thestreet | Please consider a few key snips from FDR's Letter on the Resolution of Federation of Federal Employees Against Strikes in Federal Service, August 16, 1937, emphasis mine.
All Government employees should realize that the process of collective bargaining, as usually understood, cannot be transplanted into the public service. It has its distinct and insurmountable limitations when applied to public personnel management. The very nature and purposes of Government make it impossible for administrative officials to represent fully or to bind the employer in mutual discussions with Government employee organizations.
Particularly, I want to emphasize my conviction that militant tactics have no place in the functions of any organization of Government employees. Upon employees in the Federal service rests the obligation to serve the whole people, whose interests and welfare require orderliness and continuity in the conduct of Government activities. This obligation is paramount. Since their own services have to do with the functioning of the Government, a strike of public employees manifests nothing less than an intent on their part to prevent or obstruct the operations of Government until their demands are satisfied. Such action, looking toward the paralysis of Government by those who have sworn to support it, is unthinkable and intolerable. It is, therefore, with a feeling of gratification that I have noted in the constitution of the National Federation of Federal Employees the provision that "under no circumstances shall this Federation engage in or support strikes against the United States Government."
Roosevelt
was discussing strikes, but public unions threaten them all the times,
especially teachers' unions. They demand money "for the kids". The
school boards are padded with teachers demanding more money "for the
kids".
Collective
bargaining cannot possibly exist in such circumstances. Unions can and
have shut down schools. The unions do not give a damn about the kids.
Notice
I said "unions" do not give a damn. Many, if not most, teachers do care
for the kids, but the union does not. The unions can, and do, protect
teachers guilty of abusing kids. It is nearly impossible to get rid of a
bad tenured teacher or a bad cop.
Unions also threaten to shut down mass transportation.
None of this is in the public interest.
Abolish Public Unions Entirely
Union
leaders have a mandated goal of protecting bad cops, bad teachers, and
corrupt politicians. Unions blackmail politicians and threaten the
public they are supposed to serve.
Union leaders will do anything to stay in power, the kids and the public be damned.
The only way to deal with the situation is to "effectively" abolish public unions entirely.
The
key word is effectively. What do I mean by that? Take away 100% of
their power as opposed to ending their right of association.
Recommended Steps
- National right-to-work laws
- Abolishment of all prevailing wage laws
- Ending public unions ability to strike
- Ending collective bargaining by public unions
Consider
Illinois' prevailing wage laws: Prevailing wages are union wages.
Municipalities and businesses have to pay prevailing wages. If they do
not hire union workers, they get picketed.
Why bother hiring non-union workers if you have to pay union wages in the first place?
As a direct result, municipalities and businesses must overpay for services in Illinois.
Illinois is Bankrupt
Not
only do public unions protect bad cops, bad teachers, and bad employees
in general, Illinois is bankrupt after giving in repeatedly to union
contract demands and pension spiking.
