Organized Labor Hurts Us

[@the2step]

Why do government officials agree to these deals? Simple, they're not the one's paying the bill

[@Zenas521]

They also want to be reelected to office.

[@worsethanjoerogan8061]

Yes and in many cases their campaigns are heavily financed by unions. "We'll get you elected and you get us a sweetheart deal paid for by the taxpayers".

[@tomkunich7654]

You have to tread VERY lightly here. If there aren't union thugs forcing governments to pay their people you have government thugs forcing their workers to work for petty cash. I'm not sure how to manage these sorts of things but saying one side are thugs and the other not is not the way to express this. You can't have a jury of economists either since the government simply manipulates them as well. Those who have power WILL abuse it so the only real way out of this is for more and more people to be educated at what happens when you exceed the ability of the customer to pay for a service.

[@raymond62]

Tom Kunich tanks you are a Person I would like to talk to

[@tomkunich7654]

To you, chewing gum is rocket science.

[@dogestoevsky2853]

"It's easy enough to be generous with other peoples' money."

[@lawrencegenereux8567]

It's Socialism at work.

[@Contra1828]

Well, sometimes if they can't manage being generous on their own, you have to help them out and do it for them :) ☭

[@kimobrien.]

@@Contra1828 When these, building a business, idiots cut their own pay to that of one of their skilled workers than we will listen. When they stop paying these 'investors' who consist of nothing but a big bag of money then we will listen.

[@peterbills4129]

Milton Friedman, in his book “Free to Choose“, detailed the four ways to spend money: You spend your own money on yourself. (Economize and seek highest value) You spend your own money on someone else. (Economize, but don't seek highest value) You spend someone else's money on yourself. (Don't economize, but seek highest value) You spend someone else's money on someone else. (Don't economize and don't seek highest value)

[@kimobrien.]

@@peterbills4129 What's Mr Freedman take on the free Oxygen problem in a capitalist society?

[@fprv]

“Have you been spit on before?” “Yeah actually” Lmao

[@justinnamuco9096]

"I don't like it but I wouldn't get 64 days off" 🤣

[@justinnamuco9096]

@Angelo River i just quoted the response

[@mattobermiller5041]

Carpenter here, you ever cut out and replaced large sections of plumbing packed full of human shit? Ever been running a sawzall on a remodel and cut into a wire that wasn't supposed to be there? My job is WAY more dangerous than what these union fucks do but I only get paid according to the value I provide.

[@chunkemonke398]

I’d probably take a week off if I get spat on.

[@TheVagolfer]

Union guy looks like a " union guy ". Nuff said.

[@KeepingItKeith]

Thick ass neck.

[@HughesEnterprises]

Hardest work he’s put in all day was unwrapping a dozen Big Macs and complaining about management

[@toughmanrandysavage3077]

THAT'S LUNCH!!!!!!!

[@JBangcastle]

Sounds like one too?.... Whoops, I said too much

[@HughesEnterprises]

JBangcastle Whoa, watch out he’ll file a grievance against you

[@nattyyonks]

“it’s just a coincidence she looks like Margaret Thatcher”... 🤣🤣

[@johnmonk66]

What is wrong with unions is not that they protect their workers, it is that they protect the bad workers. Union or not, if you don't perform you should get fired.

[@kimobrien.]

@mak 10 Because the only reason for allowing management to fire people is to get more out of the rest of us. They fire someone for no reason what so ever if they think it will scare the rest of us. The bosses always rely on having the unemployed at the door to hold down wages and keep up their rate of profit. Do we get to decided if we want the CEO fired for mismanagement? If it wasn't for the unions and the class struggle we'd still be treated like slaves as disposable people in the interests of profit.

[@kimobrien.]

@mak 10 "Another problem with unions is it creates a US vs them environment.' That's called the class struggle. You can't stop the bosses from closing shop and moving elsewhere except for the fact that the size of the world is finite and moving production to mars isn't possible despite Space X. The unions were organized without dues checkoffs and their is no reason to believe that a union that fights back will have any problem with collecting dues. The bosses traded union dues check offs in return for labors support for the second Imperialist war. After the war and the big strike way that followed was over was when Taft Harley was written allowing states to forbid dues check off. This was another excuse for the labor aristocrats to halt organizing in the south despite the big struggle against Jim Crow in the south. By 1954 the union tops were Labor Statesman rubbing shoulders with the bosses and their politicians beginning the process of forgetting about those still in the shop.

[@eeveegaming4798]

I’d rather bad workers be hired then good ones fired and payed little

[@hectormorales6175]

Not all unions are the same. I’m in a dog-eat-dog world. You suck you get the boot and the union backs up the contractors... so don’t be fooled with “protecting the workers” on top of that if you go to the union about a boss, that boss knows other contract companies bosses and they black list you.

[@kimobrien.]

@@hectormorales6175 That's the kind of union you don't need. So you can either join another union, possible transfer to a different local, or organize a palace revolt. The way to organize a palace revolt is to bring issues that the officials can't ignore then bring in more and more workers in the union to help with the issue to backup your palace revolt. It's been successfully done in the past by the UMWA Miners for Democracy and in 1934 by the Minneapolis Teamsters who fought pitched battles with the employers "Citizen's Alliance" making the open shop town into a union stronghold. All that done while the back stabbing Dan Tobin was International President. If you aim your fire at the bosses other workers will want to join you and that puts backstabbing officials on notice that they can either join or be replaced with a new leadership.

[@akfanfortyseven8375]

yes this vid is arguing against unions...but damn...I want those benefits and pay too. Looks very attractive.

[@crazylegs5063]

It's literally unsustainable.

[@michaelvandevusse3728]

@Jeff Oliver Detroit as in they have a lot of public sector programs in their city these days? Or are you saying the gov in subsidizing Ford to bring back automobile factories to Detroit? I would love to hear your perspective as I am very ill informed on this.

[@damikco1]

Join a union or work for peanuts!

[@DaveSkylark111]

All you have to do is ignore the long term costs for self interest.

[@DavidLLambertmobile]

I have no issue with NY or NJ transit workers retire at 55. That area is difficult & dangerous. You have bad winters 3-4mo then all the soc problems to stress you out...

[@thomasjefferson1457]

Unions in the private sector are fine because they have to abide by the natural laws of the free enterprise system that restricts them from getting so greedy they bankrupt the company they work with. Unfortunately in the government sector there is no checks that will stop them from getting too greedy and bankrupting the company they work with because it's funded by tax dollars that never cease to end. The government just raises taxes and take it from the citizens. A private sector company can't do that. Raising they're prices on the products they manufacture just turns customers away to other products made by other companies.

[@misters2837]

EXACTLY!

[@thomasjefferson1457]

You meant to say I owned a company and HAD a union in a closed shop environment. So what's the problem. An honest company and an honest union have little problems. There is only so much money and if the workers ask for more than is available it doesn't work out. But it doesn't hurt the tax payer because it's private sector. I have worked both sides of the coin and there are companies that do not need a union but on the other hand there are some very bad companies that ruthlessly take advantage of it employees and need to go broke.

