to-work legislation because our services for our members are worth much more than their dues.”
- “We don't need card-check legislation because we can grow and work hand-in-hand with business to create new jobs without government handouts.”
- “Forget payroll deduction of our dues. Instead, we will collect our members’ dues just like any other organization.”
- “We don't need the government to give preference to union participation in projects because it puts a bad rap on us as hindering competition and increasing costs.”
Now statements like those would be in the true spirit of individual freedom, liberty and free enterprise! They would offer a true reason to celebrate Labor Day.
Kentucky union members accounted for just 8.6 percent of wage and salary workers in 2008, compared with the 9.1 percent posted in 2007. Yet union influence on our legislators and administration is tremendous. Too many legislators and administrators bow to the union agenda in hopes of remaining in power. So much for country and commonwealth first.
What unions can't achieve in growth through performance and service to their members they try to get from politicians as payback for helping get them elected. The Employee Free Choice Act, known as “card check,” is tops on big labor’s agenda. This legislation would greatly empower unions, hamstring business, force unrealistic bargaining timelines with mandatory binding arbitration lurking in the background, and limit worker freedom. Kentucky representatives Ben Chandler and John Yarmuth voted for this legislation.
If the big labor bosses had confidence in their approaches, they would say to their legislator friends:
- “Get rid of prevailing wage legislation and Project Labor Agreements. We can effectively compete on price/performance with anyone.”
- “We support right-to-work legislation because our services for our members are worth much more than their dues.”
- “We don't need card-check legislation because we can grow and work hand-in-hand with business to create new jobs without government handouts.”
- “Forget payroll deduction of our dues. Instead, we will collect our members’ dues just like any other organization.”
- “We don't need the government to give preference to union participation in projects because it puts a bad rap on us as hindering competition and increasing costs.”
Now statements like those would be in the true spirit of individual freedom, liberty and free enterprise! They would offer a true reason to celebrate Labor Day.
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