Saturday, February 24, 2018, a Working People’s Day of Action.
End the Workers Struggle against Government and Corporate Greed.
Scheduled for 11 am, I arrived. Foley Square. approximately 10:45.
The SEIU and associated unions had PACKED the square with workers, cheering and jeering, as they held union banners and flags high above the crowd.
The dutiful union tools stood for hours as they watched a jumbotron, placed over the stage, while the amplification carried for blocks.
The ubiquitous SOCIALIST/ COMMIES screamed at the workers to never forget they are VICTIMS of corporate GREED.
From the Left: It takes a UNION to make things right.
“When we unite, we can do almost anything. Join with us as we protect our freedoms and fight back against the corporate CEOs and politicians who have rigged the system and our economy against us.” #UnrigtheSystem #ItsAboutFreedom
Fight for the freedom to come together in strong unions.
Fight for equitable pay.
Fight for affordable health care.
Fight for quality schools.
Fight for vibrant communities.
Fight for a secure future for all of us.
From the Right: Public-sector unions are just RACKETEERING outfits [NY Post]
This is how a public-sector union works:
1. The State creates a monopoly.
2. The monopoly forces taxpayers to fund those workers, whether they do a good job or not.
3. The union then coerces workers to pay dues regardless of whether or not they want to.
4. Then the union uses those dues to help fund political advocacy that perpetuates their monopoly and the union’s influence.
In other words: racketeering. [NY Post]
But, the LEFT insists: “In the face of mammoth corporations and their puppet politicians […] the Right is on the wrong side of this issue.”
From the Right, a voice of reason at the “Workers Day” Facebook page: David Fisher : “I hope y’all will thank Trump for the lowering of your taxes and in many instances your bonuses and wage increases .. (and).. to tell those 300 union offices to quit embezzling from union members.”
FACT: There are few BULLIES bigger than the UNION BOSS in everyday American life.”[NY Post]
From the Right [National Review) – on forced membership –
“It’s estimated that at least 5.5 million government workers in 22 states are forced to pay money to unions just to keep their jobs. […] forcing people to support government-worker unions has for decades constituted one of the greatest workplace violations of First Amendment rights in U.S. history.”
Now, back to the reason for this protest/rally: Supreme Court case could deal major blow to unions in New York
“On Monday(Feb 26, 2018) the US Supreme Court will hear Janus v. AFSCME. At issue are the constitutionality of laws in 22 states — including New York — that force public employees who do not want to belong to unions to pay unions “agency fees” for bargaining collectively on their behalf.” (also know as financial core) [ NY Post]
“The plaintiff — Illinois state worker Mark Janus — argues that agency fees violate his First Amendment rights of freedom of speech and association by compelling him to underwrite union political activity with which he disagrees.
If the court sides with Mr. Janus […] government unions in the state could lose 20 to 30 percent of their members and money. The balance of power in state politics would shift.” [NY Post]
So, the unions rally, they MUST “Mobilize, Organize, Energize.”
“After all, New York’s unions collect over $860 million a year from some 1 million government employees. “[…] furthermore, the vast majority of public union political activity seeks to aid the left side of the political spectrum, as the unions are closely aligned with the Democratic and Working Families parties.” [NY Post]
Membership translates into money.
“New York’s government unions could lose up to $110 million a year in agency fee revenue. If the Supreme Court accepts these arguments […]
(CONSIDER) If stripping a political advocacy group of the power to force workers to join its efforts is a crippling event, then it’s an event worth celebrating.” [NY Post]
+a short VIDEO+
“The Working Peoples Day” lobbied to END our Rights as Citizens, to DENY the Freedom to CHOOSE; our Constitutional Right to Choose.
a brief Flickr slideshow:
FREEDOM, to be You. To be Me, it’s a terrible thing to waste.
[Pictures and Video Property of Pamela Hall]
Thanks for all the work you do in your indefatigable blogging. It must take time, energy and dedication. Do not lose heart, it is appreciated.