Does America Still Need Labor Unions? (online survey)

[dcsmart]

Parade magazine, which appears as a Sunday supplement in many newspapers around the country, is conducting an on-line survey asking if America still needs unions. The obvious answer is yes; so here is an easy opportunity for each to express our solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the union movement. To take part in this survey:

http://www.parade.com/export/sites/default/news/intelligence-report/archive/does-america-still-need-labor-unions.html

[no_hypocrisy]

1. That question by itself is appalling to the memory of legions of cracked skulls of union members.

[prairierose]

2. 71% YES when I voted.. n/t

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Earth Bound Misfit]

4. DUzy!! n/t

[Jim Sagle]

5. Voted, Ked, and Red. 71-29 pro-union is the vote right now.

[Double T]

6. America needs jobs far more than it needs unions. In fact unions........

may drive more jobs out of the country. Workers rights can be legislated if we can get the DNC (Do Nothing Congress) to do something.

[Jim Sagle]

7. Without union-generated political power, that'll never happen.

BTW, NOTHING is DRIVING jobs out of the country except pure, unvarnished GREED. Do try to keep up.

[Double T]

20. Yep, looks like the UAW is truly in charge. Unrealistic pensions and benefits..........

will ultimately cause this union to self destruct; what was accomplished?

[Jim Sagle]

24. Some folks got brainwashed by management BS.

As a direct result, others lost their jobs and unions lost ground.

That's what got accomplished. It RRRRRAWWWWWWWXXXX to be a CEO; it SSSUXXXXXXX to be a regular American.

[GrantDem]

11. The only thing driving jobs out of this country is corporate greed...

[paulsby]

18. that's simplistic

i *am* a member of a union and have been for most of my working life.

but that's false, and it's reductionism.

union demands have, in some cases, helped contribute to driving jobs out of this country.

unions are (imo) necessary, and an important check against corporate greed and the inability of non-organized workers to get a fair shake (collective power is much more persuasive).

but they are not all "light and good". and they can be JUST as greedy. it is the job of unions to advocate for their side, not to advocate for broader common good, and sometimes those two conflict.

the system is adversarial, much like our justice system. these don't lead to perfect results, but they make sure both sides get represented.

both sides (just like in the justice system) can at times work against systemic justice.

i am a fiercely proud union member, but i'm a pragmatist too.

my union has fought many common sense proposals that would improve the public good (much like keeping jobs in the country would improve the common good), but that's not their job. their job is to fight for their particular worker(s) in the case before them

[GrantDem]

22. Union demands?

There are no union "demands". It is called collective bargaining. it is an offer/counter offer process. Please leave the corporate propaganda at the door.

[paulsby]

26. i think it's a fair term

but if you would prefer union "offers" that works for me.

the point is that it's a dual advocacy system (just like our justice system).

neither side (union or corporate) is all good or all bad. they have, to some extent, different goals, obviously different constituencies, etc.

i certainly think that the country, and the system is BETTER because we have unions. that's a given

[Double T]

21. ..........AND uncompetitive wages and benefits for many workers.

[GrantDem]

23. Like those UAW workers making $70+ per hour???

:eyes:

[Double T]

25. Total compensation is actually higher than that; compensation is.........

one of several factors destroying the big 3.

http://mjperry.blogspot.com/2007/07/uaw-pricing-themselves-out-of-market.html

[Ozymanithrax]

8. Without unions corporations will continue to drive wages down.

Unions created the middle class by gaining better wages for Americans. Union busting serves investor interest and workes to reduce wages. I don't trust even a Democratic Party led Congress to just say no to Corporations.

[Omaha Steve]

9. 70% yes

K&R!

[GrantDem]

10. Done.

87% Yes

13% No

[Vincardog]

12. Yes 87% HELL yes says ME

[Canuckistanian]

13. Looking good - 88%

But that might just be us that's affecting the numbers.

[nichomachus]

14. Still need? Shit -- we need them now more than ever.

[druidity33]

15. K&R, at 88% yes, nt.

[vssmith]

16. YES--89%

[Doubting Thomas]

17. 89% yes when I voted

Now, more than ever!

[eppur_se_muova]

19. still 89% YES nt

[Kablooie]

27. I belong to a really stupid union but it does give me medical benefits so it's worthwhile.

[Earth Bound Misfit]

28. 91% Yes now...

The RWers heads should explode when they see this (lol)

Parade is a journalistic rag, IMO, but thanks for posting this Poll.