[@MK-ex4pb]

Thomas Jefferson that's not true. They are given protections by the wagner act and can basically force their way in and then begin sucking off the workers and company. It's no different in the private sector

[@thomasjefferson1457]

I'm not sure you understood what I was talking about? Your comment seems to be answering something I didn't say.

[@thomasjefferson1457]

LOL Now I know why, You're a racist idiot..............

[@bobbic3027]

This guys argument is ‘America is the richest country so we are taking, not our share, but more than our share!

[@ronfroehlich4697]

Milton Freidman discussed this forty years ago

[@thinhtranba5352]

Jesus

[@S_M808]

milton Friedman also believe in universal basic income

[@SS-cc2cv]

Shane Mageo in place of all the dumb entitlements we have

[@DeathSithe92]

@joseaca Neither are good and neither should be subsidized, it breeds and attracts the lazy, the leech, the parasite.

[@zackhamilton8444]

@@S_M808 No he did not believe in that horse shit. Milton said if we are going to have government assistance that it would be a better system to have a UBI that would replace all other assistance programs. But he believed the government should not be involved in giving aid to people. He wanted mutual aid societies as there used to be before the government got into giving out money.

[@michaelhiggins2562]

No where does union hurt us more than in "education." Teacher unions have killed every attempt to improve education in the country for the past 75 years.

[@bigdeal39]

Michael I couldn't agree with you more !

[@Bilbo1teaBaggins]

So it's the unions' fault that the government is corrupted and even legalized corruption? It's not the worker's fault that politicians do something only a year befor and after they get elected.

[@naryal.2747]

Teachers union and police unions suck, I agree. But they shouldn’t be labor unions, they should be consumer unions

[@Bilbo1teaBaggins]

@@naryal.2747 yeah, fuck the workers. Human and workers' rights are all communist lies.

[@austinbyrd4164]

@Mikita nice strawman

[@jake050792]

MTA isn't supposed to make money, it's supposed to get people to work and wherever they need to go

[@Zachery_Jiran]

$30 an hour for driving buses? Getting 50 payed days off? This is beyond helping people get to work. Go get a regular job in the free market like everyone else.

[@adenm8963]

​@@Zachery_Jiran why should they? Theyre clearly far better off here.

[@1d10t.]

​@@Zachery_Jiran 30 an hr is poverty in much of America today if you have a spouse let alone kids. It would be hard to buy a single wide on your own land let alone a single family house. And don't say apartments, multi family units and condos as that's not the American dream and we have the space for houses unlike many European countries. Real issue is inflation, over taxed, tax misappropriation in all facets of government, chicken tax and cafe standards, career politicians, no term limits, government over reach, unbalanced budget, and corporate greed among many others.

[@skidude9800]

I love how Stossel is so direct and doesn’t shy from confrontation.

[@greenbrickbox3392]

Its easy to be brave when you have millions of dollars behind you. I remember when he got slapped by that wrestler and sued him for damages then argued against civil suits later on.

[@ronnie_5150]

@Ali S Stossel has openly said he's a hypocrite. One of his videos he even talks about being a "freeloader" for being quite wealthy yet still taking advantage of tax loopholes and programs that really only benefit wealthy people and getting things he could easily pay for himself.

[@audreyandremington5265]

@@ronnie_5150 i feel like since he's admitting it he's less of a hypocrite.

[@3miggie]

@@audreyandremington5265 true

[@madeonearth6506]

@@greenbrickbox3392 yes exactly that only proves he is right. He takes advantage of some things that he shouldn’t because they are THERE. He covers this exactly, and is indeed his point.

[@joemooreDawg]

"I don't know anything about logging." Brilliant defense dude.

[@jakebhenry2228]

He’s worse at defending then the bloody tree

[@clifmall]

Should just do like a politician and make up the facts

[@KickinAss1000]

All guys are dumbfucks LMAO

[@Billman66]

John's interviewing a goombah; I went to one PBA rally when I first joined the dept. of corrections years ago. The guy that stood in front of us was cut from the same cloth, just a little greasier and a bit better dressed, with his gold chain digging into the fat of his neck. Unions and organized crime go hand in glove.

[@douglascameronjonier6885]

@Bobby Brady So it isnt ok for the the average working middle class to make money and have benefits? What do you even know about socialism?

[@frankcastle9691]

I have to agree with John on all this. In my city the busses and tram are free. It costs 100 million dollars a year to run them. 90% of the people that ride the bus are homeless.

[@butchblakesley6239]

why do all union bosses look like over inflated cabbage patch adults ?

[@J_M3444]

butch blakesley because they never have to lift a finger. Only to shove it up their asses while sitting at their desk

[@timmartin6410]

And they sound like the stereotypical bent nose (mafia) crowd

[@butchblakesley6239]

@Sandy Castles crack me up. thx for the laughter. kudos

[@TSemasFl]

As in every union, you have two types of members. The workers and the bullshitters. The workers elect the bullshitters to office, so they stop screwing stuff up in the field.

[@butchblakesley6239]

@@TSemasFl The peter principal, reminds me of Navy days :)

[@iamthem.a.n.middleagednerd1053]

I've been self employed ever since I was 23 and I only work half days; 12 hours a day.

[@bilbobaggins4710]

Good man 🙋

[@iamthem.a.n.middleagednerd1053]

@Polish Power 37, actually

[@marcusrat4466]

@@iamthem.a.n.middleagednerd1053 wut did you start out with

[@iamthem.a.n.middleagednerd1053]

@@marcusrat4466 nothing. I worked at cici's pizza full time my sophmore and junior year in high school bussing tables for around $8/hour (5.15 + some tips) only to have to pay my parents' bills. I started with pizza hut my senior year (2000-2001)and after I turned 18 I started delivering pizza and started making $15-$18/hour (hourly + commission + tips). I moved out of my mom's house the night I graduated high school into a converted garage/apartment for $175/month. After I moved out I never gave my lazy parents another dollar. I met my wife at 20 and we have a daughter that I'm grateful for. I've just been breaking my ass for the last 21 years. I own 3 late night delivery restaurants in Tulsa, OKC, and NW Arkansas. I do all right now. If you work 80 hours a week for the next 20 years you can too.

[@marcusrat4466]

@@iamthem.a.n.middleagednerd1053 Very inspiring, thanks for sharing your story.

[@ontariofirs7347]

As someone who works as a unionised housekeeper contracted to work in a hospital, my union is useless tr@sh and they did nothing for 5 years to increase the pay of me and my coworkers as minimum wage laws in my Canadian province caught up with the rate of pay in my collective agreement, hence why for 5 years me and my coworkers were only making min wage

[@lily..]

unions aren't separate entities that make decisions for you. you and your coworkers are supposed to be the union. did you or your coworkers take any union action within those 5 years?

[@ontariofirs7347]

@@lily.. "You and your coworkers are suppose to be the union." Thats not reality mate, this union and CUPE only care for themselves and the income they make from their supposes "members". Unions in my 6 years of being unionized only deal with the forming of the collective agreement. Any other issues such as being fired for breaking workplace policies such as harrassment charges and breaking confidentiality are not dealt by the union but by the hospital HR department. And this corruption isnt even unique to my union

[@UndefinedBailiwick]

30 days of vacation right off the bat? Most jobs around that pay level will only give you vacation days after a year and it's usually 7-14 days.

