Sen. Paul Gazelka, R-Brainerd, joined Sen. Dave Thompson, R-Lakeville, Thursday to announce their introduction of a constitutional amendment that would give Minnesotans the opportunity to vote on whether or not Minnesota workers should have the freedom to join a union or not. Currently, if someone is hired by a company with a collective bargaining agreement in place, that person is required to join the union or pay fair share dues.
“This is an employee rights bill and a jobs bill,” Gazelka said in a news release. Any employee should have the freedom to choose to join or not join a union and to pay or not pay union dues. This bill will make a union-employee’s union more responsive to his or her individual concerns. I’m proud to co-author this bill that puts decision-making back in the hands of the worker and helps our state economy move forward.”
If Minnesotans vote in favor of this amendment, every Minnesota worker would still have the right to join or support a labor union. Union employees would still be able to collectively bargain the same as under current law.
Thompson said states that have passed similar measures have experienced growth in business. He said from 1993 to 2009, private sector employment increased nearly 38 percent in those states versus only 19.6 percent in forced-unionism states.
Comments (70)
Add commentHow much is enough?
How's this...being transparency in government /public sector employment is the new buzz word, what is the actual breakdown of the tax dollar as far as total costs of operation for our state, county, townships, cities and school districts to operate on an annual basis? I would bet that 70 to 80% goes to compensation while 20 to 30 % actually ends up making it to the targeted area.
Support a union yes or no?
Now the voters get a choice- and that scares the h*ll out of our overlords...
I used to work for a couple
I used to work for a couple unions. One that I worked for was re-fueling jets at MSP. We would go out, fuel a jet for 15-20 minutes. Come back in, sit, and play cards for the next hour. (It was mandatory to take a break after such strenuous work, HA) Then we would refuel another set of jets come back in and play another few card games. By that time it was lunch time, so we had to take our mandatory hour lunch. By the end of the day, we might have fueled 5-8 planes each. Which would consist of 2-3.5 hours of actual work. The rest was break time. Another job was a production line making parts. I would sometimes try to see how many parts I could make in an hour, then I would try to beat that the next hour. The reaction I got from the other union members was very strange. They actually got MAD at me because the union required that we make only so many parts per hour. If we increased that, then the company would come to expect it. What I have learned in my union days is that they will do as much as they can, to do NO work at all. A bunch of lazy degenerates who destroy the companies that they work for by sucking any profit that they would make. Unions are one of the main reasons why companies left to open shops in other countries. So, next time you see a "Made in China" label, make sure you thank a union member!
Simple and Choice
This is REALLY simple folks, and is IS about choice.
I choose to work for a company - not a union - because the company provides me with a job, a wage based on the quality of my work, and the possibility of growth opportunities. If that company happens to have a union that I deem can benefit me, I may choose to join it. If it doesn't, I will choose not to.
Choice, free choice. I'd like to have that.
I hope they bring unions to
I hope they bring unions to restaurants and fast food places. "Can I take your order?"
"Yes, I'd like the..."
"Oh, I'm sorry, it's my break time"
A while Later...
"Ok, what would you like to order?"
"how about the sirloin with mashed potatoes and veg"
"Ok, I'll put the order in for you"
Few moments later...
"Ma'am, your steak is going to take a little longer, our union trained grill cook is taking his mandatory break"
a while later... Food comes to the table..
Server hands customer the bill...
"It is time that we collectively bargain for my mandatory tip"
I can't wait... Go Union... it promotes business!
Agreed Mav
Back in the day they might have been something. This day & age somebody has to come up with something better. I have seen the same thing you have. Not right.
BTW Did you head down to Roc over the weekend??
Hmm. Education Minnesota might lose some members?
If this passes...
Applies Statewide...
Side note...
Paul is a noted author it appears...
Market Place Ministers - 2003
Speaking of Amendments: Surpreme Court next for one of Pauls
Allowing gays and lesbians to marry affirmed by a U.S. Appeals Court.
So...interesting situation.
If the Supreme Court of United States Affirms this decision overturning Proposition 8 of California and has the following central arguments...
1. Marriage confers legal status in this nation.
2. Civil rights matter that has to be resolved.
So, dice role coming...
1. Supreme Court agrees with Appeals Court - MN Marriage Amendment co-authored and championed by Paul gets withdrawn - Ruled invalid regardless of voter choices
or
2. Supreme Court disagrees with Appeals Court and lots of money/organizations keep on trucking to Nov. 2012 voters.
With the kind of thinking raised by U.S. Appeals Court,
Next will be the rights of pedophiles, rapists, polygamist, bigamist, and any other wacko sex freak. After all they are tax payers too, and we wouldn't want to trample on anyones rights, now would we?
