New Overtime Rules

[Superman]

Indeed. Wayne's post is, as usual, lucid, accurate and respectful. We do indeed have some small labor issues getting a little lip service, large problems getting shoved into the closet and GARGANTUAN problems just around the corner.

But I'd like to speak to the rather fickle nature of partisan politics in the Labor community, because it is wildly interesting. My world is filled with union construction workers ("building trades"). Almost to a man (or woman) they are terribly conservative voters. They feel strongly that marriage should be between a man and a woman, but that's not nearly as important as the gun-rack issue. Guns. That's the most important. So, they align with the conservatives.

The conservative legislators come to town with a pro-gun, pro-marriange....but anti-worker....agenda. They cannot be seen messing with stuff like OT laws since that would alienate that fairly large group of registered voters. It's a very interesting dynamic, and it's amusing as he!! to watch the legislators deal with those issues. Because it's all about votes, and campaign contributions. They need to take shots at laws that protect the construction workers, in order to remain in good stead with their corporate sponsors, but they have to be invisible while they're doing it. Funny.

[Superman]

Well, perhaps not ALL of them are card-carrying republicans. But yeah, union leadership is virtually always a liberal vote, whereas the membership is FAR more conservative. But again, the legislators hide, duck and cover and generally are good at not getting caught attacking laws that hit those workers in the paycheck. When they do get caught doing that, then the union rank-and-file suddenly understand what their leaders have been telling them all this time, and they vote liberal and the conservative gets tossed out on his or her ear.

Union workers are just like any other voter. They're arguably not sufficiently informed to make an enlightened choice.

[island911]

. ..Says the enlightened Superman.

Give it a rest.

Union leaders are generally in it for themselves. The Dem's are teh corrupt party willing to make the attractive corrupt deals with the corupt union leaderships.

The union leadership sells-out, who they claim to be representing, and then wonder why unions are falling out of favor.

[Superman]

Okay, Island. I made the statement that most voters are not enlightened. Not a partisan comment, just "most voters." So, I'm not sure what you are suggesting I rest.

Then, you post:
"Union leaders are generally in it for themselves. The Dem's are teh corrupt party willing to make the attractive corrupt deals with the corupt union leaderships.

The union leadership sells-out, who they claim to be representing, and then wonder why unions are falling out of favor."

What needs resting? My general observation? Or your pointed remarks aimed at Dems and labor unions.

by the way, when labor leaders urge their members to support candidates that will fight for workers' wages and safety and working conditions, and the workers ignore them and vote with their guns, and then the workers discover that their beloved pro-gun candidate also voted to restrict collective bargaining rights and lower minimum wages, etc., and then they finally understand that those conservative candidates are going to support they employer at the expense of the working men and families, then tell me Island.....

Who did the union leader sell out that time?

[island911]

Originally posted by Superman
Okay, Island. I made the statement that most voters are not enlightened. Not a partisan comment, just "most voters." . . .

NO! what you did is; argue that most "ALL of them(union workers ) are card-carrying republicans"

THEN you conclude with; "Union workers are just like any other voter. They're arguably not sufficiently informed to make an enlightened choice."

But what I really like is seeing such a self-anointed enlightened individual like yourself, try to sell me on the idea that x=y and y=z. . .but I you never said x=z . . . pff

I didn't read the rest of your post . . it's just no fun.

[MichiganMat]

You're all wrong, especially island and Superman