Why are people bashing Unions, when Unions are responsible for the good working conditions we currently enjoy?

by **tahmelapachme33** » Sat Nov 19, 2011 6:36 pm

If not for Unions we would not have Weekends.

If not for Unions we would not have the 8 hour workday.

If not for Unions we would not have Child Labor Laws.

If not for Unions we would not have a Minimum Wage.

If not for Unions we would not have Overtime Pay.

If not for Unions, Women would be fired when they got Pregnant.

If not for Unions, Workers would be fired if they were injured on the job or got sick.

If not for Unions there would be no Workman's Compensation or Unemployment Insurance.

by **lintun** » Sat Nov 19, 2011 6:37 pm

Heh, good work with this one, I mentioned a few of these on a previous question. I'd like to add one though:

If not for Unions, a large portion of the workers in this country would be working in unsafe conditions.

It's because of Unions that this country has increased standards for safety at facilities. If you want a good idea of just how unsafe things were before, read the book The Jungle. It provides a pretty details of explanation of just how bad slaughterhouses were (let's just say some people lost limbs in there). Those kinds of working conditions aren't allowed today for a reason.

Edit: Government Union Worker - I love this argument, mainly because it's perhaps the worst you could possibly bring up. You're basically saying that jobs have been sent overseas because we've demanded good working conditions. Wow. I guess we should lower our standards. I mean, obviously, if a 3 year old in China can get a job working for a dollar a day, we should all be willing to make the same sacrifices.
You realize you're arguing for a reinstitution of child labor in this country, correct? Because that's part of the reason jobs are going overseas - they have a lot more people willing to work for a whole lot less. You're arguing to scrap the minimum wage, which would force people to work multiple jobs just to stay afloat (people do that already, but you're compounding the problem). You're arguing that we should be willing to work longer hours for less pay. Yep, that's a reason to abolish unions, perhaps the worst one available.

by **ahanu** » Sat Nov 19, 2011 6:48 pm

If not for unions, our labor costs wouldn't be driven up so much. You forgot that one.

Unions did serve a purpose when labor laws were being created. Since, they have become exactly what they used to be against...a bunch of corrupt, greedy people who care more about making money than their members benefits and working conditions.

by **berwin** » Sat Nov 19, 2011 6:55 pm

Koch Brothers and Rupert Murdoch are trying to edit history to say that minimum wages, and weekends, and all those things were created out of the goodness of the hearts of the Tycoons.

Luckily, we can see through their BS.

Also, they're propagating the nonsense that somehow money still belongs to the employer after the paycheck has been signed.

by **syvwkh** » Sat Nov 19, 2011 6:59 pm

Koch Brothers and Rupert Murdoch are trying to edit history to say that minimum wages, and weekends, and all those things were created out of the goodness of the hearts of the Tycoons.

Luckily, we can see through their BS.

Also, they're propagating the nonsense that somehow money still belongs to the employer after the paycheck has been signed.

Do people remember what it was like before Unions?

Most likely not, but it was well known that Corporations willingly paid their workers poorly, and put them in dangerous work places making worker mortality much higher than it is these days.

I'm forever grateful to those Unions who were called "communists" merely because they wanted to be treated with dignity and fairly.

by **josephus** » Sat Nov 19, 2011 7:00 pm

No brains and they have their heads so far up their back door that they can't see for the darkness .
Stay away from the light don't go near the light ! For if you do you'll be able to see the truth of life !
That and their a bunch of cowardly trolls !

by **therron57** » Sat Nov 19, 2011 7:02 pm

The unions are responsible for the deplorable working conditions

in CHINA

where - thanks to unions - all the jobs now are

by **donough** » Sat Nov 19, 2011 7:11 pm

I'm so sick and tired of reading what unions did 100 years ago. I don't care. Let's talk about today, shall we? Today, the things you mention are covered by state and federal laws. Unions are anachronistic.

by **abisha** » Sat Nov 19, 2011 7:14 pm

Let's not forget the huge local, state and federal deficits caused by their unfunded liabilites!!

by **bergh39** » Sat Nov 19, 2011 7:22 pm

Yeah. And if not for the military we would not have freedom but Liberals gut their budget at every opportunity.

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