Over at the LRC blog, a reader writes in to say how Grand Theft Auto 4, currently the best selling video game on the market, contains dialog that compares unions to the mafia. At one point the main character is told: "union's just another word for mafia."
Ultimately the pop culture video game comparison of union bosses to mafia dons is more than mere tongue-and-cheek.
As currently constituted, with their many compulsory unionism special privileges, some union officials run what could be compared to a classic mafia enterprise: the protection racket.
Wikipedia defines a protection racket as follows:
an extortion scheme whereby a powerful entity or individual coerces other less powerful entities or individuals to pay protection money which allegedly serves to purchase "protection" services against various external threats.
In the case of unions, union bosses frequently paint employers to be exploitive and then demand that workers pay money in exchange for "representation." At the same time, in forced-dues states, employees are threatened with the loss of their job if they refuse to pay for the so-called "representation," whether or not the employees want it.
And for another example of how compulsory unionism leads to union officials' involvement in organized crime, watch this video:
Comments
Union Members at Town Hall Meetings
It is my understanding that certain unions along with their members show up at town hall meeting and try to force American Citizens not to voice their concerns. It is also my understanding that these people do use physical violence in order to push their agenda. I did not vote for Obama, I will not accept his and the Progressive Democratic Socialist National Health Care Plan. I am a Military Veteran and I almost died four (4) times for the freedoms and rights of every American Citizen, not a select few. I will attend the next town hall meeting in my area and I will be heard and I will exercise my Constitutional Rights and if it be my right to self defense against union thugs trying to silence me, then so be it.
Unions are PARASITES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The overwhelming majority of Americans reject union made automobiles.
The growing share of Americans reject shopping at unionized retailers.
Which is why unions are oh so desparate to collect dues from new members.
90% of workplaces are union free.
Unions and union organizers are parasites and lead to decline of almost any enterprise they infect.
No
No and you probably cuddle up with Walker and Prosser. You ANTI-UNION THUGS are the real slobs.
In case no-one realized,
In case no-one realized, this great country you call America is a union.. Every citizen pays their dues to this union called the United States. Sure, you have a choice to not pay your income taxes, but what happens if you dont? Even if you can get away from paying your 'protection money', you still end up paying what we in a union like to call 'field dues'.. That is, unless you are 100% self sufficient; not relying on stores for food, utility companies for water, propane, or electricity, or gas stations for fuel. Sure, unions are losing strength, but we are still powerful, but when we DO fall, you will wish we never did. Through us almost every single labor law on the books have been written! Through us you have the opportunity to have time off! Through us YOU have a voice in the workplace, union or not, male or female! There is a Pink Floyd song that says "United we stand, divided we fall". On the same token, there us a union saying; "United we bargain, divided we beg." Let the unions fall and you will again remember that Saturday and Sunday just means 'another day at work' instead of 'the weekend,' as it did before us.
Sincerely,
A concerned union member.
mofia and unions
union is a kinder word for mofia. so you are a union member. What branch of the military did you serve in? None... that's what I thought. Another freeloader. pathetic.
Unions
How about the public school systems? Education in America is a basket case. Loaded with teachers that are not compentent to teach and the school boards cannot get rid of them because of the unions. This is why private schools, charter schools, and home teaching have a much better track record on student knowlege outcomes. College graduates from the prestegeous colleges of today cannot pass a highschool examination of the 1940 and 1950 era.
I am never going to fully
I am never going to fully understand why in anyones right mind they would look down on unions. Ok. So in the past we have had bad ones..yes. Just like anything not everyone's going to be perfect. If a unions officers are doing the wrong things I feel the blame is on the union members for voting and keeping them in office. As far as the video games…well guys it’s a video game…!!
Also When it comes to everyone saying right to work states make more jobs.. Well yes they do. A lot of minimum wage jobs with un-skilled workers who don’t ask for anything because they are scared of getting fired. This is not America anymore.. Its just a race to the bottom now..
I work in a right to work
I work in a right to work state.I am in the union and I like it.More money,pension,medical,dental,most of all respect at work.Now what were the problems with unions again?
Re-read the post
Bill-
You should reread what was written in this post. The point is that unions requiring forced dues as a condition of workers keeping their jobs is no different from the extortion rackets that you see on the Sopranos...
Tony Soprano says pay us money or we'll break your legs. Union bosses say pay us money or we'll have you fired. That's not a video game, that is real life.
Imperfect Indeed!
The corruption in organized labor is not merely in its distant past; it’s present, ongoing and growing. There are indictments and convictions of union officials for corruption on a regular basis.
While it is true that all human institutions always fall short of the ideal, labor unions in the United States base their power on injustice. The injustices of monopoly bargaining and compulsory dues and fees are the foundations of union power today.
In my twenty years as a union member, I saw how that kind of power fostered arrogance and hubris in the ranks of the union leadership. When I, as a member, questioned the policies of the union, such as support for abortion, and the political agenda of the radical left, I was attacked personally and told that if I didn’t agree with them, it was up to me to change. I had foolishly believed that I had joined the union to protect my interests on the job, not to change the world into a socialist utopia.
After resigning from the union and trying to exercise my legal right to refrain from financing Big Labor’s political agenda, I was lied to by national union officials for years. Not until the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation assisted me with free legal representation was I able to achieve some degree of justice.
As far as your reference to a race to the bottom goes, it is being led by the John Sweeney and the AFL-CIO through its effort to deny rank and file employees the opportunity to have a secret ballot election when deciding on union representation by promoting the cynically named Employee Free Choice Act. I do not see how workers are benefited by being forced to vote under the watchful eyes of union officials and their employers. You’re right - this isn’t America anymore.
Bismarck
you are right on with
you are right on with everything you said.
at my job we had a driver who drove their truck fully onto someones lawn and drove away. then was stopped by the customer on the road after when they tried to settle it with cash. never said anything until the customer called and filed a claim and they still didnt lose their job. we had someone walk on a moving belt in front of safety consultant agent during an audit who couldnt be fired. people are encouraged to "go slow". some who are productive are threatened to not be represented which would because of forced contractual laws, force him to lose his job against the company's will. this is out of control! we dont need this!
Union Mafia
I enjoy the security of being in one of the biggest unions in the US. However, it does have its drawbacks not because of the organization, but because of the overwhelming need for power and control. Unfortunately, due to cliques and "drinking buddies" the majority are what we call "union mafia". This is due to total control of the department. Promotions are not done fairly. They are given to high ranking "mafia" that even though they do not have the experience, they are given the promotion due to mafia status and status within the "good old buddy"system.