When Big Labor Bullies And Volunteers Collide
#1
11-21-2009, 04:36 PM
When Big Labor Bullies And Volunteers Collide
When Big Labor Bullies And Volunteers Collide
By Michelle Malkin
November 20, 2009
The Boy Scouts' motto is: Be prepared. Who knew it meant preparing to defend themselves against purple-shirted union thuggery over community service? Kids, pay attention. This is a teachable moment for all of you on power, politics and Big Labor's culture of corruption.
Last week at a city council meeting in Allentown, Pa., a top official of the local Service Employees International Union chapter ranted about 17-year-old Scout Kevin Anderson's park cleanup work. Anderson devoted some 200 hours to the job in order to earn an Eagle Scout badge. He picked up trash and helped clear a 1,000-foot walking path with fellow members of Boy Scouts Troop 301 of Center Valley.
But SEIU's Nick Balzano gave them hell instead of thanks.
Balzano disparaged altruistic efforts in city parks and asserted that "there is (sic) to be no volunteers" since his union members were laid off. He then issued a witch hunt threat: "We'll also be looking into the Cub Scout or Boy Scout who did the trails. We may file another grievance on that." Citing union rules, he gave the Allentown city council, the Boy Scouts and all potential volunteers an iron-fisted ultimatum: "None of them can pick up a hoe. They can't pick up a shovel. They can't plant a flower. They can't clear a bicycle path. They can't do anything. Our people do that."
That's right. Balzano was ready to bludgeon the Boy Scout because his gung-ho volunteerism posed a threat to the SEIU labor monopoly. The outrageous display of Boss Balzano's union protectionism provoked a national furor. SEIU headquarters in Washington immediately blamed "the disreputable Fox News and other right-wing outlets like Michelle Malkin's accuracy challenged blog" for the backlash. While decrying their critics' "fiction," SEIU distanced itself from Balzano, denying that he was a top union leader and dismissing his remarks as "unauthorized."
Fact: U.S. Department of Labor records from 2008 (their most recent filing) show that Balzano is no rogue rank-and-file member. He currently serves on the SEIU local's executive board and previously served as president.
Fact: The union tried to minimize Balzano's grievance threat as "inappropriate." But the dirty open secret is that public-sector unions have routinely attacked volunteer workers who threaten their stranglehold.
Last June, union officials in Baraboo, Wis., filed a complaint against volunteer firefighters who built sandbag barricades to protect the city from record flooding. They whined that city Department of Public Works employees should have been called first and demanded overtime pay (for work they didn't do) to compensate them.
Yes, kids, the city was knee-deep in water and the government union got mad that other people scrambled to work together in an emergency to put sand in bags, save homes and help their neighbors. Public-sector unions aren't about serving the public interest. They're about serving their people, their power and their self-preservation.
In Montpelier, Vt., several years ago, the teachers union went after a superstar educator, Bill Corrow. The students, staff and supervisors at his school loved the social studies teacher and Vietnam veteran. But the Vermont Education Association hated him because he was a volunteer who did not accept payment for his elective course. Teachers unions are all for parents and schoolchildren volunteering their time to engage in political lobbying and power-expanding initiatives on the union's behalf. But God help the community service-oriented individual with a passion for sharing his knowledge in their classrooms.
In California, union heavies in the Sacramento area sued a nonprofit environmental group for using college-age volunteers on a state-funded project to clean up a canyon and build a community trail. Big Labor dusted off an old law that requires community service volunteers to be paid prevailing wages for doing the same kind of cleanup that Allentown Boy Scout Kevin Anderson was punished for doing freely. The law was finally repealed, but not without a brass-knuckles fight.
As National Right to Work Committee President Mark Mix, whose group monitors forced union abuses, pointed out during the battle: "Discerning California union bosses' real agenda ... is not hard. Volunteer workers don't have to pay compulsory union dues to serve their communities, but most paid workers on public projects in California do. ... (It) is yet another example of how government-authorized compulsory union dues corrupt the political process and furnish unscrupulous union officials with an enormous incentive to act against the public interest."
SEIU President Andy Stern in Washington speaks for all of Big Labor when he describes his organizing philosophy: "We prefer to use the power of persuasion, but if that doesn't work, we use the persuasion of power." President Obama, who has made national service an administration priority, has been and will continue to be silent about the Big Labor bullies who make public enemies of Scouts with trash bags and hoes.