[@k-ozdragon]

@Makchu Cook lol I e worked since I was 15 years old. I just got my first vacation days when I was 38. Everywhere else - forget it. I've run stores & not just a regular employee. Of course, I'm not saying this is right; but what I am saying is that 30 days is utter insanity.

[@k-ozdragon]

@Makchu Cook Which country is that? Also, paid sick leave?

[@k-ozdragon]

@Makchu Cook Most companies here have 15 paid vacation days, but that's if you're working somewhere that can actually afford it & it's considered a perk - which it should be. If you're also paid for sick days, that's just crazy. Imagine hiring employees & you have to pay them for an entire month out of each year that they don't even work for. The very obvious consequence to this would be far less employees get hired. Places like the Nordic countries are cutting back on their social programs because they're beginning to get behind on paying for them - something which tends to happen a lot in socialist countries. Switching to socialism is great; until you run out of all the cash that capitalism made you 😄

[@k-ozdragon]

@Makchu Cook I didn't say leave was destroying these countries, the overall social programs are. A grade school aged child could have understood that. So you're blaming Muslims entering the country for it failing - you do realize America accepts more immigrants than any other nation, & also has literally millions of illegal immigrants that enter it every year. Essentially, you're telling me social programs can't work in such a system - I agree. You say we're like social dictatorships, how exactly? Of course those nations don't allow leave; they're all failing communist countries who's people are starving & economies are crumbling, *because of communism* you utter moron. We don't have leave, because your employer does not owe you for not working. Why should your boss pay you for an entire month of not working? Probably great for a lazy person such as yourself, as lazy people love to take from others. Fund your own sick days. Why should your boss be responsible for you? Will you pay his wages when he's sick? Of course you won't. You want the government to force him to have to pay for you to take almost 10% of the entire year off because....? You work for him? That's what dictatorships do. Take money from others as the point of a gun. Great logic you have there buddy 👍 Keep blaming unchecked migration for why socialism fails. When you make successful people pay for lazy people, it's no wonder the system breaks down. The migrants arent making it fail, they're just speeding up the process.

[@k-ozdragon]

@Makchu Cook Also, your country is a shithole because it's socialist. Capitalism has lifted more people out of poverty than any other system. Any system that hands all control to the government & redistributes wealth from those who earned it is bound to fail. It's a stupid idea, & morally corrupt. Congratulations, you rank up there with all the nations you just listed. Hope you're not white; but if you are, enjoy being klled by your own government.

[@imchris5000]

the problem is not unions its the monopoly governments make

[@MajinMist603]

Also major company’s.

[@PatrickBaptist]

Yeah unions are a problem

[@PatrickBaptist]

@@Kevvyn- Some gov we have it's both a thief and murderer and all the while brainwashing it's people to be proud of such behavior, worse than pedophiles since I'm referring to the countless children it has slain under the guise of protecting freedom.

[@bmw803]

Good point. Unions are the symptom of government fuck ups.

[@bmw803]

@Wes 76 They are the problem, but they're the symptom of a bigger problem. Governments creating monopolies, politicians caving to unions in order to get votes and social peace.

[@mattc8347]

I work for a union and I absolutely hate the amount of laziness I work with I’m currently trying to become a supervisor and get out of the union

[@Charieldeleon]

You don’t say a supervisor what exactly do they do 😂

[@agoniaXdunya]

Document document document

[@Kris_P._Bey_Ken]

@Matt what kind of work is it?

[@mikejr3536]

@@zachhayes9512 definitely UPS

[@mattc8347]

@WorldFlex changed jobs I work in healthcare i work for the same union different “branch” the facility is way better and so is the pay but still have lazy people who call out all the time and get away without or show up to work and do nothing and the people who actually work have to pick up their slack it protect the people who do nothing it’s a flawed system

[@lucawits648]

I love how the MTA union guy never gave John a proper strait answer. He just kept trying to either change the subject or shit on John for even asking.

[@kimobrien.]

When they remove all the management dead wood, cut their pay, golden parachutes, bonuses and all the other perks they have than you can expect us to listen. The people who buy the bonds should have paid taxes to begin with.

[@juandlrcol]

@@kimobrien. Why don't you guys just start a business of your own if its so easy, then you can pay yourselves whatever you want, no??? just the way management did??? that way management cant exploit you anymore, or why dont you quit and find a better job, is management forcing you to work?? Socialism the gospel of mediocrity and envy.

[@kimobrien.]

@@juandlrcol Sure it is. We can be investing in and opening a New MTA Subway, Commuter rail and Bus transit system with the snap of our fingers. How about you send me a few million. We can be up and running in no time flat.

[@yeticusrex1661]

@@kimobrien. Exactly....you want somebody else to fund your business, yet you expect to keep control of it. Why don't you take the risk yourself and get a loan to start your business just like anyone else? So if your business model fails, you become responsible for that debt....not the taxpayers. If you have faith in your own model, then put your neck on the line and not expect someone else to do it for you.

[@charleskegley9347]

@@yeticusrex1661 do you realy beleive that the city tool out a loan at 5,6 8% no way its a tax the call a levy dumb ads.

[@ollie73august37]

This union guy looks very well fed.

[@fubarexress6359]

They usually are fatties

[@juangabriel123ify]

No buddy, that's just how the majority of Americans look like statistically speaking.

[@sway2733]

In building trade unions (like I am) if you’re not the best, you don’t work. At all

[@austiny.5676]

He’s a TWU president and didn’t really do a great job representing AA fleet and maintenance employees. Unions are good but like anywhere else, there are dirty politics.

[@billm2065]

He doesn’t do actual work!

[@lollypawps3396]

Yeah we have private railway in England and its owned by the Chinese. I would choose nationalization over Chinese private ownership anyday of the week. Also railways and bus routes aren't a market per se. I can't choose what service of rail to take on my morning commutes within one city/town. So the monopoly design of public transport will mean businesses can exploit its passngers without competition or ramifications. People have no choice than to take public transport. If a government wants to keep its private sector running within a city/town/country, they often need to supply the services to do so.

[@ennuiii]

Literally all the union guy had to say was that all workers should be treated like the transit workers do.

[@standingpineapple6651]

Right? Johns Argument is that workers don't deserve that kind of money... Which doesn't rub me the right way. People should be able to live a good life working essential jobs like these. A union like this gets created when people are fed up getting paid less and want more! Common John, you admitted yourself that you take advantage of government tax breaks! These guys are taking advantage of the government! You knew that and tried to paint them in a bad light. This story was misleading at best and dishonest at worst.

