Taking on the Union Bosses
Governor Chris Christie (R-NJ) Most politicians don’t have the stomach to take on the union bosses but with New Jersey on the brink of bankruptcy, Gov. Chris Christie did. David Disalvo takes a look at the ongoing battle…
SEIU Endorses Pot Initiative
In California, voters will consider Proposition 19, a measure to legalize marijuana. Supporters got a big boost this week as the SEIU, the state’s largest union, endorsed the measure. Supporters of Proposition 19 hope the endosrement will bring with it…
Dangers of Project Labor Agreements
A political appointee of Ohio governor Ted Strickland (D-OH) has strong-armed local school boards in “arm-twisting sessions” to give contracts to big labor unions. Ohio School Facilities Commission chief Richard Murray pushed Project…
Big Labor Malfeasance and Gov. Ted Strickland
The Columbus Dispatch puts the blame squarely on Gov. Ted Strickland for his cronies funneling no-bid contracts to his union boss buddies at the expense of a school for the blind, home-care worker freedoms, and more: Misfeasance As executive director of the Ohio School Facilities Commission, Richard Murray was supposed to act as a good steward of the millions of dollars Ohio pours into new school buildings every day. Instead, a report by the Ohio inspector general shows, he has abused his position to push the interests of unions, including the one to which he belongs, at substantial cost to the state and local school districts. His unprofessional behavior disqualifies him for this position. Murray’s union advocacy comes as no surprise; his career before Gov. Ted Strickland appointed him included more than 12 years as Ohio director of the Laborers-Employers Cooperation and Education Trust, a union advocacy group. He is a member of Local 423 of the Laborers' International Union of North America. Strickland’s decision in September 2009 to summarily oust well-regarded former Executive Director Michael Shoemaker, a fellow Democrat, and replace him with Murray shows that the governor, too, is far more interested in doing favors for one of his primary constituencies — labor — than in working for Ohioans’ best interests. In fact, Murray says he was instructed by the Strickland administration to treat construction unions as “constituents” and to improve relations with them.
Slow Learner vs. 'Never Learner' in Bay State?
In Traditional Big Labor Stronghold, Union-Only PLA's Under Fire (Source: July 2010 NRTWC Newsletter) If you want to make a Massachusetts taxpayer shudder, just say the words "Big Dig." Onetime "Big Dig" enthusiast Charlie Baker is touting his opposition to union-only PLA boondoggles as he campaigns for the Massachusetts governorship this year. Bay State voters may conclude: "Better late than never!" Credit: John Tlumacki/Boston Globe For years now, the "Big Dig," officially referred to as the Central/Artery Tunnel Project, has been widely recognized as a poorly constructed, extraordinarily expensive boondoggle. The "Big Dig" tunnel system was conceived in the 1970's to replace Boston's aging elevated six-lane Central Artery and improve access to Logan Airport and Boston Harbor. In 1987, Congress voted to furnish federal taxpayer funds, and ground was first broken in 1991. To the dismay of independent construction employees and firms and Right to Work advocates, Massachusetts politicians announced that the "Big Dig" would be subject to a union-only "project labor agreement" (PLA). Construction firm owners who wished to bid on the project, whether unionized or union-free,
Slow Learner vs. 'Never Learner' in Bay State?
In Traditional Big Labor Stronghold, Union-Only PLA's Under Fire (Source: July 2010 NRTWC Newsletter) If you want to make a Massachusetts taxpayer shudder, just say the words "Big Dig." Onetime "Big Dig" enthusiast Charlie Baker is touting his opposition to union-only PLA boondoggles as he campaigns for the Massachusetts governorship this year. Bay State voters may conclude: "Better late than never!" Credit: John Tlumacki/Boston Globe For years now, the "Big Dig," officially referred to as the Central/Artery Tunnel Project, has been widely recognized as a poorly constructed, extraordinarily expensive boondoggle. The "Big Dig" tunnel system was conceived in the 1970's to replace Boston's aging elevated six-lane Central Artery and improve access to Logan Airport and Boston Harbor. In 1987, Congress voted to furnish federal taxpayer funds, and ground was first broken in 1991. To the dismay of independent construction employees and firms and Right to Work advocates, Massachusetts politicians announced that the "Big Dig" would be subject to a union-only "project labor agreement" (PLA). Construction firm owners who wished to bid on the project, whether unionized or union-free,
Oregon Under Teacher Union's Thumb
The Oregon teacher’s union, using their forced unionism privileges, spent a remarkable amount of money fighting educational reform. “. . .the nation’s two large teachers’ unions and their state affiliates contributed $357 per teacher to elections,” making it the biggest spending teacher’s…
Oregon Under Teacher Union's Thumb
The Oregon teacher’s union, using their forced unionism privileges, spent a remarkable amount of money fighting educational reform. “. . .the nation’s two large teachers’ unions and their state affiliates contributed $357 per teacher to elections,” making it the biggest spending teacher’s…
Sleeping on the Job: A Story of Big Labor’s Monopoly Power
This is almost too much to believe but that doesn’t mean it isn’t true: Last week the NY Post ran a story about two late-shift, unionized public employees sleeping on the job. According to the Post, “(S)leeping workers are…