Comments on: Unions Aren’t Green http://www.ecoworld.com/blog/2008/02/04/unions-arent-green/ Ed Ring's EcoWorld Posts Sun, 5 Jul 2009 04:36:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: Ed Ring http://www.ecoworld.com/blog/2008/02/04/unions-arent-green/comment-page-1/#comment-93186 Ed Ring Thu, 05 Mar 2009 03:02:22 +0000 http://www.ecoworld.com/blog/2008/02/04/unions-arent-green/#comment-93186 Mike - I completely agree with you. If you read another commentary we have on this issue <a href="/blog/2008/04/13/unions-ideals-vs-reality/" rel="nofollow">Unions: Ideals vs. Reality</a> you will see our position clearly. Basically, the more a union operates in a monopolistic industry, the more there is potential for the union to abuse their collective bargaining power. No "industry" is more monopolistic than the public sector, and the influence public sector unions wield is bankrupting our local and state governments and grossly undermining our democracy. The more a union operates in a competitive industry, the more they fulfill a vital role to ensure workers receive fair compensation. As for unions and environmentalists - in my opinion the current alliance between unions and environmentalists is something that benefits environmentalist extremists (and the powerful vested interests for whom the environmentalists are puppets), far more than the average non-public sector unionized worker. Read <a href="/blog/2008/07/14/unlocking-california-gridlock/" rel="nofollow">Unlocking California Gridlock</a> for a prediction of how and why unions and environmentalists will eventually part ways. Bottom line - do you want jobs building an America for the 21st century, or starve inside a green straightjacket where the only projects you can work on are light rail? Mike - I completely agree with you. If you read another commentary we have on this issue Unions: Ideals vs. Reality you will see our position clearly. Basically, the more a union operates in a monopolistic industry, the more there is potential for the union to abuse their collective bargaining power. No “industry” is more monopolistic than the public sector, and the influence public sector unions wield is bankrupting our local and state governments and grossly undermining our democracy. The more a union operates in a competitive industry, the more they fulfill a vital role to ensure workers receive fair compensation.

As for unions and environmentalists - in my opinion the current alliance between unions and environmentalists is something that benefits environmentalist extremists (and the powerful vested interests for whom the environmentalists are puppets), far more than the average non-public sector unionized worker. Read Unlocking California Gridlock for a prediction of how and why unions and environmentalists will eventually part ways. Bottom line - do you want jobs building an America for the 21st century, or starve inside a green straightjacket where the only projects you can work on are light rail?

]]> By: Mike http://www.ecoworld.com/blog/2008/02/04/unions-arent-green/comment-page-1/#comment-93185 Mike Thu, 05 Mar 2009 01:28:02 +0000 http://www.ecoworld.com/blog/2008/02/04/unions-arent-green/#comment-93185 The author of this piece should be aware that public sector unions and construction unions are not the same. Furthermore he should also be aware that unions exist to build power for workers. The fact is that in this day and age no employer, not even the government, will pay good wages and benefits unless workers build power for themselves. This is the function unions try and fill. If a construction project goes union, that means that every worker on that job has a good wage, health benefits, and a pension. To a trade unionist, achieving this goal is worthwhile, whether the project is \"good for the environment\" or not. And that trade unionist will use every lawful means available to build the power necessary make sure the workers on that project are treated with respect and properly compensated. Green activists need to be as respectful of workers as they are of the environment. That said, organized labor should return the favor. The author of this piece should be aware that public sector unions and construction unions are not the same. Furthermore he should also be aware that unions exist to build power for workers. The fact is that in this day and age no employer, not even the government, will pay good wages and benefits unless workers build power for themselves. This is the function unions try and fill. If a construction project goes union, that means that every worker on that job has a good wage, health benefits, and a pension. To a trade unionist, achieving this goal is worthwhile, whether the project is \”good for the environment\” or not. And that trade unionist will use every lawful means available to build the power necessary make sure the workers on that project are treated with respect and properly compensated. Green activists need to be as respectful of workers as they are of the environment. That said, organized labor should return the favor.

]]> By: Eric http://www.ecoworld.com/blog/2008/02/04/unions-arent-green/comment-page-1/#comment-81025 Eric Wed, 20 Feb 2008 19:00:30 +0000 http://www.ecoworld.com/blog/2008/02/04/unions-arent-green/#comment-81025 Great piece. What the unions are doing is outrageous and the Sac Bee did a fine job of lambasting the unions for using this greenmail technique. The Governor could help end this abuse by way of an Executive Order if he wanted. Great piece. What the unions are doing is outrageous and the Sac Bee did a fine job of lambasting the unions for using this greenmail technique. The Governor could help end this abuse by way of an Executive Order if he wanted.

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