I don’t know about you, but my benefits are shrinking and my wages have been reduced for 2010. And I certainly won’t be seeing any major increase in my salary this year. My employer is struggling in this economy. I know it, I see the sales and operating numbers. Amazingly, no one in our company has complained once about the state of their salaries and benefits. And after a recent round of layoffs, we’re all working two and three people’s jobs, too. But we get it, we’re all a team, and together we have to do what we can to pitch in and help cut costs during a rough patch in time. That’s just how business works.
Every single friend, family member, and neighbor I know is in the exact same position.
That’s why so many of us are appalled at the behavior of some of the union bosses these days. Even some of the most ardent union defenders I know (the few people who typically argue with me over union policy) have had enough with all the headlines like this:
And they have also had enough of behavior like this:
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When tens of thousands of citizens descended upon Washington DC time and time again over the course of the last year, concerned over their current health benefits being taken from them to subsidize someone else’s health benefits, they were called vitriolic names and demonized in the media.
But when SEIU and other unions demand their health benefits remain untouched, it’s not only justified, it’s glorified.
When a multitude of patriots, concerned about the fiscal state of the country, pleaded for their voices to be heard as they begged the government to make responsible budget cuts and to stop all the new spending, they were vilified and characterized as ‘racist’.
But when unions go on strike to protest the fact that their employer, a hospital that serves a low-income neighborhood primarily insured through Medicaid and Medicare, is reducing their raises from 14.5% to 4% and cutting back a tuition benefit, they garner the support of every news anchor within earshot. (Meanwhile, the rest of us are willing to accept a 0% raise).
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When Tea Party protesters repeatedly held rallies to express their concerns about the government’s takeover and bailouts of entire industries like the banks, they were labeled as ‘dangerous extremists’.
But when SEIU protesters chased down bank executives with knives and cleavers at the American Bankers Association last October, they were applauded and hailed as heroes by onlookers, the media, and even members of Congress. (Meanwhile, the executives were actually from small and medium sized community banks, not the big dogs).
At what point do the other 89% of Americans who are NOT union members stop sitting quietly like scared little sheep and start acting like the majority?
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