[@shannonlee4622]

Thank you. I was reading the comments wondering if people were actually listening to anything he said

[@jacobhayes4085]

@@standingpineapple6651 His argument was that these workers shouldn’t get that kind of pay and benefits when most private sector workers don’t because it’s their tax money paying for those good benefits and pay. He should’ve titled the video about public sector unions because that’s all he discussed, and they’re many times worse than the worst you could try to paint a private sector Union as. The problem with these public sector unions is basically that the politicians write the checks with other people’s money and don’t have to take responsibility. Private employers are limited by their wealth and profits, but public employers (the government) have no limit because it can just raise taxes higher. Plus, like John said, they’re inherently monopolistic from the start, then adding in bad workers being protected by the union, and you’re just asking for dysfunction.

[@JSmusiqalthinka]

@@standingpineapple6651 Yeah, it's kinda interesting how the narrative is that union bosses are parasites with with lot of money...but these bosses never seem to have what the media campaigns corporations have. It's almost like unions are a threat to the company owners for some reason.

[@Pan_Z]

@@standingpineapple6651 Stossel's argument is that it bankrupts the state, since the businesses aren't sustainable on their own without taxpayer dollars. Even if the workers labour hard (I'm sure they do), they're benefits come at the cost of everyone else's benefits. Nothing is free.

[@jeffreyfoj9800]

John Stossel is an absolute Maverick!! He's without a doubt, one of a kind. A genius.

[@nbmag]

@JeffreyFoj listen jef, he is not unbiased, he is saying what you want to hear!

[@kimobrien.]

@How Dare You Disrespect My Sexdoll Plenty of libertarians talking about how capitalism good socialism bad. As long it's the Boss collectivism of the limited liability corporation thats good but when the workers organize into unions to fight for higher wages that's bad. Or so the libertarians say. They play the role of the oppressed capitalist under the boot of his own government.

[@TJFicarrotta]

Jeffrey Foj I grew up watching him on 20/20 as a kid when he would do his consumer reports segment. Always enjoyed how he exposed companies for their not so nice practices..

[@kimobrien.]

@How Dare You Disrespect My Sexdoll There are no rights for "taxpayers". Congress and the states get the ability to make and collect taxes period. Most of us pay taxes that should come from the wealthy and corporations. Instead they buy state and federal bonds so they can make a profit out of government expenditures. So while your caught in the debate over higher taxes or fewer social services their getting paid from government guaranteed bonds with tax money. No one talks about cutting bond payments because that's an off limits debate. Just as a maximum income tax is. Why a single person should control the wealth created by millions and a class of people should be making all decisions based upon what gets them a bigger return on investment rather than what meets the needs the other billions of people is beyond stupid.

[@TopG8008]

@@kimobrien. Hey, idiot bitch. If you don't like the pay or benefits of a company, then don't fucking work there. You can't just accept a job at mcdonalds and then unionize and ask for 2x your pay and extra benefits for cooking shitty burgers. Damn, you are so stupid. Never breed you commy bitch.

[@nelsongalvez2567]

This is the reason I became a conservative. There isn't one government agency that has employees that work with a sense of urgency or even care about doing a good job. Yet they complain more than anyone.

[@Slyfox1775]

Why aren’t we talking how much we pay politicians and all their incentives! these creeps ! With a 15% approval ratting ! We should go after them .. they are constantly giving themselves raises !

[@jamescastro6640]

I know right?

[@marcmescher2335]

The title “Organized Labor Hurts Us” is misleading. Organized labor in the public sector is problematic because there is no adversarial relationship between Labor and Management. The public service union says “we want more” and the bureaucrats say “ok”. The police, teachers, sanitation worker, bus drivers, etc...do not work in an industry which is intended to be profitable. These are public service jobs. The unions simply take advantage of the inability of the bureaucrats to say “we can’t afford it” because the immediate response from the union is “how much are you making?”, and “How many administrative position have been cut?” When you sit behind a desk and make $500,000 a year, with a deputy administrator, 3 administrative assistants and 4 secretaries, and try to tell the people doing the work they have to tighten their belts, the negotiation goes poorly.

[@komlat253]

Thank you .there are some governments jobs needed in our country that will always be there no matter the economy. It's not our fault we have corrupt people abusing this necessity of our nation .I dont want competition on the police force omg .its already hell lol. And altho I dont trust American education I feel the same for our schools. Some things need to be there no matter what ,for the benefit of the people and the government...the problems is that people want government so small that it cant tell them nothing or do them nothing .well I'm sorry .that's not how freedom works in a society. Provitization is find in the right place but it dont make a communist if u believe the government needs to do more them judge the people

[@ThaiNguyen-tn9zv]

@@komlat253did you even read what Marc Mescher

[@jennymisteqq695]

Wow, your headline is a lot longer!

[@urdude67]

Very well stated!

[@ZRock93]

I agree. I work for an electrical utility company and, although we are not unionized, the IBEW that represents other companies does a great job, defends their workers’ rights, fights for better pay and benefits, and can help find a job anywhere in the world for its members. Many private sector unions benefit their members without causing the company to go bankrupt and the money they profit from is not tax money.

[@TheBatugan77]

Reagan had the right idea. He read the contract of the air-traffic controllers. Then he enforced it.

[@TheSkouge]

Thank god for Stossel, one of the few genuine journalists left.

[@timennis3456]

Absolutely! One of the fewest.

[@bgbgef]

clay bennett screw stossel hes a puppet

[@Charieldeleon]

😂 he clearly has an agenda are you guys stupid

[@Charieldeleon]

This is the same guy who said he built his career on unpaid interns lol then goes on to say he couldn’t hire them because he can’t afford them wow John

[@holdencaulfield8239]

I’ve never seen more partial journalism than his. This guy always has an a agenda and cherry picks info that supports the end he wants.

[@TheHorta]

The solution is simple -- make every .GOV agency run like a business. You can't run any business at perpetual loss. #HoldDemAccountable

[@orbonds3603]

Thered be complete anarchy in a week

[@asain3586]

@@orbonds3603 Fuck them then

[@deezynar]

That union boss sits across the bargaining table from a politician who the union gave money to, AND the union told all of its members to vote for that politician. Do you think that politician is going to sign off on a labor contract that the union doesn't want? Government employees should NOT be allowed to be in labor unions. The conflict of interest is too extreme.

[@jacobbaker5442]

you could have stopped at "government employees should not be"

[@jamesleesley]

Great point.

[@pearl_lisha896]

I never thought of it that way, that the government is a monopoly 💭🤔

[@justinnamuco9096]

For real? Lol. First thing I learned thinking about businesses

[@mayorbeetlejuice4841]

Every federal own business is a waste of tax payer money as they are behind schedule, overfunded, and are nothing but to help policías get elected bc if the post office fire bad workers mainstream media would attack

[@francobaudino6938]

Correct ! Read Thomas Sowell or watch some of his videos on public schools and you realize the same thing !

[@tokesalotta1521]

California state workers can say the feel depressed and get an extra 30 days of sick pay.

[@ildesu789]

What's the problem with that? Everyone should be able to do that.

