It appears that Unions are just getting stronger....

[Guest]

and more influential.

"We spent a fortune to elect Barack Obama -- $60.7 million to be exact -- and we're proud of it," boasted Andy Stern, president of the Service Employees International Union, to the Las Vegas Sun this week. The behemoth labor organization's leadership is getting its money's worth. Whether rank-and-file workers and ordinary taxpayers are profiting from this ultimate campaign pay-for-play scheme is another matter entirely."


This article was an eye opener, for me at least, and I wonder why this stuff does not get more attention.



"Within two weeks of moving into the White House, Obama signed a series of executive orders championed by union bosses. The new rules authorized sweeping powers for the labor secretary that essentially blackball nonunion contractors targeted by labor organizers and blacklist nonunion employees in the private sector from working on taxpayer-funded projects. Such regulatory favoritism limits freedom in the workplace and raises the cost of doing business.

Another measure immediately adopted by Obama requires that when a government service contract runs out and there's a new contract to perform the same services at the same location, the new contractor must retain the old workers. Mickey Kaus of the left-leaning Slate magazine dubbed the move the "Labor Payoff of the Day."

The payoffs keep coming. Last week Obama slashed the Labor Department's funding to investigate union corruption -- a welcome move for Stern, who has seen three of his handpicked deputies resign in 2008-2009 over financial scandals involving cronyism, nepotism and embezzlement."


http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2009/05/13/big_labors_investment_in_obama_pays_off_96469.html

[Guest]

Bucco, take a look at my recent post regarding the Hartmarx bankruptcy and how the union, the old garment worker's union with a new name, is leaning on Congress and the White House to influence the banks to keep Hartmarx out of liquidation--even if liquidation is the obvious answer.

The banks are saying that it isn't sound banking to lend more money when you know you'll never get repaid. The union is saying that the banks were given taxpayer-funded TARP bailout money and therefore should be required by Congress and/or the administration to continue to keep troubled companies like Hartmarx afloat.

When the Treasury Department trampled the rights of the secured creditors in the Chrysler case in favor of the UAW, they probably had no idea the can of worms they were opening. Now, the employees of every company that is financially threatened with a big union is looking to the government for a bailout. The precedent set with Chrysler and GM is going to make it very difficult for the administration to say no.

Someone in the administration better make a very public announcement that this stuff has got to stop, as politically unpopular as such a proclamation might be.

[Guest]

Bucco, take a look at my recent post regarding the Hartmarx bankruptcy and how the union, the old garment worker's union with a new name, is leaning on Congress and the White House to influence the banks to keep Hartmarx out of liquidation--even if liquidation is the obvious answer.

The banks are saying that it isn't sound banking to lend more money when you know you'll never get repaid. The union is saying that the banks were given taxpayer-funded TARP bailout money and therefore should be required by Congress and/or the administration to continue to keep troubled companies like Hartmarx afloat.

When the Treasury Department trampled the rights of the secured creditors in the Chrysler case in favor of the UAW, they probably had no idea the can of worms they were opening. Now, the employees of every company that is financially threatened with a big union is looking to the government for a bailout. The precedent set with Chrysler and GM is going to make it very difficult for the administration to say no.

Someone in the administration better make a very public announcement that this stuff has got to stop, as politically unpopular as such a proclamation might be.


I saw your post in the Hartmarx thread and also the comments with the auto industry.

So much is being done "quietly" as the MSM (main stream media) do not talk about it. Sometimes I just want to stand on the roof and yell "watch your back"

On another note and as an aside to you VK, have you read HOUSE OF CARDS, by William Cohan ? Seems like it would be up your alley...I have trouble understanding much of the detail but you would probably love it !