Over at the LRC blog, a reader writes in to say how Grand Theft Auto 4, currently the best selling video game on the market, contains dialog that compares unions to the mafia. At one point the main character is told: "union's just another word for mafia."
Ultimately the pop culture video game comparison of union bosses to mafia dons is more than mere tongue-and-cheek.
As currently constituted, with their many compulsory unionism special privileges, some union officials run what could be compared to a classic mafia enterprise: the protection racket.
Wikipedia defines a protection racket as follows:
an extortion scheme whereby a powerful entity or individual coerces other less powerful entities or individuals to pay protection money which allegedly serves to purchase "protection" services against various external threats.
In the case of unions, union bosses frequently paint employers to be exploitive and then demand that workers pay money in exchange for "representation." At the same time, in forced-dues states, employees are threatened with the loss of their job if they refuse to pay for the so-called "representation," whether or not the employees want it.
And for another example of how compulsory unionism leads to union officials' involvement in organized crime, watch this video:
Comments
Union Members at Town Hall Meetings
It is my understanding that certain unions along with their members show up at town hall meeting and try to force American Citizens not to voice their concerns. It is also my understanding that these people do use physical violence in order to push their agenda. I did not vote for Obama, I will not accept his and the Progressive Democratic Socialist National Health Care Plan. I am a Military Veteran and I almost died four (4) times for the freedoms and rights of every American Citizen, not a select few. I will attend the next town hall meeting in my area and I will be heard and I will exercise my Constitutional Rights and if it be my right to self defense against union thugs trying to silence me, then so be it.
Unions are PARASITES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The overwhelming majority of Americans reject union made automobiles.
The growing share of Americans reject shopping at unionized retailers.
Which is why unions are oh so desparate to collect dues from new members.
90% of workplaces are union free.
Unions and union organizers are parasites and lead to decline of almost any enterprise they infect.
No
No and you probably cuddle up with Walker and Prosser. You ANTI-UNION THUGS are the real slobs.
In case no-one realized,
In case no-one realized, this great country you call America is a union.. Every citizen pays their dues to this union called the United States. Sure, you have a choice to not pay your income taxes, but what happens if you dont? Even if you can get away from paying your 'protection money', you still end up paying what we in a union like to call 'field dues'.. That is, unless you are 100% self sufficient; not relying on stores for food, utility companies for water, propane, or electricity, or gas stations for fuel. Sure, unions are losing strength, but we are still powerful, but when we DO fall, you will wish we never did. Through us almost every single labor law on the books have been written! Through us you have the opportunity to have time off! Through us YOU have a voice in the workplace, union or not, male or female! There is a Pink Floyd song that says "United we stand, divided we fall". On the same token, there us a union saying; "United we bargain, divided we beg." Let the unions fall and you will again remember that Saturday and Sunday just means 'another day at work' instead of 'the weekend,' as it did before us.
Sincerely,
A concerned union member.
Unions-Job Destructions-
I just red a very nice spoken article from "Concerned Union Member", after I tried researching "Unions and Mafia" connections on the Google. It would be in ideal World when Unions if people and companies would have an option to be in the Union or not. That is why we leave and chosen to live in democratic society.
FYI, My company is on the way to fall down and about 15 employees will be out of work, because Union in my local town has all the power to proclaim my company to be declared as the Union even only 3 employees voted to be in the Union. Labor Law is created that I can not ever get out of the Union and Union is shutting down my company. They want me to get rid of all employees who did not vote to be in the Union, but at the same time there is no "Replacements" from the Union Hall.
I volunteered to join the Union when I needed sheet metal foremen for my shop and when I needed installers. By coincidence that " Union Member" has stolen $30,000 from my shop and never got arrested or charged by Police for it. At the same time installers they gave me were like from the movie " Chainsaw Massacre" because they work on peace-work so if they don't meet today's goal of making money they are not happy. So who loses here, customers who are paying and who want there home to be heated properly.
Anyways, it is hurting not to know where the money from pension benefits are invested because it collapsed by 50% , maybe by time Union members get retired they will wait for Nasty Surprise to find out that there will be maybe no fund at all.
The reason I was checking related words, Unions and Mafia are exactly how Union Reps were acting, harassing, intimidating all my employees, walk inns like in Al Capone movies, breaking Law of all above doesn't bother local Police Authorities, because for Police that is only a " Labor Issue"! Breaking the glass on my vehicles, cutting off mufflers, slashing tires are just something that can not be investigated because who cares " you have insurance", again who pays for that is tax payer, who will pay for unemployment of 15 people who will get out of work, tax payers. So here we go, lets support Unions and let them destroy companies, get all the work out of Country, lets move to China or India with all the work.