[@lordspongebobofhousesquare1616]

@@ildesu789 no. If it's a properly diagnosed mental sickness then yes. If it's you having a bad day and trying to exempt yourself from work then no. Depression and sadness is different

[@trashacct1198]

@@lordspongebobofhousesquare1616 I've had days where I could barely work because of my mental health issues. So shut the fuck up, let me guess. You are a manager

[@hectormorales6175]

My labor union doesn’t even give sick or vacation pay.... you know nothing my friend. Motto is: you don’t work you don’t get paid.

[@rossomex12]

@@trashacct1198 you are weird

[@jessemiller9792]

My area the starting pay is $39.50 hr, 6 weeks vacation starting off, 100% health benefits for the whole family, free passes for dozens of city parks and places, education money for kids.

[@parac0sm0naut26]

Union Guy: " Do we need to take this out back fella'?!"

[@briankeech9933]

You wouldn't just be taking him ok it back asswhole you would be taking his whole union outback.

[@theblackcatvieweraccount5402]

@@briankeech9933 he was saying it as the union guy. As in the exact scenario you just described... That was the joke. Js

[@redpillsatori3020]

*Union Thug

[@Samlol23_drrich]

It's quite simple when somebody else is paying the bill, you don't care what the costs are. When you are paying the bill, you do. The somebody else in this case are the taxpayers

[@dbc7772011]

Would you rather billions$$$ get sent to Ukraine or help the American worker?

[@Samlol23_drrich]

@@dbc7772011 taxpayer money?? neither and its not an either/or

[@jonbohn3854]

organized labor also got us paid time off, sick days, and the eight hour workday. so its not black and white. i dont love unions, but i do recognize their contribution to our current quality of life

[@jayvandevender6290]

"Yo we got a lot of broads workin' for us ,and, you know them broads take a lot of sick days..."

[@rossomex12]

@@fml5910 preach, brother!

[@cliffordbodine5834]

Public Sector Unions - The reason why New Jersey property taxes are the highest in the land!

[@kimobrien.]

How many New Jersey tax dollars go to pay down debt owned by people who should be paying taxes instead.

[@jefferyallen5030]

Clifford Bodine the reason new jersey has high property taxes is because land in finite. And all the land has been privately owned and developed. Mid west states and Texas have lower taxes. Because they have alot of undeveloped land left to work with. If a state has very little land left underdeveloped. And this makes tenet rates higher. This raises the value, and property tax. In simple terms supply and demand. If you want a much better investment on land. Goto Texas, Iowa, South Dakota, or another larger less developed state. Be prepared however to have larger yards, less neighbors, and to pay to have plumbing and electrical installed. But you will get acres of land for the cost of a parking space in the north east. This has absolutely nothing to do with unions. I'm from Texas where we generally don't have unions. And talk of unions in the break room is unofficially banded. But even we know unions did alot for tmthe country. And made working conditions far better and increased pay. Even in none union areas, because it forced large companies to stop hording, and made them competitive. And banning unions would ultimately lead to lower pay as it did in the past. The bottom line people are naturally selfish. If a guy can have you work 18hr days for bird feed, And you got no better option. Than you will and your life will be dog shit. In a world where the big guy can pay off gov, and buy an army of lawyers to staff hr. The little guys have to establish minimums and standards across the board. And frankly it's the only horse working class people have in the race. Outside of physically refusing to work, there is nothing else they got to barter. Remember for most of human history, including American. Entire families have worked 15+ hour days, for substance living. While being told if they got paid more society would collapse. Funny how when people refuse to work, magically the company had funds to spare.

[@kimobrien.]

The federal government has been placing the tax burden onto the states because they know that by creating state competitions for lowest taxes they can reduce the overall costs of social services. While they talk about the unaffordability of social services they say absolutely nothing about the cost of debt service to the big capitalist state bond owners. The capitalist love cost plus government contracts and they love government debt because unlike other kinds of debt obligations and contracts the chances of a bankruptcy are virtually nil. They capitalist who say they don't like government debt and cost plus contracts are expressing their jealousy feelings concerning not what they get but what other capitalists are getting.

[@kimobrien.]

I don't? A short google search will show a huge debt in illinois and capitalist government attempts to exit promises made to state employees. State employees don't get social security unless they paid in at a private job or the state specifically arranged with social security to do that. This is equivalent to what that did to other workers in the private sector through bankruptcy. The capitalists made promises they had no intention of ever keeping. Latter they closed those plants and industries reopening without a union and then came up with these bogus IRA accounts which inflation tore down to almost nothing.

[@kimobrien.]

It is called reverse robin hood where the rich constantly come up with new ways to steal from the working class.

[@oliverfasola19]

I love how the ansewer to every question is angry New York nonsense

[@dymoman7]

John; Be Careful! Jonny “Meat & Potatoes” is going to have you “whacked” if you keep asking him hard questions!

[@keithhamlett8381]

Communist Bernie Sanders voting base right here.

[@bijad3854]

@@tarkfarhen3870 how is it communist?

[@baraja4651]

Lol this guys are conservative warrantied, most union guys are.

[@Otoskire]

Unions are an important bargaining tool for laborers in the free market, it’s the fault of government for being weak and utterly incompetent

[@McVaio]

It's the fault of both. Unions should be there for the workers they say they represent but they have total disregard for them.

[@richd5476]

Unions served a good purpose back in the 1900s. Today they've out grown their usefulness. It's no wonder companies ship jobs overseas.

[@johnkretzschmar6479]

Unions merely bring meaningful democracy to the nation's workplaces. They use that democracy to gain a collective voice in determining their future quality of life. Giving voice to the previously voiceless and marginalized is just what the founders did in breaking away from England. That makes unions...as American as apple pie.

[@alwillk]

Well sure, they’d rather have stupid employees who don’t want healthcare and will work for peanuts because they are starving.

[@manuelhartman8807]

Wonder who helped built the middle John.

[@0311Mushroom]

We saw this first hand when Hostess went bankrupt. They begged for a wage freeze so they could stay open, the union went on strike. Then they applauded when they closed their doors.

[@0311Mushroom]

@@FredMas-gt2uh they did not "buy Hostess", they bought the IP.

[@rjvowels]

Union workers are waaaay overpaid in alot of cases. Often times getting paid twice as much as someone else for the same job.

[@MattsRanger]

On the flip side it's usually a bit socialist job description & pay scale. Funny thing is my employer runs by that model - without a union. So yes I agree unions are not helpful overall. I worked in tractor manufacturing with union contract many years ago. Horrible.

[@mayorbeetlejuice4841]

And they are under skilled

[@pjfitter3267]

You need to do a little research before making a stupid statement. I'm a union member in the trades and I'm definitely not wealthy.

[@rjvowels]

@@pjfitter3267 you sound like a little bitch... Not wealthy compared to who you stupid fuck????

[@falloutforever88]

Unions bad, nepotism, tax subsidized welfare wages and offshore bank accounts good

[@ivontouschier9512]

How about doing a show about politicians and their benefit's !

[@bmw803]

HOLY SHIT. That would create a revolution in 24hrs.

[@coryandbuddythedog7458]

I agree. We are paying US senators and reps hundreds of thousands of dollars for life even if they only serve one term. Ridiculous.

