All Government contracts should only go to Union shops. Everything from highway construction

[SunnySong]

to sewing buttons on military uniforms. You want to put our money to work in the economy make that the law. Any company could opt to be a non-union shop they simply could not suckle on the government teat. I would think with a democratic president and democratic congress this is quite doable.

Not to mention all the government work that is sub-contracted out to China or done by day laborers would now be done by Americans earning a living wage. i would feel much better about paying my taxes in April knowing it is putting bread on my neighbors table.

What do you guys think?

[XemaSab]

1. I totally agree

the middle class keeps the economy moving, and union wages are middle class wages.

[Luminous Animal]

2. I sort of agree. Day laborers are my neighbors, too, and deserve a living wage.

[SunnySong]

16. Most day labores would love a permant job with benifits as well as union protection.

The fact this country allows people to be exploited as day laborers is shameful in itself.

[SunnySong]

17. Dupe

[Journeyman]

3. My business isn't a union shop -- it's essentially my wife and I -- so why would you . . .

Why would you strip us of all our government work? We're in demand by dozens of agencies at all levels -- city, county, state and federal -- who seek our help because we offer quality work at a competitive price. And none of our subcontractors are union either -- just not that many in our field in this area. But all our vendors offer competitive prices and pay good wages -- most are small concerns, same as mine -- and I compensate my associates very well.

I'm a citizen, same as you, and pay my fair share of taxes (we're too small and far too honest to be very slick in that arena). So why would you deny me the opportunity to do work with the government I support? And why would you block my government clients from using a vendor they believe is best for their purposes?

[readmoreoften]

8. Sounds like you're subcontractors who buy from subcontractors who buy from subcontractors.

who exploit non-union labor. I'm sure if you and your wife are hand-sewing speciality quilts for the federal government, an exception could be made. But if all you are is a paperwork manipulator at the top of a chain of subcontractors, then I feel no pity for you. And "good wages" aren't the only reason for unions: health and safety, harassment, discrimination, etc. are all handled by unions. These days people think Starbucks pays a good wage, so I'm not particularly impressed by that.

People who complain about unions are suspect. Period.

[Journeyman]

9. Show me where I complained about unions . . .

and try to make it something more than baseless charges that I exploit people.

[Tunkamerica]

4. That's a very narrow view. Shouldn't people have the right to choose?

I'm all for unions and have worked with IATSE for years. But, your comment is a pipe dream and ignores the fact that a policy like that would hurt every business under a certain size, every business that happens to employ workers who just don't want to be in a union, every business that is new or doesn't fit a certain niche, every business that isn't american... etc.

[SunnySong]

15. We are not talking about every business only those that take government contracts.

A business could certainly opt out of government business just like a doctor opts out of Medicare. If a business does wish to take money from the taxpayer it simply needs to be a union shop. We shouldn'
t have US taxpayers supporting companies that don't pay a livening wage or companies that exploit oversees labor rather than hiring Americans.

[madokie]

5. No doubt about that

If it wasn't for the unions we wouldn't be worried about losing the middle class cause we wouldn't have had any to begin with.

[Radical Activist]

6. f'n a

[dmr]

7. If only that could happen. n/t

[Obamanaut]

10. If one insists on contracts to union shops, that would not necessarily

exclude 'off shore' contracts. Are there not unions in other countries? I recently read, right here, that China has a worker's union.

Perhaps if "buy American" were included...

[SunnySong]

18. I am presuming a buy American slant in the legistation. There is no reason for the US government to

purchase foreign made goods when unemployment is at 10% here at home.

[doc03]

11. You would get a lot less bang for the taxpayers buck

paying a stop sign holder the appropriate wage for someone at that skill level rather than paying $30 an hour.

[doc03]

12. If someone works for a good employer and is happy with

his job why should he be forced to pay part of his money to a Union. Why should that employer be denied government contracts?

[SunnySong]

14. Here is the rub the government is going to pay either way.

One of the insidious things about companies paying $8.75 an hour is that they expect the government (meaning us) to subsidize their labor with food stamps, WIC, and other social programs. By underpaying so called "unskilled labor" we simply move the burden from the hiring corporation to the community at large. It would be better for all involved if "unskilled labor" got paid a living wage.

No worker in America should need a government handout if they is being paid a living wage. The fact that so many do is simply another back door way government subsides big business.

[doc03]

19. People don't join unions today because the unions don't

give you reason to join. I worked in a union shop all my life, whenever I would go to the union with a problem it was either the company has a right to do that or they would give you a big line of bullshit and tell you to check back. When you called back you got an answering machine or they were out of town or some other excuse. The union leadership today has more in common with managemnet than the people that actually work. They play golf and socialise with management on their days off, management gives them tickets to ball game. Soon as someone gets elected the company sets them up with a dayturn job and hires their relatives and from then on they have them in their pocket.

[guitar man]

13. At the very least

Enforce the Davis-Bacon Wage Act. Contractors should not be allowed to get rich off the govt teat while starving their workers.