So, when the Supreme Court screws Unions like they are expected to do, what's the response?

[maxrandb]

I keep hearing a lot about a case in front of the Supreme Court involving a California Teachers Union and folks that object to paying the fee that goes toward Collective Bargaining. From what I understand, workers that don't support a Unions political stands don't have to pay "full" dues, but are required to pay an amount that the Union uses for Collective Bargaining. For this fee, they get the benefit that comes in the form of wages and other benefits that are included in the contract the Union negotiated.

Since they benefit from the negotiations conducted by the Union, they pay this fee (none of which, from what I understand, can be used for political purposes). Without the fee, it appears that they would become "free riders"...gaining from the work of the Union, but contributing nothing to it.

If I understand that correctly, I'm not sure how the SC could rule in their favor, but it appears that they will.

My question is, what can be done if the SC rules as expected?

- Do those that don't pay the fee lose all the benefits and salary that the Union procured?

- Can their pay be cut?

- Do they lose the Union negotiated Medical/Leave/Pension benefit?

and finally, since I think that the answer to the above is "No, they will be paid the same and receive the same benefits package that full dues paying Union members receive"...then I have one final question.

WHEN DOES THE GENERAL STRIKE BEGIN?!

I for one, am sick and tired of all the militancy being exclusively on the "right".

What is the breaking point when we will finally stand up and fight?

Our government works only because it has the "consent of the governed", but with increased gerrymandering, "right to work" laws, unlimited campaign donations and a "toothless" media watchdog, we are becoming NOT a country "governed by the consent of the governed", but a country governed by the decree of the powerful.

When the majority have no voice or power in politics, that's when revolutions happen. We are dangerously heading in that direction. When Democrats win 57% of the votes in a state like Ohio, and yet the State leg is 78% controlled by Republicans, the will of the people is being ignored. That's a dangerous game.

[daleanime]

1. There are times I wonder....

why it hasn't started already.

[Nye Bevan]

2. Have the unions represent only the people who pay the dues.

Everyone who chooses not to join is on their own.

With this simple change I would expect almost every employee to want to join the union.

[maxrandb]

3. Would be nice, but

I don't think that is legal.

I think the they get the same benefit package that was negotiated, regardless of whether or not they are dues-paying members.

It would take an act of Congress to change that...figure the odds.

However, I'm not sure anything would prevent the California Leg from stripping non union teachers of benefits negotiated for by union members.


Hmmmmm, we will have to see

So far, the right has been able to decimate large portions of progressive achievement with little to no blowback, and at little costs. Maybe what some say is true....we have to let people suffer for their choices. You choose to elect Repukes, or back Repuke led lawsuits, here's what you get.

[SteveG]

5. By federal law free-riders

get the same contract as negotiated by the union. about the only thing that union members can do, is get personally nasty with the free loaders, shun them, ignore them, don't do them any favors, cut them out of the social groups teachers belong to, don't speak to them in the break room or hallways. Generally make them feel completely ostracized.

[RobinA]

4. The Unions

will have to step it up. I am in a public sector union in an area that is fairly anti-union as a birthright. They don't even think about it. Many people where I work are not in the union, because, you know, "I'm not in favor of unions," meanwhile reaping to benefits, which they profess not to see. The union, a HUGE union, has done nothing to try to educate these morons. I do my part to point out the (what is now) Cadillac health plan they have now and will have post-retirement and the fact that they have a defined benefit pension plan that can't be changed without amending the state constitution. Not to mention that fact that they can't be fired because someone doesn't like their haircut like they could almost anywhere else in this state. They make a vague reference to lousy employees who, because of the union, can't be fired and that's supposed to balance out all the things they do have thanks to the union.

The way my union behaves you would think membership means nothing to them. They don't approach new employees, they don't try to educate existing employees, they really aren't visible in the workplace. Maybe they are so big and powerful that they don't have worry about member peons, but any losses they take will not have been countered by any noticeable effort on their part.

[KamaAina]

6. The response? These days?