[@billcarr6289]

Not worried about the bus driver, more concerned with the politicians getting even even more

[@Physician-as-Patient-Tales]

Sandy Springs has it right.

[@Packers_Nation]

You'd think with the amount of money they get their attitudes overall would be better.

[@Carskinify]

@Ali S Lowlife is a pretty nice word for them.

[@GeneReynolds-xc6ws]

Voting for Professor Chaos in 2024 😂😂😂😊

[@chaddixon5725]

I cant listen to that union thug.

[@danieltaylor4185]

Not sure where he got his numbers from, but even back when this video was published, the New York City transit system brought in around $16.5 billion in revenue, and spent approximately $15 billion on operating costs, maintenance, and employee wages. So... I guess a net gain of $1.6 billion per year is losing money hand over fist? I guess? I honestly want to see the number he's using to say they're losing money, because comparing to what I've seen, it doesn't add up. Unions need to be in check, sure, but so does the "private enterprise" here in the US. You can't just let people get away with anything you want. And, when the people who get mistreated at many lower-level positions try to fight back and get a fair wage, they're sneered at. "Well why don't you just move on and get another job?" The conservative TV host asks, buttoning the top button of his suit and checking his gold-encrusted watch. "Why don't you just search the market for a new job?" Asks some uninformed, well-established man with a family and a successful career. What people don't get is that even minimum-wage jobs are precious to those who have them, because a lot of them have nowhere else to go. Especially since the recession, which was much more recent at the time this video was published. I worked at Amazon, and we didn't have a union; they treated us like shit, and fed us so much bullshit about the "value of the factory worker" - when I saw my managers get raises, I could barely pay my bills, and rising expectations made me fear that I'd lose the only job that I could get at the time. You can't live with an acceptable amount of space for a human fucking being on minimum wage. If you split the cost of a 1-bedroom, and use the livingroom as a second bedroom, you'd still come up short if both of you made minimum wage in most places. I don't advocate for a higher minimum wage, but I do think that workers should have a way to fight back, without jeopardizing their livelihood by going on strike, or simply quitting. And those benefits? How many sick days is "many?" Because I think we should all have more sick days and options like in Europe. People over there? They don't worry about losing their job because they got sick, or they have a migraine, or they have food poisoning. People over here? They get shit pay, no "sick days." Technically they get sick days, but it comes as a "warning" that takes several months to fall off. I've worked all kinds of jobs. Fast Food, Retail, Call Center, Factory worker... I'll tell you what, a lot of attendance policies? They're fucking ruthless. And, look what happens 4 years after this video comes out - a pandemic where everyone's rethinking the workplace culture of encouraging people to come in to work when they're sick. How about that?

[@AlienProbage]

Spot on man. Anyone who argues shareholders and elites should have all the say are the wealthiest of the wealthy. Unions protect workers from inhumane treatment and help provide living wages to their employees. Under a capitalist system profits will always take precedence over people and in such a system workers need to be able to stand together and negotiate so they don't get bled dry by the true parasites. Bezos made nearly $100 billion during this pandemic but Amazon workers in many cities in this country cannot provide themselves with basic necessities. As a former Amazon worker I'm sure you understand. And yet there are people who will watch this propaganda video and think to themselves how terrible unions are. Of course not all unions are equally good, some are much too powerful like police unions but the solution is evidently not to be rid of them entirely. America is already in a serious union drought and there are far too few good paying jobs in this country as is. Good on you for thinking for yourself and using your real job experience to shed some light on this issue. Cheers

[@sanniepstein4835]

@@AlienProbage Why don't unions negotiate for company stock?

[@AlienProbage]

@@sanniepstein4835 some might. But it's not like a Carpenters union for example is going to have much opportunity to do so. They're simply not a large enough industry, especially since it's not a monopolized profession generally. Some union members do invest in shares in their company though, it's not unheard of. An example of a fully employee owned company though is Bob's Red Mill company, that about a decade ago the owner created a plan to make all employees shareholders and consequently theyd invest in creating the best products possible and working as hard as possible. This was only possible though through the beliefs of the owner who thought it was the right thing to do and despite offers to sell to much more wealthy corporations denied it. I think there's probably something like 10,000 such companies in the US that are fully employee owned. But to answer your question, some unions and it's members do buy shares of the company however lots of unions don't have as much bargaining power as others. Some unions simply choose not to for fear it will reduce pay and benefits. United Airlines offered their pilots and machinist employees over 50% ownership and and about 1/4 on the board in exchange for those concessions in the mid 90s. The unions refused. Generally speaking it's pretty complicated and even an employee owned company is not immune to the whims of the market, plenty have gone bankrupt leaving many with nothing. I'm sorry I can't offer more information because I don't intend to misinform. Hopefully I was of some help. And hey, I'm sure there's plenty more resources available to you if you're really interested in understanding every aspect of your question.

[@youtubedude3422]

Unions as far as I can tell: The benefit of a few, to the detriment of many.

[@leaf4224]

Organized labor unions only work when they have the right rules in place and when employees have pride in their work due to great hourly wage, bonuses, pensions, ect. Look at the IBEW (international brotherhood of electrical workers) for example, they have consistently for years (other than 2008) have been growing non stop competitively since 1891, the best union in the world in my bias opinion. But even still, almost all the electricians are proud to say they are a IBEW union member. The work is done right and efficiently everytime.

[@billypurdy8581]

“I DONT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT LOGS” he so proudly claims ignorance like it’s going to justify his co workers laziness that stossel is calling out

[@handimanjay6642]

They are no longer public servants they are union servants. California charges none union residents with paying higher taxes to support the ever increasing state employee pensions. Many of those retirees collect more in retirement pay and benefits than they made when working. The state keeps raising our taxes to support retirement while those paying have nothing close to those benefits. The state mandates union labor for public projects that cost more and are typically substandard work. Those unions support the candidates that will vote from bills that support more union pay and benefits. This is a self feeding monster.

[@youdontknowme2325]

I have worked in a couple of different unions back in the day. My experience was that they were in my corner and stood up for me when I needed them. I was owed money because I worked a few weeks at a higher pay level and was not compensated until my union steward got on the case. The money was in my next check. If you don't have a union, they will run over you. Once again, my experience.

[@willsrlutz6842]

A poor old lady once told me that she fell on the stairs at her workplace and they fired her for "sleeping on the job", since she couldn't get back up due to a broken joint. That's fucked up. This case is a poster story of why we need unions. Without unions, companies can exploit you.

[@MijoShrek]

The difference was that the only unions to be virtually found anymore was for these public service jobs. The workers in the private sectors have no benefits, no protections and slave wages.

[@TheRisky9]

I don't get why people get upset over privatization on some services. Is it somehow moral to spend a lot more on taxes and not work as effectively?

[@nopartyaffiliation7434]

private contractors can be just as bad with waste.

[@TheRisky9]

Yeah, but do you know what you can do with a private contractor that you can't do with government? Fire them.

[@CustomMap]

Another reason is because it's possible the private sector will develop its own monopoly. Private sector seems more efficient and nice when it competes with the unions, but how will it behave once the unions are gone?

