Utah Dems warn of push to erode public employee unions

[highplainsdem]

Source: Salt Lake Tribune

State lawmakers carrying anti-collective-bargaining legislation are simply “water boys” for corporations with an ultimate goal to privatize services ranging from garbage pickup to firefighters, Democrats charged at a meeting Saturday.

Jan Johnson, executive director of the Utah Alliance of Government Employees, told a crowd of about 130 gathered at the Red Lion Hotel that the American Legislative Exchange Council provides corporations with access to lawmakers by charging the companies fees upward of $750,000 “depending on what they want to buy.”

In the case of state Sen. Howard Stephenson — an ALEC member — she said he has two pieces of legislation pending for the 2012 legislative session that would seek to undermine collective bargaining for public employees.

“ALEC is an insidious little group,” Johnson said.

-snip-

Read more: http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/53041999-90/alec-bargaining-collective-democrats.html.csp

[Kingofalldems]

1. Kick and Rec

[newspeak]

2. I lived in utah and was employed at one time by the state of utah

utah is a right to work state, and their state employees don't get paid that much as it is. I remember an article in the salt lake tribune about the great number of state employees on food stamps, because there were many who didn't make enough to support their family. So, they can privatize it, allow those corporations access to more of our information, pay even shittier wages with no benefits, charge the people more for shitty services and make a profit. WOW, I'm so impressed-NOT!!!!

When I was working in DMV, they wanted to do a new DL, where all your information, charge card, hunting license, library card--all was part of your DL. The tops were very excited about this program and the state would be the first. I informed them that there are people, especially in Utah, that would see this as a threat--access to more of their information. Sure enough, when they released their plan to the public, there was a major outcry against the program. Too much big brother.

However, the church to me, is very corporate focused. Just debating with my boss, it was a corporate love affair and unfortunately, he didn't see the possible evil and increase power that corporations gain by privatizing the shite out of everything public.

[qb]

3. I hope ALEC gets exposed nationwide for the un-American turds they are

before the 2012 elections.

[saras]

4. Two things I don't understand the lack of: criminal conspiracy charges and lynchings

[sulphurdunn]

5. It's not too late

to regulate the airline industry. It worked fine when it was regulated. It paid decent livings to its employees when it was regulated and got people where they were going. It could do that again rather than be a cash cow for obscenely greedy suits.