9th circuit is setting precedent
This precedent will be an interesting one to watch and what are the ramifications for sen Gazelkas referendum? Perhaps it will be a moot point if this referendum is defeated.
Currently people who hold
Currently people who hold union type jobs can choose whether or not to join the union. They can either pay full dues and have a voting interest, or they can pay "fair share" and receive the wages and benefits negotiated by the union. They do still have to pay some because they are still receiving some representation and benefit.
If they do decide to make this issue a choice "to pay or not to pay", then I think those who don't join (and therefore don't pay) should not be eligible for any of the union negotiated wages or benefits. Why should they get to drink the milk for free when they don't help to shovel the cow poop? Make non joiners have a mandatory rate of less than a union worker makes at least enough to offset the amount of dues paid.
And as for union busting, yes, that's what the intention of this is. Think about it. You are getting a new job. And on your first day, you are filling out your paperwork and the HR person tells you that you will be paid X amount of dollars and have X amount of benefits. And then they say, "Oh yeah, you can either join the union and pay $600 a year or you can not join and it costs you nothing." And you say, "well, do I make more if I join?" And the HR person says, "No. You make exactly the same, but your take home pay will be $50.00 less per month if you join." DUH...who would join?
But if you use your head and think beyond that just a little bit, once no one joins and the membership is zero, then there is no union. And then your employer is free to cut your wages and your benefits and you have absolutely NO recourse or any way to stop them. Those of you who are jealous of people who work in union jobs aren't thinking it through. You benefit from what those other people pay for even if you are in a non-union position. If a private employer can't offer a job that is up to the standard of it's union counterpart, he has trouble getting good employees to fill it (because they all go where the money is) so it raises compensation in non-union jobs as well.
And as for you who think that all union jobs are overpaid....not all of them. My sister works a union job and she makes a whopping $26,000.00 a year for a full time job with 15 years of service. Her benefits aren't all that great either AND on top of that she shells out $600.00 a year for union dues just so she can keep what she has. Yep, she's raking it in.
And Gazelka's plan doesn't just do away with unions for public sector workers, he wants to get rid of private sector unions as well. This is orchestrated by business owners who want slave labor with no rights. And it will affect us all in a very negative way.
Be very careful and think it through before you fall for Paul's so called jobs bill.
say what?
said by PdNet: "Next will be the rights of pedophiles, rapists, polygamist, bigamist, and any other wacko sex freak. After all they are tax payers too, and we wouldn't want to trample on anyones rights, now would we?"
Homosexuals are sex freaks? Wow. By the way, Rick Santorum wants his campaign platform back.
semi smartguy
I see a man was charged with bigamy in Albert Lea. I am sure you are feeling total moral outrage. If not you should be; it is people like you that opened this can of worms!
And.....
How does this affect you??? "Keep government out of people's lives!!!!" rages the republican..."well, except for voter rights, gay marriage, union rights, gays in the military, abortion, making sure everyone is a Christian, re-doing constitutions"...did I miss any PDiddy?
Pdnet
So you have gone from comparing homosexuals with beastiality to to now comparing them to bigamists. For most people, I'd shake my head in shame, but for you, I'll give you a gold star for offering a semi-less inflamatory and illogical conclusion.
For some reason, I have this mental picture of you as the homophobe in "American Beauty". We all know how that movie ends.
Never saw "American Beauty"
and I didn't compare anyone; I grouped them all together. You should try comprehending what you read. And twitdit, how come dems have no problem when THEY take up gay marriage, voter ID, etc, but your kind get your pantyhose all knotted up when Republicans do? Your thinking reminds me of Hitler and his dysfunctional thinking. And unlike a fictional movie this was one reality that didn't end well!
You are preaching to the
You are preaching to the choir with me, OkeyDokey
Good comment.
Someone should ask Paul
Someone should ask Paul where he got this "idea" of his. The answer is from being courted by corporations and businesses that contribute generously to a Republican think tank which treats our Republican legislators to freebie weekends and then gives them model language to take back to their home states.
It's not called lobbying, because the Republican legislators pay $50 a year to be a member. Check out ALEC (American Legislative Exchange Council) and then ask him outright if he is a member. So basically folks, we have corporations writing our legislation for us. Can you say Fascism?
Who is Right to Work legislation good for? Corporations, business owners and the politicians they fund. Who is it not good for? Everyone else.
What goes around comes around
Walker is on his way out in Wis
We need to nip this in the bud to save our working middle class
Well PDiddy
Dems aren't the ones that preach "keep government out of people's lives!!" Let me spell it our for you: H Y P O C R I S Y Again, so weak with your retort.