[@TheRisky9]

@@CustomMap Monopolies only happen when government is involved and offers competitive advantage to some over others.

[@CustomMap]

@@TheRisky9 What drugs are you taking? Of course the private sector can create their own monopolies. In some markets, it's impossible to compete with already established companies. It's common for companies to merge together to establish a monopoly. There is a reason the government has so many anti-monopoly laws in place.

[@GrimRuler]

Unions should've never gotten entangled with politics and the public sector.

[@clarencesmith9580]

John Stossel Do an update to this story and focus on Oregon and Portland Oregon.

[@vttsu]

When I was a bus driver I used to get sick several times year, since I went in to an office I haven't had been sick in 18 months. Handling cash and being exposed to hundreds of people a day obviously increases your chances of being sick.

[@chengliu872]

Richard Holman: What bus driver handles cash? Doesn't the fare go into some sort of box? According to your logic, most cashiers would get sick even more sonce they also exposed to a lot of people and actually handle cash.

[@vttsu]

Well cashiers probably do get sick more then office workers, and yes some bus drivers handle cash. Did you think I was mistaken despite saying I was a bus driver??? Just because they don't in your city doesn't mean they don't elsewhere.

[@chengliu872]

Richard Holman:I was a cashier for a long time and I was didn't get sick any more than normal. To be fair I do have a strong immune system.

[@tyronea8509]

@@chengliu872 I didn't get sick often as a cashier and I have a weaker immune system

[@ared18t]

Bus drivers don't seem to handle cash anymore :P

[@alechershman8322]

I can't believe I grew up listening to this stuff! Stossel, yikes!

[@mackcummy4976]

My dad was a firefighter here in Canada and retired at about 56 with a good pension.

[@vicpicksinvesting5380]

Firefighters union don't hire blacks..they hired their own family members. U guys are leeaches

[@raulrubencolunga5284]

"you point your finger at me, and and at *MY* union" well seems it's his private property embedded within the public system, then

[@abdulrahmanchalya7873]

its the NewYork attitude get use to it

[@nbmag]

Hyperbole

[@onajet1]

Sandy should run for President

[@afhostie]

Maybe instead of having workers to retire early from breathing in iron and steel you could provide them with safety equipment?

[@mikeundereood1071]

We as iron workers stream fitters BOILERMAKERS steel workers cannot b on the joe past 60 on average. N that's high

[@JesRocWitMe]

@@mikeundereood1071 also most Boilermakers die within 3 years of their retirement

[@vicpicksinvesting5380]

Lies

[@TJFicarrotta]

OMG. Even before John said she looked like Margaret Thatcher, that was my exact thought! 😂 I remember the Iron Lady well when I was a teenager. Always liked her. We need more allies like her.

[@TheLastLineLive]

If they privatized the bus and subway services in New York, the services would get even more expensive. Be careful what you wish for.

[@s_hrndz0119]

No. If some right it’ll cost either the same or less with higher quality

[@TheLastLineLive]

@@s_hrndz0119 then how come our healthcare is more expensive than every where else?

[@s_hrndz0119]

@@TheLastLineLive Because of Third-Party Payer… The fact that consumers purchase health care with other people’s money. And we should blame government intervention. To be more specific, the vast majority of purchases are financed by government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid, or by insurance policies that are subsidized by the tax code’s healthcare exclusion. And that means people have very little reason to care about the cost of care - creating a recipe for higher costs and inefficiency.

[@TayDays1128]

@@s_hrndz0119 our healthcare is at the hands of a few subsidized, unregulated corporations artificially raising the price. Private insurance isnt inherently a problem, but most american private insurance is incentivized for less medical care & high costs.

[@rockymntnliberty]

Experience has shown me that if you look for the laziest least intelligent individual in a large Workforce, this person is either the leading Advocate to form a union, the leading advocate for the union that's in place, or in Union leadership. Years ago, the city that I work for form to Union while I work there. This Union was predominantly formed and pushed bye the laziest individuals the work for the city. These individuals even before the Union was formed what typically only work about 6 hours in an 8 hour day.

[@antone1azet]

Interesting. I was born in socialist country - Czechoslovakia. And after socialism ended in 1989 in our country, a lot of state owned business became privatized. But unions remained. It's embedded in our laws, even in constitution. And my experience is the same - the laziest, stupidest worms always formed unions. I guess parasites are same everywhere.

[@kimobrien.]

@@antone1azet My experience is just the opposite the dumbest guy, the guy who has trouble doing his job, the guy who constantly needs help is the guy who sucks up to management.

[@justinmayhugh9332]

Experience has shown me you are absolutely full of crap

[@zoltancsikos5604]

​@@kimobrien. You tried so hard to come up with some kind of retort, LoL

[@myphonyaccount]

We tried free market public transit lines, they went bankrupt and were absorbed by the city. We tried non-union shops and GM Flint workers shut themselves in the plant in 1937 until they were allowed to unionized. Todays unions and government workers need to stop acting like productivity and efficiency aren't job requirements. But let's not lump the bad unions and city transit agencies with the good ones.

[@sanniepstein4835]

@Green Giant To equalize the free ride given to the auto industry.

[@ChrisEckeard]

That MTA Union President is disgusting.

[@beav1962]

I am a municipal worker, with an upcoming pension. Knowing the pension is there is a great relief, but I know I could retire with a lower percentage and still be good. And regarding the age 55 thing, it isn't about what age you are, but how long you have been there and the percentage you get. At 55 someone may only be eligible for a 50% pension. Or, he may have been work at a place since he was 21 and get the top step. I am not a big union guy but unions do provide protections, and some will say too much protection. There isn't necessarily an easy answer. I also doubt women take only 3 days maternity leave. Day before, day of, and day after? 🙄

[@goodfoot7926]

Unions are corrupt as hell I have 17 years in Teamsters when I left and the pension fund is almost out of money so no pension from the union

[@DevinsDen]

Yea I Heard that while listening to the radio. That's fucked up.

[@favioescalon528]

Sorry buddy, the people at my job are left without pensions too because of teamsters. We got rid of it a year ago and now got 401k but the older guys will never see that pension.

[@aaronmann9442]

In the private sector there are no monopolies 😂😂😂😂

[@s_hrndz0119]

Not without government intrusion

[@aaronmann9442]

@@s_hrndz0119 the private monopolies own the government lol

[@s_hrndz0119]

@@aaronmann9442 the. That would be a public monopoly

[@aaronmann9442]

@@s_hrndz0119 ostensibly

[@0269ish]

No organization funded by tax-payers should have a right to a union.

[@ThomasLeonard454]

Don't forget that the unions gave us the 40 hour work week, before that it was typical to work a 60 hour weekly with no sick days or vacation.

[@JavierGarcia-pk7gg]

Yep. I do agree with a lot of what jhon says in his videos. And I do really enjoy his intake. When it comes of unions I disagree with the man.

[@s_hrndz0119]

Capitalism gave us the 40-hour work week.

