article imageOpinion: On CTV's question period Buzz Hargrove 'angry as hell'

By Don Rennick.
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Apr 26, 2009 by  Don Rennick - 13 votes, 2 comments
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Buzz Hargrove, the former national president of CAW, claims to be angry as hell about the concessions that Chrysler workers made in the latest round of auto bailout maneuvers.
Here's a news flash Buzz, anti-union types like myself and other right minded individuals, are as angry as hell too. Here are some of the reasons.
We're angry because workers are forced to pay dues to union bosses just to keep their jobs.
We're angry because unionism in its present form reduces productivity to its lowest common denominator by forcing employers to pay everyone union mandated wages regardless of effort or ability.
We're angry because workers are forced through their union dues to support causes and politicians they may not agree with.
We're angry because as taxpayers we are forced to subsidize unions because union dues are used to reduce taxable income of union members
We're angry because companies are forced to handle, administer and report on the collection of union dues from employees wages raising costs of production.
We're angry because we are continually watching authorities tiptoe around unions goons while their picket lines and “peaceful” demonstrations constantly bend and break the law.
We're angry because of the hypocrisy of unions ready to demand greater compensation and claim the benefits from company profits but deny any responsibility for company failure.
We're angry because even after the cuts, auto workers are still making $35.00 per hour plus $10.00 per hour in benefits for a job that requires no formal education and two weeks training. If members feel so put upon maybe a change of employment where their many talents are more fully recognized is in order.
We're angry because the sole purpose of unions is to increase wages and benefits for less and less work, complain about how badly they are treated by their employers and increase membership through recruiting drives that exploit the bitterness of a few workers who probably should have been fired long ago.
We're angry because governments have neither the willpower to resist extending the powers of unions nor to stand up to the bullying tactics of union leaders and their supporters while they are blackmailing employers during what is loosely termed “negotiations”.
We're angry because union leaders justify their existence by referring to working conditions of the 19th and early 20th centuries when the majority of them would not be worthy to carry the lunch buckets of those workers who fought for basic human rights. It’s an insult to those workers memories that they are being used in this manner. Comparing today's unions with those of old is like comparing Roman gladiators to WWE wrestlers.
We're angry because union leaders bemoan the fact that they were forced to give up hard fought benefits from previous contracts. I don’t think that standing around a burn drum waving placards and harassing people crossing picket lines can be classified as hard fight. I don’t think that blockading a plant where a company is trying to pick up its equipment can be described as a hard fight. I don’t think that intimidating workers to sign union cards can be described as a hard fight.
We're angry because unions claim to be democratic when in fact they are little better than legalized dictatorships. Witness the current attempts by US unions to have a bill passed called the “Employee Free Choice Act” which would eliminate employees’ rights to a secret ballot. Some US senators say the bill should be named the “Employee No Choice Act”
We're angry because unions leaders demand higher wages just because.
Because it’s the end of the current contract.
Because that’s what we do.
Because inflation is up and we’d like our members to enjoy the same standard of living they have become
accustomed to regardless of the worth of our labours or how it affects prices for others.
Because we are not the highest paid workers in our sector.
Because we get more dues from workers making more wages.
Because we have to ask for higher wages to justify our existence.
Because management is terrible and they are not allowing us to do our job and we want more money.
Because (fill in the blank). The reason is immaterial... just give us more money.
You're angry Buzz? I'm livid!
This opinion article was written by an independent writer. The opinions and views expressed herein are those of the author and are not necessarily intended to reflect those of DigitalJournal.com
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