Pdnet
Nice try, but grouping the all together as you did signifies comparison. If not, may I suggets throwing in other groups of people as well. I'll help you: Self Rightous Evangelicals
Just trying to help you out
Wouldn't
Wouldn't it be nice if the non-believers would allow the believers the same rights they claim to not believe? Their insistance of nothing religous being displayed because it offends them is hypocritical if they don't allow the religous people to be offended by them displaying their disbelief of the Creator. I believe you non-believers are violating the Constitution by not allowing people to believe. What Say You?
P. S.
Wasn't Obama's minister a self rightous evangical?
union vs. no union
My friend and I do the same job with the same responsibilities. She works in a state group home and is a member of the union. She makes over 12 dollars and hour. I work in a privately owned group home and make 8.95 per hour. I've been at my job for over 8 years now. She has been working at her job for around 4 years now. I clearly see the benefits of belonging to a union!
To the person who made up the
To the person who made up the waitress taking a break story and blaming unions for the people not getting their food because the cook took his union brake.........It is State law. At my work I have the option to join the Union or to not join the Union, my pay is the same, no one treated me any different, etc, etc. From what I see the Unions help parts of the workplace and hurt another part of the workplace, which is the lesser evil?
Autumsun, from what I read
Autumsun, from what I read you are blaming someone else for making more money than you......maybe you make $8.95 an hour because that's all your worth? A smart person would..
1. Find a better paying job.
2. Apply for one of those horrid State jobs everyone hates.
3. Improve your life by changing to a career that doesn't pay peanuts.
4. Stop crying because other people have it better than you, even though everyone has the same opportunities, and the $8.95 an hour person seems to think they are owed something for nothing.
5.Look into the mirror and ask yourself what it is you can to make your life better.
And don't tell me you cant afford to go to school, blah, blah ,blah. People always use that excuse and it has just wore itself out. People pay for schooling everyday. If you want it you have to go for it. People take chances, and some people don't. Who is rewarded for taking chances? ( paying for school for example) . Is it fair that someone who puts forth more effort at their job be forced to make up the difference in pay because that other person didn't take the chance, or just plain isn't as good? You make less money per hour than your friend and you have chosen to work at a place that absorbers all the profit for themselves and you have chosen to stay there. If you were smart you would have figured that out long ago! So go find yourself a job that actually pays something and stop blaming everyone else because you made poor decisions.
PS I really h0pe y0u didn't pay f0r sch00ling f0r an $8.95 an h0ur job, that w0uld be just a bad life decision.
Many people in unions
didn't go beyond high school, because it is a known fact that union jobs hire family and friends. Look at the paper mill in town. Nepotism at it's finest. It is also a known fact that products made by unions are much more expensive. Take your Ford truck; you are not just buying the truck but paying for their overexpansive benefits!
Autumn
Autumnson, first let me say that both you and your friend are underpaid for what you do. I can't imagine the patience and compassion it takes to do your job. My mom is in the same field.
But, if I were you, I would not be jealous of your friend's union job. You've been in the field 8 years, and she's been in 4. Why did you not apply for the job she got? Why have you not applied for one of these jobs in a state run group home sometime in the last 4 years when you see that your friend has a better pay scale? You could be where she is. When making career choices, it is prudent to follow the money and that could mean changing jobs. If your current employer in a private group home lost enough good employees because they go where they can make more money, he will raise his salary scale or resign himself to the fact that he is a training ground with a high turnover rate.
But if you have applied and not gotten one of those jobs, then you need to ask yourself why. Maybe your friend interviews better, has a more impressive resume, better recommendations (which makes me also wonder why your friend isn't recommending you for a job when one comes available). Maybe your friend has a better of more extensive employment history. In short, maybe she is working the better paying job because she was judged by those doing the hiring to be the better employee. You can fix that. Brush up your resume, get letters of recommendation, practice your interview skills and invest in an interview "wardrobe" (doesn't have to be expensive), and then apply for every single one of those union/state group home jobs that come along. With 8 years in the field, a killer resume, great references and a polished/professional appearance, you should be a snap to get one of those jobs you envy.
Good luck to you.
unions
It's a known fact that some people don't have a clue what they are talking about and are just jealous that others can actually make a decent living.
I like how liberals and dems
always justify their thinking, not with inteligence, but with pettiness. If you don't agree with the gay agenda, you're a homophobe; if you don't agree with unions, you're jealous; if you don't agree to no voter ID's, you are either a racists and/or denying their rights. You people will never be happy until we have complete anarchy, and then you'll blame someone else!