Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Politics : PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Mr. Whist who wrote (34246)	9/2/2000 7:20:07 AM
From: Neocon	Respond to of 769667

Whether many would exercise the option or not, it has been adjudicated, and the administration is in defiance of the ruling at the behest of organized labor. As I said, I am not well enough informed about the details of pension fund abuse. I disapprove, certainly. But how much worse is the breach of trust in a corrupt union? I am glad you notice that the federal government has something to do with your contracts. I have nothing against federal mediation. I merely observe that there is reason unions tend to side with Democrats. I am glad whenever a company feels it can afford to be generous with its employees. Sometimes management abuses its position. But it is still mainly market driven. Hi- techs are not merely enlightened, they are desperate for technically qualified people, but also squeezed for cash. Things like profit sharing are actually a way of reducing the payroll burden in start- ups. Generous pension plans allow pre- tax dollars to be used, enhancing the "bang for the buck" (most people end up borrowing against or raiding their 401(k)s). Telecommuting is a no brainer for a web company, and costs them little. Similarly, unions can only make adjustments at the margin because the parameters are determined by economic realities. This is the primary reason that unionization stagnated, and now stands at about 17%. For many people, the benefits were insufficient to justify the expenditures in dues and loss of wages due to work actions. Now, the threat of unionization is probably helpful to keeping employers on their toes, because they will try to avoid disgruntlement in order to keep a union out. And it is likely enough that unionization is, on balance, beneficial in those industries where it flourishes. On the other hand, unions can be abusive too, as when the Teamsters got in bed with the Mafia, or when the steel unions connived with management to keep out cheap steel to preserve their high salaries at the expense of other US manufacturers, and therefore workers. By the way, I am not terribly fond of Big Business either, as it also is prone to go to the government well.........