We will do only sales and marketing till one day, boat will break down and we will have nothing to eat, because even sardines are being packed in China now. Can we count how many products we can by in Wall Mart that is not made in China. Does anybody ask the questions why Companies are moving out of country, is it because products can not be competitive because companies have to pay almost double for benefits of the employees? So when you will understand that broom or shovel will cost $100? If we are so United we stand, why we buy foreign products? why don't we start making $100 shovels and buy them? Something doesn't add up! Don't we agree?
mofia and unions
union is a kinder word for mofia. so you are a union member. What branch of the military did you serve in? None... that's what I thought. Another freeloader. pathetic.
Unions
How about the public school systems? Education in America is a basket case. Loaded with teachers that are not compentent to teach and the school boards cannot get rid of them because of the unions. This is why private schools, charter schools, and home teaching have a much better track record on student knowlege outcomes. College graduates from the prestegeous colleges of today cannot pass a highschool examination of the 1940 and 1950 era.
I am never going to fully
I am never going to fully understand why in anyones right mind they would look down on unions. Ok. So in the past we have had bad ones..yes. Just like anything not everyone's going to be perfect. If a unions officers are doing the wrong things I feel the blame is on the union members for voting and keeping them in office. As far as the video games…well guys it’s a video game…!!
Also When it comes to everyone saying right to work states make more jobs.. Well yes they do. A lot of minimum wage jobs with un-skilled workers who don’t ask for anything because they are scared of getting fired. This is not America anymore.. Its just a race to the bottom now..
I work in a right to work
I work in a right to work state.I am in the union and I like it.More money,pension,medical,dental,most of all respect at work.Now what were the problems with unions again?
Re-read the post
Bill-
You should reread what was written in this post. The point is that unions requiring forced dues as a condition of workers keeping their jobs is no different from the extortion rackets that you see on the Sopranos...
Tony Soprano says pay us money or we'll break your legs. Union bosses say pay us money or we'll have you fired. That's not a video game, that is real life.
Imperfect Indeed!
The corruption in organized labor is not merely in its distant past; it’s present, ongoing and growing. There are indictments and convictions of union officials for corruption on a regular basis.
While it is true that all human institutions always fall short of the ideal, labor unions in the United States base their power on injustice. The injustices of monopoly bargaining and compulsory dues and fees are the foundations of union power today.
In my twenty years as a union member, I saw how that kind of power fostered arrogance and hubris in the ranks of the union leadership. When I, as a member, questioned the policies of the union, such as support for abortion, and the political agenda of the radical left, I was attacked personally and told that if I didn’t agree with them, it was up to me to change. I had foolishly believed that I had joined the union to protect my interests on the job, not to change the world into a socialist utopia.
After resigning from the union and trying to exercise my legal right to refrain from financing Big Labor’s political agenda, I was lied to by national union officials for years. Not until the National Right to Work Legal Defense Foundation assisted me with free legal representation was I able to achieve some degree of justice.
As far as your reference to a race to the bottom goes, it is being led by the John Sweeney and the AFL-CIO through its effort to deny rank and file employees the opportunity to have a secret ballot election when deciding on union representation by promoting the cynically named Employee Free Choice Act. I do not see how workers are benefited by being forced to vote under the watchful eyes of union officials and their employers. You’re right - this isn’t America anymore.
Bismarck
you are right on with
you are right on with everything you said.
at my job we had a driver who drove their truck fully onto someones lawn and drove away. then was stopped by the customer on the road after when they tried to settle it with cash. never said anything until the customer called and filed a claim and they still didnt lose their job. we had someone walk on a moving belt in front of safety consultant agent during an audit who couldnt be fired. people are encouraged to "go slow". some who are productive are threatened to not be represented which would because of forced contractual laws, force him to lose his job against the company's will. this is out of control! we dont need this!
Union Mafia
I enjoy the security of being in one of the biggest unions in the US. However, it does have its drawbacks not because of the organization, but because of the overwhelming need for power and control. Unfortunately, due to cliques and "drinking buddies" the majority are what we call "union mafia". This is due to total control of the department. Promotions are not done fairly. They are given to high ranking "mafia" that even though they do not have the experience, they are given the promotion due to mafia status and status within the "good old buddy"system.