You see, kids, Obama owes Stern (his most frequent White House visitor) and his union brethren. SEIU alone poured more than $60 million in compulsory membership dues into Obama's campaign and leaned on its workers to "volunteer" to knock on doors, place phone calls and send out mailers for the Democratic Party. No good deed goes unpunished by union bosses -- unless it benefits their political empire.
By Michelle Malkin
November 20, 2009
The Boy Scouts' motto is: Be prepared. Who knew it meant preparing to defend themselves against purple-shirted union thuggery over community service? Kids, pay attention. This is a teachable moment for all of you on power, politics and Big Labor's culture of corruption.
Last week at a city council meeting in Allentown, Pa., a top official of the local Service Employees International Union chapter ranted about 17-year-old Scout Kevin Anderson's park cleanup work. Anderson devoted some 200 hours to the job in order to earn an Eagle Scout badge. He picked up trash and helped clear a 1,000-foot walking path with fellow members of Boy Scouts Troop 301 of Center Valley.
But SEIU's Nick Balzano gave them hell instead of thanks.
Balzano disparaged altruistic efforts in city parks and asserted that "there is (sic) to be no volunteers" since his union members were laid off. He then issued a witch hunt threat: "We'll also be looking into the Cub Scout or Boy Scout who did the trails. We may file another grievance on that." Citing union rules, he gave the Allentown city council, the Boy Scouts and all potential volunteers an iron-fisted ultimatum: "None of them can pick up a hoe. They can't pick up a shovel. They can't plant a flower. They can't clear a bicycle path. They can't do anything. Our people do that."
That's right. Balzano was ready to bludgeon the Boy Scout because his gung-ho volunteerism posed a threat to the SEIU labor monopoly. The outrageous display of Boss Balzano's union protectionism provoked a national furor. SEIU headquarters in Washington immediately blamed "the disreputable Fox News and other right-wing outlets like Michelle Malkin's accuracy challenged blog" for the backlash. While decrying their critics' "fiction," SEIU distanced itself from Balzano, denying that he was a top union leader and dismissing his remarks as "unauthorized."
Fact: U.S. Department of Labor records from 2008 (their most recent filing) show that Balzano is no rogue rank-and-file member. He currently serves on the SEIU local's executive board and previously served as president.
Fact: The union tried to minimize Balzano's grievance threat as "inappropriate." But the dirty open secret is that public-sector unions have routinely attacked volunteer workers who threaten their stranglehold.
Last June, union officials in Baraboo, Wis., filed a complaint against volunteer firefighters who built sandbag barricades to protect the city from record flooding. They whined that city Department of Public Works employees should have been called first and demanded overtime pay (for work they didn't do) to compensate them.
Yes, kids, the city was knee-deep in water and the government union got mad that other people scrambled to work together in an emergency to put sand in bags, save homes and help their neighbors. Public-sector unions aren't about serving the public interest. They're about serving their people, their power and their self-preservation.
In Montpelier, Vt., several years ago, the teachers union went after a superstar educator, Bill Corrow. The students, staff and supervisors at his school loved the social studies teacher and Vietnam veteran. But the Vermont Education Association hated him because he was a volunteer who did not accept payment for his elective course. Teachers unions are all for parents and schoolchildren volunteering their time to engage in political lobbying and power-expanding initiatives on the union's behalf. But God help the community service-oriented individual with a passion for sharing his knowledge in their classrooms.
In California, union heavies in the Sacramento area sued a nonprofit environmental group for using college-age volunteers on a state-funded project to clean up a canyon and build a community trail. Big Labor dusted off an old law that requires community service volunteers to be paid prevailing wages for doing the same kind of cleanup that Allentown Boy Scout Kevin Anderson was punished for doing freely. The law was finally repealed, but not without a brass-knuckles fight.
As National Right to Work Committee President Mark Mix, whose group monitors forced union abuses, pointed out during the battle: "Discerning California union bosses' real agenda ... is not hard. Volunteer workers don't have to pay compulsory union dues to serve their communities, but most paid workers on public projects in California do. ... (It) is yet another example of how government-authorized compulsory union dues corrupt the political process and furnish unscrupulous union officials with an enormous incentive to act against the public interest."
SEIU President Andy Stern in Washington speaks for all of Big Labor when he describes his organizing philosophy: "We prefer to use the power of persuasion, but if that doesn't work, we use the persuasion of power." President Obama, who has made national service an administration priority, has been and will continue to be silent about the Big Labor bullies who make public enemies of Scouts with trash bags and hoes.
