Obama: Arena should be unionized

Obama is making deals with unions, didn’t he say that he will not make deals with special interest groups?

You are wrong. He said he does not take money from federal lobbyists but you have your mind made up and will twist anything to make the verdict you want. That in some parts is called a lie.

I'm appalled at this!
I thought Barak "Hussein" Obama was different!!! But, he's just like Hillary and Edwards...looking to make a deal for an endorsement.

Many Americans just lost hope in Obama because he was going to be different.

So sad...all the dems are alike...tax, spend, recession and make [deals.]

Ummmm...... Can you spell T-O-N-Y R-E-Z-K-O ?

Paulo

He ought to thank those non-union workers for making the facility as good as it was.

If the workers don't like their non-union job, they can always go find another job.

Zzz...insert Bruce rant here.-----------------

Insert mindless John D, Tony Rez..blah rant here. ---------Blah, blah, blah.

Zzz...

Terry,

Or, pursuant to the Natianal Labor Relations Act of 1935 - they can work to organize their work place.

Yes, Doug, I was puzzled by the statement in the article, ". . . the Verizon Wireless [Arena], which will not allow the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 195 to organize employees."

According to the 1935 Act, the employees are free to organize if they want. The Arena can tell employees why they believe organization might be counterproductive, but if the employees want to organize, they can.

Zooker,I think we all know Terry stands with the big Corps.

He has no interest in the average person receiving health care or decent wages.He's a true believer in trickle down.

But it's OK with him if that average person sends one of their kids off to die in Bushie's phony war.

www.obamatruth.org

If anyone ever dealt with union workers at any convention center I highly doubt one would want a union worker. Huge costs for little to noneffective work. You have to wait and you have to put up with attitude. One reason why the big cities like Chicago keep losing convention business.

Anyway, are all the workers at the UC, Wrigley Field, The Cell unionized?

Doug, you keep forgetting that Terry is impervious to facts.

Shorter Terry: 'Are there no workhouses? Are there no prisons?'

If the workers don't like their non-union job, they can always go find another job.

Posted by: Terry | December 9, 2007 9:57 PM

Your job will probably be available soon, eh? I'll do it for less than you.

As a former union activist (whose job was outsourced pre-NAFTA), people should realize that Obama is prostituting himself for endorsements as do all politicians. He knows the only way he can get on the ballot and win is by kowtowing to the union bosses, just like Hillary and Edwards are doing.

This election has nothing to do with Bush, Iraq or the environment and EVERYTHING to do with the union bosses' agenda. And, if Americans get suckered into voting for the mess that's will ensue in 2009 with a one-party (i.e., Democrat-only controlled government), they will have no one to blame but themselves.

Additionally, if anyone thinks that unions are good for a convention center and its exhibition business, you should take a drive down to Philadelphia, where unions have all but killed that city's convention business.

Or, you can read this article:

http://www.theinternetparty.org/commentary/c_s.php?td=20030616000100§ion_type=com

The unionized people are being taken advantage of. I was a member of the Teamster for over 30 years,and believe me they endorsed many a candidate. And tried to tell the rank and file whom to vote for. Its really appalling.Think for yourself and then make your own choice.

John D-

You know, unions are made up of millions of you fellow Americans, so if corportations are america as you say, then unions are america too.

Why do you hate American workers? Why do you hate America?

John D.,

Yeah, if your asking about the concession workers, janitors and maintenance staff - they are unionized. My old organization SEIU Local 1 represents them.

Employer Report,

Politics is union business too. The "union bosses" line is a mystery to me. The vast majority of union leadeership I worked for/with came right out of the workforce they represent.

AJF, I do not begrudge or hate most union workers. What I do have a problem with is unions who end up harming the worker, stealing from them, or where union employees at Jewel and Dominicks make less than NONunion employees at Wal-Mart, McDonalds or Target.