[@of-Israel]

I got to agree with that union guy on the topic of it being mighty easy to not agree with the 55 year old retirement when you work in a film studio

[@shackman9566]

Thank you John , I have worked at many different jobs. Living in western Pennsylvania I have lost jobs due to a crumbly economy. Union greed forced many companies to either move away or close down. And when a major employer is gone everything around it retracts or goes with. I have worked as a roofer and tree service as winter roofing work slows down but yes we still did roofs some even in February. I have had a commercial truck driving licence since I was eighteen and driven fuel tankers steel flat bed lumber and aluminum coils exclusively for one company. The area where I live has very few jobs that a pay enough or even offer full time employment. But despite the very low income that unions and the politicians work together to increase our tax burden. What's even worse all our roads and bridges are completely disintegrating. When bridges are repaired or replaced the cost is astronomical and seemingly endless. Bridges the where replaced only 20 years ago are already junk. Our asphalt companies only operate in the summer months and so the pendot worker's are paid unemployment benefits and a few who's job is to drive truck work plowing snow. The get tons of overtime pay for plowing snow or salting the roads at the slightest hint of snow. Many winters they deplete there budgets on salt and calcium deiceing agents. Unions are a drain on society and as far as I see it organized criminals.

[@ephanhymerable]

R u trying to tell me this union guy isn't in the mafia?🤨

[@Bourikii2992]

No that's ridiculous. The Union IS the mafia.

[@mackcummy4976]

Well, the government can take your money by force, the private sector can't.

[@waderznutz8605]

Dont lump all unions together. I'm union. I have no paid day's off.

[@zhbvenkhoReload]

You are in the gay union

[@paulnadratowski3942]

Stossel always presents slanted reports

[@Bigdave203]

I appreciate this so much as a former union and pro-union man. I've been working for 25 years and been in union of some kind for 18 of those. I've seen enough to honestly never want to work with a union again. My reason for this attitude outside of video are many but I'll delineate. The workers get put before the profit of the company. It doesn't matter how much is asked for if the company is not making money it won't stay open. I've been through four company closures in the case of one management took a 10 percent cut and workers were asked to take a five percent cut but the union intervened demanding a 10 percent raise. In one instance government gave the contract to an overseas vender. The other closures were largely due to greed on the part of union demanding raises white the company was losing money. My second issue was promotions were based on seniority not skills, I'm not saying everyone union does this. The union was never a voluntary thing which meant I payed dues to be part of something that I couldn't support the politics of and high ups in union were known to be corrupt and too many bad workers were kept on the pay roll because it was almost impossible to fire. I've seen some who harassed women because there were so many protections. I never want to see another one again. When layoffs came not closures it was all based on time at the company versus actual skill. When they were going to close those who were first let go were those most recently hired. All in all alot more could be said but I never want to see a union again.bit also frustrated me because I'm a fanatic when it comes to work. I can count on one hand the amount of time I missed or was late outside of funerals and weddings. I very rarely brook a vacation day. I also never turned over time down. The only thing I've ever been written up for anything except skipping breaks and lunches. I am also a highly skilled worker as both a welder and electric work. All this is likely why I'm on my fourth marriage. Yet in a union none of this actually benefited me except for hiring.

[@juliebarnett9812]

You got it. Unions are the biggest scam on earth.

[@kutie216]

What made you change your mind? I have a lot of respect for your honesty! I know it’s not very common for pro-union folks to change their minds (and vice versa). Do you still weld and do electric work?

[@Bigdave203]

To make a long story short. I became more conservative as I got older and I was with several companies that were losing money and the union demanded more resulting in closure.. it was very hard to get fired with several safety guards in place meaning that I gostuck working with lazy workers that were basically guaranteed their job.. I'm a workaholic and hat laziness. In addition I grew tired of getting passed over by workers who were less qualified but were there longer. I had a boss that pressures a secretary into sexual favors. Instead of actually contacting the police they simply contacted a lawyer and paid off the accuser pressuring her into a non disclosure agreement. As a result of this instance I walked away and the accused unless he's retired still holds his position. Changing politics, corruption, and a desire to go in business for myself were major influences

[@Bigdave203]

I do mainly plumbing now and run a small business now

[@kutie216]

@@Bigdave203 Thank you so much for taking the time to explain! I am glad to hear you left and decided to do your own thing. I wish I could say I’m surprised about some of the stuff you’re saying but I’ve always believed the free market would sort things out and that employers should be able to fire lazy/incompetent workers. I can only imagine how frustrating it is for hard working folks like you to see so many lazy people get a free pass and still get paid the same! I have a lot of respect for tradesmen and I’m happy to hear you’re running your own small business now. You sound like a nice and hardworking guy, and I hope you get all of the success you deserve! I bet its great that you can set your own hours, pay, etc. now. My fiancé owns a small business in construction as a carpenter, so I know there are some downsides (like no subsidized insurance). I, personally, believe that being your own boss is an accomplishment you should be proud of! Best of luck to you!

[@Chillguydrew]

Unions would have never been created if people were not oppressed by government or greedy company’s.

[@misnovelas9152]

I can tell you that this is so true! Government jobs have become a luxury off the tax payer dollar!

[@anniebellec]

they're like "😲😲😲 people are getting paid and getting their basic human rights met. how terrible!"

[@Oldspartan65]

Get rid of the unions

[@mackcummy4976]

A lot of people do shitty work and don't get to retire at 55.

[@InitialDEARS]

The question being, what's better, more people retiring at 55 or more people retiring later? At what cost?

[@sirmount2636]

Lol I immediately thought she looked like Thatcher.

[@glorybound6983]

This should not be a government run business, period.

[@erikhopkins9488]

You know there were some charter schools [to the chagrin of the ceo] that unionized because of low pay, longer hours, little to no vacation. Unions are not perfect but they protect employees from terrible employers.

[@Kris_P._Bey_Ken]

What state and city was that?

[@killermogle]

Now the school is 20k per kid per year for a normal education. Congratz

[@mrcat3493]

The problem is politicians never learned to say “no”.

[@unimpressedcat2140]

They say no all the time. Just to poor people.

[@MrStark-up6fi]

Clearly you don’t know why private sector unions don’t get their way

[@mrcat3493]

@ because corporate America in concert with the politicians they own have worked for decades to undermine the power of unions perhaps.

[@lenering1084]

The parasites are the CEOs

[@danjones9007]

Union drove all major industry over seas. Bye bye GM!

[@nopartyaffiliation7434]

no cheap labor did.

[@loumanning9474]

Or GM drove customers away with all their ugly cars.

[@JP-uq4ii]

No automation did

[@AlfredoPachecoJr]

The irony of this comment and what's going on now...🤣🤣🤣

[@ared18t]

Sandy Springs sounds like that swet O'l grandma givin ya milk N' Cookies

[@themasterrogerdelgado]

I agree with Stossel, we should work to dissolve the Police and Firemen's unions right away...uh-oh, I forgot those were sacred cows for republicans which Stossel surely is. Look - there are big problems with unions but you can't just cherry pick the unions you don't like - you have to talk about all of them including the ones you do like.

[@MrHeavy466]

Private sector unions make sense, public sector unions are ridiculous.