So You Don't Like Labor Unions?

[NJ Stinks]

From the Washington Post website today:
_______________________

Best state in America: New York, for its labor unions
By Reid Wilson August 29

For more than a century, labor unions have been a critical constituency for the Democratic Party, while Republicans have tried to curb unions’ influence. Wherever you fall on the political spectrum, if you have Monday off, you can thank those unions.

Labor Day began in New York City — a “workingmen’s holiday,” first celebrated by the Central Labor Union in 1882; in 1894, it became a national holiday.

Since then, unions’ influence has ebbed. But in New York, labor unions maintain more power, and more membership, than they do in any other state. More than a quarter of all workers in New York are represented by unions, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the highest rate in America. Alaska and Hawaii are the only other states where more than 20 percent of the workforce is represented by unions.

States with higher union membership also have higher average weekly wages: The BLS says the average weekly wage in New York in the fourth quarter of 2013 was $1,266 — 26 percent higher than the U.S. average.

More at the link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinio...y.html?hpid=z3

[AndyC]

Originally Posted by NJ Stinks

From the Washington Post website today:
_______________________

Best state in America: New York, for its labor unions
By Reid Wilson August 29

For more than a century, labor unions have been a critical constituency for the Democratic Party, while Republicans have tried to curb unions’ influence. Wherever you fall on the political spectrum, if you have Monday off, you can thank those unions.

Labor Day began in New York City — a “workingmen’s holiday,” first celebrated by the Central Labor Union in 1882; in 1894, it became a national holiday.

Since then, unions’ influence has ebbed. But in New York, labor unions maintain more power, and more membership, than they do in any other state. More than a quarter of all workers in New York are represented by unions, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the highest rate in America. Alaska and Hawaii are the only other states where more than 20 percent of the workforce is represented by unions.

States with higher union membership also have higher average weekly wages: The BLS says the average weekly wage in New York in the fourth quarter of 2013 was $1,266 — 26 percent higher than the U.S. average.

More at the link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinio...y.html?hpid=z3

It's funny how they didn't mention that 3 of the 4 highest cost of living states were Hawaii, Alaska and New York.

[boxcar]

Originally Posted by AndyC

It's funny how they didn't mention that 3 of the 4 highest cost of living states were Hawaii, Alaska and New York.

Just an inconvenient coincidence.

Boxcar

[Clocker]

I've been in labor unions, and I didn't like them. They had no more interest in me and my well being than did management.

Unions did a lot of good back in the day when they actually tried to improve the conditions of the working man. Now they are all about power, and power corrupts. And the worst corruption is in public employee unions.

[Tom]

NY is worse than a Men's Room in Kabal.
High taxes, high cost of living. NY sucks.

It only looks good to someone from New Jersey.

[fast4522]

Was a smooth diversion from the bashing of the bright one.

[HUSKER55]

there you go again.....

I wonder why companies are moving out of the USA?

[JustRalph]

What does the article and this map have in common, I wonder.

More here......on cost of living

http://blogs.marketwatch.com/capitol...-data-suggest/



From the link above

"Put another way,it costs 54% more to live in Honolulu than in Danville.

The top five states (outside of D.C.) were Hawaii, New York, New Jersey, California and Maryland, and the bottom five states were Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama, Missouri and South Dakota. So, it costs 36% more to live in Hawaii than in Mississippi."

[Clocker]

Originally Posted by fast4522

Was a smooth diversion from the bashing of the bright one.

I don't know about the bright one, but the unions are starting to bash the dim bulb in the White House. Unions are not happy about ObamaCare, immigration, pipelines, etc.

The split between labor unions and the Obama administration may dampen the Labor Day celebrations of congressional Democrats, who are struggling to maintain their Senate majority.


Union members make up an important piece of the liberal coalition, flooding Democrats with hundreds of millions of dollars in support, organization, and voter turn out efforts during election season. But unhappy union members and leaders may be sitting out this election cycle. The Washington Post reported in January that “a number of angry labor officials say their members are far less likely to campaign and turn out for Democratic candidates in the midterm elections. In March, the Hill reported that “Other union leaders plan to withhold resources from Democrats caught in competitive Senate races, saying they want hold their allies accountable for past actions.”

[AndyC]

Originally Posted by JustRalph

What does the article and this map have in common, I wonder.

More here......on cost of living

http://blogs.marketwatch.com/capitol...-data-suggest/



From the link above

"Put another way,it costs 54% more to live in Honolulu than in Danville.

The top five states (outside of D.C.) were Hawaii, New York, New Jersey, California and Maryland, and the bottom five states were Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama, Missouri and South Dakota. So, it costs 36% more to live in Hawaii than in Mississippi."

The article uses 2012 data while the map above is 2014 first quarter.

[NJ Stinks]

Originally Posted by JustRalph

What does the article and this map have in common, I wonder.

More here......on cost of living



From the link above

"Put another way,it costs 54% more to live in Honolulu than in Danville.

The top five states (outside of D.C.) were Hawaii, New York, New Jersey, California and Maryland, and the bottom five states were Mississippi, Arkansas, Alabama, Missouri and South Dakota. So, it costs 36% more to live in Hawaii than in Mississippi."

It also costs more to live in Paris than Danville.

[JustRalph]

Originally Posted by AndyC

The article uses 2012 data while the map above is 2014 first quarter.

Two different sources, doesn't look like things have changed much........

[horses4courses]

Originally Posted by JustRalph

Put another way,it costs 54% more to live in Honolulu than in Danville.

Hmmmm....what a quandary.
Hawaii, Danville, Hawaii, Danville...........

[Capper Al]

The little guys need someone advocating their interest. Without unions, the workers have to advocate their interest in the ballot box which hasn't proven too effect for them with the decline of the middle-class. Unfortunetly, the working class might have to take to the streets to get their needs might, or worse resign to a life of the poor like in India. Their issue isn't union or no union. It is how can the working class negotiate their piece of the pie.

[fast4522]

Between the technology of the robots and lower cost regions the point of unions has become a moot point. Now unions in the municipal arena is more of a burden to community's that cannot the cost.