In the dark of night more "union busting" took place

[MonacoMike]

This is incredible. In the wake of the Wisconsin mess who would have thought this?

They have passed "a bill divesting policemen, firefighters, teachers and other municipal employees of the power to collectively bargain most health-care benefits. The 111-42 vote took place at 11:30 at night, so as to avoid a mass of protesting union workers set to descend on the State House the next day."

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704463804576291240909536676.html

 

[Jack F]

Very interesting...

 

[OldSkool]

I never heard about any republicans leaving for another state to avoid the vote. Isn't that what the other party is supposed to do in these cases. Don't tell me they actually stayed around to fulfill your obligation to there constituency. What a radical thought.

And now the unions have even lost their own party cronies.

 

[MonacoMike]

Where's the outrage? The people banging on drums, picketting and destroying public buildings? I don't get it....could it be that democrats are hypocrites afterall?

All that is true but the unions were planning protest. It was the lack of interest by the Dem/lib controlled MEDIA that was missing. They fueled Wisconsin, they let this slide with little fanfare.

 

[Asureyez]

Sounds like the sides have been evened up. Certainly employees have a right to join unions to bring the weight of numbers behind their petitions to their employers, but equally employers have the right to refuse to respond. The employees can strike, the employers can hire new workers who might be happy with the work and the conditions. Union member shave the right to quit at will, the employer has the right to change working conditions or fire at will. The sides are actually even in employment at will circumstances, and no one has a higher power. The individual needs work, the employer needs labor. The employer OWNS the job, the individual owns the right to lanbor in employment or to go make their own job. even/steven seems to me.

 

[comsnark]

From the top;

1) Does MA have the quorem rules WI has? The democrats in Wisconsin actually STOPPED the vote for a substantial period of time by leaving. If the Republicans in in MA left -> would it have stopped the vote?

- and as a news story: This is a done deal. no more controversy. So why would the media cover it. Wisconsin was different because it was not a done deal till much later.

2) Why would Republicans leave => Didn't they support the measure? Why would they oppose it? Or did they oppose it simply because the Dems supported it?

 

[comsnark]

They call that "filibuster".

Both parties have been abusing it for over decade.

 

[OldSkool]

Com,
I was playing a little tongue and cheek. Naturaly the repubs stayed. No need to leave if the votes going to go your way.

Whether right or wrong I think the collective barganing tool is going to fail in our present economy. Time will tell.

 

[MonacoMike]

They call that "filibuster".

Both parties have been abusing it for over decade.

You don't like the filibuster? We should go back to appointed senators instead of elected, the senate worked better.