Doug,

You are correct on the NLRA of 35. I'm more on the theory of interference in an employer-employee realtionship.

Crazy Duck,

Coporations create millions of jobs for American workers - those mean organizations.

Expand on John D's point - go look at McCormick Place. Conventioners have to call a union electrician in order to put a plug in an outlet. There is the ridiculousness of union rules. And it is thoe rules that drive convention traffic from Chicago.

Weiner - useless as usual

Scabworker - As far as my job, you could probably do my job for less, but the quality of work wouldn't be as good - considering you are posting on this blog at about noon. You probably don't have the skill sets that I do in order to perform my job. My employeer values these skills and pays a fair salary, bonus, and benefits to me. If they didn't like my work, they would get rid of me. If I didn't like their pay package, I would seek employment elsewhere. See how easy that is.

AJF - why do you hate corporations so much? They do provide so much economic activity for this country. Do you need that concept explained to you again?

"Coporations create millions of jobs for American workers"

So does the Chinese Communist Party.

Jeez, you are a retard.

Unions start out by addressing some real wrongs, and end by destroying their members' jobs.

For evidence, one need only look at the UAW, which has the domestic auto industry in a stranglehold and won't let go until it has choked all the life out of it, and the unions at McCormick Place, which require four people to do a job that you could do yourself in half the time. No wonder conventions flee to right-to-work states such as Nevada.

I believe that the reason for the job destruction is that there is no mechanism in the union to say, "Hold on. That's enough. If we demand more, the company won't be competitive and somebody else will have our jobs." The first union leader who tries to make that point will be voted out of office at the next election and have to go back to the tools, instead of having a nice air-conditioned office with a comfy chair. Union members' demands for more, more, become the seeds of their own destruction.

Terry,

I agree about the "rules."

For the record though, you should know that the union doesn't get to write rules on their own. They're mutually negotiated.

Anyhoo...in the mid-1980s I trained distrubitors on how to operate body shop frame machines. And... my company had a trade show in Dallas and I wasn't allowed to operate my own machine because of the "rules.". So here comes the convention center guy who needs me to instruct him in how to operatate my own equipment.

It was stupid beyond belief.

AJF - why do you hate corporations so much? They do provide so much economic activity for this country. Do you need that concept explained to you again?

Posted by: Terry | December 10, 2007 7:26 PM

I don't hate corporation Terry, I simply don't find them to be infallible objects of worship as you do.

Why do you hate working people so much? Why does it scare you so when commom people band toghether to try and improve their lives? Is it that they are doing something you are afraid to do?

Doug,

You are correct on the NLRA of 35. I'm more on the theory of interference in an employer-employee realtionship.
--Because we KNOW corporations NEVER take advantage of their employees. (Triangle Shirt Waist company)

Crazy Duck,

Coporations create millions of jobs for American workers - those mean organizations.
--And the American consumer represents 1/3rd of the GDP. So when all those jobs disappear overseas, or stay here but get salaries cut drastically, then the employers sell pension obligations to the Feds for thirty cents on the dollar, those employed Americans can't spend money. And that hurts the corporations. So tell me again how corporations HELP the US economy.

Expand on John D's point - go look at McCormick Place. Conventioners have to call a union electrician in order to put a plug in an outlet. There is the ridiculousness of union rules. And it is thoe (sic) rules that drive convention traffic from Chicago.
--McCormick Place unions have renegotiated the deal about these things. KEEP UP WITH REALITY, and maybe you'll sound intelligent for a change.

Weiner - useless as usual
--As are you.

