ACORN partner SEIU intends to put lipstick on the public sector unionism pig. They are trying to change the focus away from the inherently flawed system of public employee union monopolies, and put the focus on the many good public employees who manage to excel despite union boss interferences.
No matter how SEIU dresses it up, monopoly bargaining power over public employees is a bad idea. For one, it gives un-elected union bosses access and control over public officials and employees that other taxpayers and citizens are denied. Monopoly bargaining creates an additional extra-governmental monopoly over the governmental monopoly of public service, thus diminishing the ability of citizens to directly influence their own government services. In addition, many government-union contracts include “union time” payments which forces taxpayers to subsidize union activity – including partisan political activity.
Here’s an interesting observation about the National Labor Relations Board Union (NLRBU) and union time. In 2008, taxpayers spent more money on union personnel’s union time (time spent on union business) than the NRLBU collected in dues.
Bob Gilson: “In other words, you and I (taxpayers) spend three quarters of a million a year to subsidize a union that doesn’t raise a quarter million in dues and has a half a million in the bank. Plus [taxpayers] likely provide such amenities as computers, printers, internet access, office space, phone service, copy services, paper, desks, file cabinets, and stationery. Ain’t America wunnerful. Talk about a stimulus package, if you work at NLRB” taxpayers give almost three dollars for each dollar union members give.
Regardless of how SEIU plans to spin it, public sector monopoly bargaining is wrong for public employees and taxpayers.
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