Greedy Union Thugs

From Radio Iowa:

Tempers flared at the statehouse when some of the opponents of a pro-union bill were unable to sign up to speak at a public hearing. The bill requires non-union workers to pay fees to the union. With most lawmakers gone from Des Moines last Friday, Representative Rick Olson, a Democrat from Des Moines, scheduled a public hearing for this Wednesday and within a few hours union members had taken 60 of the 70 available slots to speak.

Also, from the Des Moines Register by Dan Clute:

In 1947, Iowans enacted a law that allowed its citizens to work without being required to join a union or to pay fees to a union as a condition of employment.

Senate Study Bill 1120 changes that. It forces non-union workers who work in an organization that has a union to either join the union or pay fees to it, or be fired.

The proponents of this legislation call it "fair share," but there is nothing "fair" about it.

The basic issue boils down to this. When a union is organized in a business or other entity, it is not required to represent all of the employees.

However, it is in the union's self-interest to do so for two fundamental reasons.

First, by becoming "certified" to represent all of the employees in the bargaining unit, it precludes other unions from organizing the same employees and competing against it for members and dues. In effect, it becomes a monopoly.

Second, by representing all of the employees, it stops individuals from getting a better wage or benefits package from their employer based on their individual performance.

Looks like the union thugs are out for a money and a power grab.

Nice Orwellian spin on the term "fair share", too.

Unions are soooooo 20th century.