Scabworker - As far as my job, you could probably do my job for less, but the quality of work wouldn't be as good - considering you are posting on this blog at about noon. You probably don't have the skill sets that I do in order to perform my job. My employeer values these skills and pays a fair salary, bonus, and benefits to me. If they didn't like my work, they would get rid of me. If I didn't like their pay package, I would seek employment elsewhere. See how easy that is.
--Wow. What a superiority complex. Not surprising, since all republicrites think they are god. But never the less, it seems to never occur to these mind bigots that there are three shifts in a day, so posting at noon doesn't mean one doesn't have a job, just that on is not on duty Describes plenty of firemen, policemen, and EMT's. Or perhaps the poster could be... a stay with me, a STAY AT HOME PARENT! Fulfilling the requirements of the sanctity of marriage. "Hey, it's noon. The kids are down for a nap. I think I'll log on to the Swamp and see what other stupid stuff terry has posted"

AJF - why do you hate corporations so much? They do provide so much economic activity for this country. Do you need that concept explained to you again?
--BP - Polluting Lake Michigan.
--US Steel - polluting Lake Michigan.
--Exxon - trashing shorelines in Alaska.
--Enron - destroyed thousands of people's retirements.
--Adelphia Communications -Founding Rigas family collected $3.1 billion in off-balance-sheet loans backed by Adelphia; overstated results by inflating capital expenses and hiding debt.
--Halliburton - Improperly booked $100 million in annual construction cost overruns before customers agreed to pay for them.
--Dynegy-Executing "round-trip" trades to artificially boost energy trading volume and cash flow

Dave-

Where is the mechanism for corporate officers to say "Hold on , that's enough, if we demand more, this company will be no longer be competitive."?

The gap between what the corporate officers make and what the workers make is growing larger every year. Yet every time a company gets in trouble it's the workers, especially union workers, who take the blame. The Coporate officers walk off with multi-million dollar bonuses and golden parachutes.

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/business/s_484598.html

• In 1960, studies found for every $1 the average worker was paid, the average CEO whose company was among the Standard & Poor's 500 garnered $41.

• Last year, the ratio jumped tenfold: For every dollar the average worker made, the average S&P 500 CEO made $411.

John D said:

"AJF, I do not begrudge or hate most union workers. What I do have a problem with is unions who end up harming the worker, stealing from them, or where union employees at Jewel and Dominicks make less than NONunion employees at Wal-Mart, McDonalds or Target."
-----------------------
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That is flat out untrue. If you take a Jewel worker's paycheck *and* benefits and measure them against any non-union worker from Walmart, McDonalds or Target you will see that the unionized Jewel worker makes *way* more. Jewel workers get mandatory pay raises, health care, vacation days, and pay that is more secure, regular, and livable than any ununionized Walmart or Target worker. They get that precisely because of their union, without which stores like Jewel would have great incentive to cut employee pay & benefits to better compete with stores like Walmart, who treat their employees terribly.

Weiner,

Why aren't jobs in America and not China - could it be union wages?

Were your parents on drugs when you were conceived?

Doug,

You know better than I, work rules are often made for job protection, than operational efficiency.

mcBS,

Corporations only take advantage of their employees whne the employe allows to be taken advantage of. The employee always has a choice - work or quit.

Employment is under 5%, so job loss leading to less consumer spending is not relavent. Since uunions have been in decline since the 70's, many new jobs have been created as have new companies - MicroSoft, Dell, .... Good paying jobs. Look at our cost of living and things we have today that our parents didn't 25-30 yrs ago.

Superiority complex - no -its reality. I have skills that many do not and therefore I am compensated accrdingly. I do not have the skill of thowing 1 baseball 95mph from 60' 6" w/pinpoint accuracy - I do not get paid like a ballplayer becuase not thatt many people have the skill set of a professional athlete. Its simple supply and demand.

As far as corporations making mistakes - sure, they are run by people. Do you think unions are pur as the driven snow. How about all the mob ties, pension robbing schemes. They happen since both organizations, corporations and unions, are run by people.

Corporations have done much more good than harm to this country and its economy.

So Terry, are you saying American factory workers should be payed at the same level as Chinese factory workers?

How often have you suggested to your boss that you get payed less so that the company does better?

