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Permalink Reply by STEVE'S PHOTOGRAPHY on January 17, 2012 at 4:23pm

they have destroyed this country.

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Permalink Reply by Kari Lynn on January 17, 2012 at 5:02pm

I think they served their purpose. I think they are at the point of hurting the economy. Look at all the people that lost their jobs because of the wonderful NWA union a few years ago.

I think it is a shame they are protesting a non profit charity. I wonder how many of them have had to use charity services because their wonderful unions have made their industry so over priced causing them to be out of work.

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Permalink Reply by RONALD J VONBARGEN on January 17, 2012 at 5:38pm

I am not a union memeber nor have I ever been. I agree that unions have destroyed this country. but they also made it one of the best countries to work in. I think they need some major reform. (unions) It is a double edged sword, and if you live by the sword you die by the sword. but I would bet if there were no unions at all things would go back to the way they were pretty quick. the biggest problem I have with unions is in the public sector(government) which is payed for by the tax payer. so public employed people demand more at the tax payers exspense (yes I do understand they pay taxes to) so now we have a country where 25 percent of the people are footing the bill for the rest. it might even be less than 25 percent. 300 million people minus government sector, minus children,, minus disabled, minus retired, minus illegal aliens, minus welfare recipients... Yes something needs to change.

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Permalink Reply by Clarence Chapman on January 17, 2012 at 7:13pm

I've been a member of the IBEW for 23 years. I am currently a union steward at a business here in Hastings. I see that a couple of people have made the statement "unions have destroyed this country". I fail to see how that opinion has been generated. Unions have: guaranteed fair labor practices, fair wages and benefits, equil employment opportunity, ect. In fact you as a citizen, whether represented or not, benefit from the unions because of the labor laws that unions have supported and pushed to have the laws passed.

Mr, Vonbargen states that the tax payers are burdened with having to pay the bills for many who can not or WILL NOT. You wont find many union employees that are on the State health welfare system. I personally know several working families who are working without benefits. They are working for non union employers. I will give you that there are some employers out there that do give their employees fair wage and benefits but, there are not many. And in this down turned economy how many peoples wages have been reduced without them having a say in it. What would it be like to have your income cut 1/3rd or even in half at the whim of the employer?

Union Employees pay a significant part of the tax bill because their wages have remained stable. Their benefits are in tact. And if the Union has a good working relationship with the company, both parties can work to the success of all.

Unions did not ruin this country! The politicians did. Does anyone remember NAFTA? The unions fought hard to have that defeated! Where was the support from the citizens? Not to name names but how many jobs were lost to Mexico when Smeads decided to ship the jobs out? How may families were effected right here in Hastings?  Smeads has a union. Or should I say had?

The politicians cant blame themselves for their incompentance so they push the blame to whoever they can.

Voters need to start paying attention to what the politicians are doing and get rid of them. Dont blame the unions. You might be the next one on the unemployment line because you are not represented and being supported by the union members taxes.

It is unfortunate that the union decided to picket in front of a non profit. They probably should have done their homework as to where they were going to be and may owe HFS and appology.

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Permalink Reply by Anthony Berens on January 17, 2012 at 8:51pm

The general contractor, Stotko Speeding put out a RFP for a drywall job.  Friedges came in with the low bid.   They paid  their workers $48.00 per hour in 2010.  I am going to assume that they pay about the same now.  They used to be a union shop about 15 years ago and now they are not.   The workers are the ones who decide if they want to be represented by a union or by themselves.

  What does a union have to offer nowadays ???   Better pay by the hour with bennys, but no work ?????

   I have been a member of Teamsters and AFL-CIO and I feel they have all had better days.  Clarence, you are right, do not blame the unions, but also, do not let the union cry about the non-union shops getting a few jobs.  Did the union or a union shop bid on the job?   I am sure they had a chance to bid on the job, but more than likely, it was not big enough.

 The leaders  of unions, the heads of insurance companys', THE HEADS OF NON-PROFITS, all they do is put a drain on the paying public.

   Did anyone else notice that the union is only crying about the drywall job ????   A non union shop is also working on their roof right now.  NOBODY IS COMPLAINING ABOUT THAT. 

  I will get off of the soapbox now and let someone else vent. 

 

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Permalink Reply by Katy Lindberg on January 17, 2012 at 9:15pm

I was trying to talk to a customer who just lost his wife. We were trying to talk about the changes he needs to make and move forward and all that we could hear was the chanting going on outside that we could hear clearly from my office. I understand it's a right to protest, but what did He do to deserve such disrespect.  

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Permalink Reply by Hastings Happenings on January 21, 2012 at 12:49pm

Here's an article from CNN.com, implying that unions may be making a comeback in America.

http://www.cnn.com/2012/01/21/opinion/lichtenstein-union-wisconsin/...

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