You see, kids, Obama owes Stern (his most frequent White House visitor) and his union brethren. SEIU alone poured more than $60 million in compulsory membership dues into Obama's campaign and leaned on its workers to "volunteer" to knock on doors, place phone calls and send out mailers for the Democratic Party. No good deed goes unpunished by union bosses -- unless it benefits their political empire.
#2
11-22-2009, 08:56 AM
#3
11-22-2009, 10:21 AM
You see, SEIU is a corrupt GOV'T union, doing all sorts of sneaky dirty tactics for the socialist party (formerly Democrat), marching right in lockstep with other sneaky corrupt organizations like ACORN.
Do you support the socialist party? Thats where a lot of your dues go.
#4
11-22-2009, 11:18 AM
The sky is falling... I understand that dues MAY go to political parties but my local voted and won not to send any dues out of our local portion for political purposes... But whatever the international collects can be used at their pleasure. I don't care for the most part, I have a great paying job with a great education that was supplied to me from being in the union. So say what you will about unions and their members all I can say is I'm making a living just like you and most everyone else in this country. Union to me is not a bad word it's an oppertunity to for me to make a better life for myself and I love it.
#5
11-22-2009, 11:46 AM
If your not protesting the boy scouts , your probably not part of the problem.
Glad your doing good job wise and will pray for you it stayed that way, but the sky fell in Florida 3 years ago, we now number one in the hardest to find a job and keep it.
Ever job in Florida has 1000 applications for every job, so they will fire you in a minute if it means they can save 5 cents a day.
Glad your doing good job wise and will pray for you it stayed that way, but the sky fell in Florida 3 years ago, we now number one in the hardest to find a job and keep it.
Ever job in Florida has 1000 applications for every job, so they will fire you in a minute if it means they can save 5 cents a day.
#6
11-22-2009, 12:28 PM
Rattler, the original post was about the SEIU, and them only. It had nothing to do with the rest of the unions in the country.
Most unions are good intentioned and keep away from the borderline or outright illegal actions taken by the SEIU. Most of SEIU's membership probably aren't even aware of those actions taken by their leaders.
There are many issues in which I disagree with unions. For instance the recent issue where a piece of luggage fell off a cart at an airport. The cart driver wasn't permitted to pick up that luggage and continue on, he had to call baggage handlers to pick it up.
That's the kind of ridiculous BS that turns normal people against the union.
Unions also protect the idiots that should be fired. A local city busdriver ran over 3 people in 3 seperate incidents, killing 2 and injuring one. The union is suing for his job back. If I had done that I would probably be in jail, and would definately lose my job, and my CDL.
BUT, I don't think this was meant to be a union bashing thread, just in informative one for anyone who's not aware of the SEIU's thugs.
Most unions are good intentioned and keep away from the borderline or outright illegal actions taken by the SEIU. Most of SEIU's membership probably aren't even aware of those actions taken by their leaders.
There are many issues in which I disagree with unions. For instance the recent issue where a piece of luggage fell off a cart at an airport. The cart driver wasn't permitted to pick up that luggage and continue on, he had to call baggage handlers to pick it up.
That's the kind of ridiculous BS that turns normal people against the union.Unions also protect the idiots that should be fired. A local city busdriver ran over 3 people in 3 seperate incidents, killing 2 and injuring one. The union is suing for his job back. If I had done that I would probably be in jail, and would definately lose my job, and my CDL.
BUT, I don't think this was meant to be a union bashing thread, just in informative one for anyone who's not aware of the SEIU's thugs.
#7
11-22-2009, 12:39 PM
#8
11-22-2009, 12:49 PM
Diesel Bomber
I'm total anti union...but........I'm in the O.E. Local 3. The only way for me to make a decent living where I live doing what I like to do. Unions are no different than any other big corporation in that they're self preservationists'. They all say they're looking out for you but they aren't. It's all about how much money and power one gets and how much one wants that dictates ones actions.
#9
11-22-2009, 02:08 PM
You might be a litle too sensitized, to this stuff. The original post only mentioned SEIU, and my post was a little offbeat, so I can understand your position.
Also, I never assumed you were socialist, just wondered if you knew where your dues went.
Which is the whole point. Some unions are very good, but by supporting SEIU, similar corrupt unions, and only the socialist (democrat) party, it makes all unions look bad.
#10
11-23-2009, 05:38 AM