AJF,

No I'm not saying American workers s/b paid the same. I forget you are the one w/ no economic knowledge. I wish I could draw you a picture.

There are many expenses that go into a product, some expense are less expensive in America, while some aren't - labor is generally one of those that are more expensive in America.

Do you go to your clients and give a 50% off discount for your services?

Do you have staff? Do you give your staff double-digit raises every year? Full pension? 401K plan? 100% coverage in health benfits? Educational reimbursement? Matching charitable gifts?

Or do you pay the market prevailing rate in order to boost that ROI?

Well Terry, why did you make the statement then?

"Do you go to your clients and give a 50% off discount for your services?"

Sometimes I even work Pro Bono.

"Do you have staff?"

Yes

"Do you give your staff double-digit raises every year?"

Not every year, but I sure like to when I can. Bonuses too.

"Full pension?"

No

"401K plan?"

Of course.

"100% coverage in health benfits?"

Yes.

"Educational reimbursement?"
Where job related.

"Matching charitable gifts?"
No, but there is office sponsored charitable giving.

Are these things shocking to you? I know that the success of our company is based on their efforts, from the most experienced, down to the least experienced. We're a team. I'm not the only one that deserves a slice of the pie. I'm smart enough to know that the company isn't healthy if only those at the top are doing well, aren't you? I'm certainly not interested in a race to the bottom for my benefit, and at my employees expense.

AJF,

You sound like a successful businessman. Do you like turning over 12.4% of yours and your employees' income over to the gov't for FICA taxes, when you know that even the person the makes $20K per year could invest that $2400 per year and retire as a millionaire (not counting your 401K).

Do you manage the 401Ks are is that outsourced?

Your employees do not contribute at all to their health insurance? That's very generous. Do you think you employees are well covered in their health plan?

As far as this being shocking, for a good business this does not surprise me. Since there is a cost to employee turnover. MOst corporations think like that also, that is why those that contribute to the success of the corporation are rewarded well.

Do you like turning over "12.4% of yours and your employees' income over to the gov't for FICA taxes, when you know that even the person the makes $20K per year could invest that $2400 per year and retire as a millionaire (not counting your 401K)."

First off, I understand it's necessary to cover those who are less fortunates. Second off, I know enough about investing to know that if Social Security did not exists, I would have to put most of the saved money into low growth, low risk investments in order to make sure that I was protected as time went forward. Putting all your money into higher growth investments is to risky. You have to have a balanced portfolio. Social security represents a vital part of that portfolio. Didn't you know that?

"Do you manage the 401Ks are is that outsourced?"

No.

"Your employees do not contribute at all to their health insurance?"

Nope.

"Do you think you employees are well covered in their health plan?"

Yes. We havenn't had any real issues so far.

Does your company do all those things Terry? Or are they strictly focused on the officer's bottom line as many corporations are? Does your company view thier employees as part of the team, or are they simply an asset for the corporation to use up and toss away? Are the people simply a business decision or are they treated as unique human beings to each be valued?

Let me give you little financial advice:

If I'm a 20 year starting in the work force at $20K per year, I would take that $2400 an put it in the stock market and put in growth oriented stocks - take some risks. the reason is, history has shown us that the return in 40+ years (when that money will be needed for retirement) there will be a much larger pot. As one gets closer to retirement, the risk of the portfolio should decrease. My hunch is that 12.4% of someone's salary would be the lions share of their retirement - especially if they only make $20K per year.

Yes and then some. Sure our officers are focused on the bottom line, but they don't need a gov't mandate to tell them to pay their employees. They know if they want quality, they pay for it.

Are there some labor items that are treated as a commodity (as you stated:"an asset for the corporation to use up and toss away"). As our company has evolved and competition has grown harder, we have outsourced some things because they were not our core business and could be done cheaper by outsiders. A very common on used in business today, and you might do the same, is the office cleaning crew. Do you outsource your office cleaning?