As a part of the group “across the street”, the description of anti-union is inaccurate and unfair. Some of our number are union members, for instance. We are anti-overspending, anti-big government, and therefore in opposition to the unions in many ways.

you lie

Hi my name is Hitler… I HATE UNIONS!! If you crooks want to do us.. the common worker a favor, STOP taking our – what you call “fareshare” from our paychecks. it is just like a thief coming into my house.

If you oppose unions, then do not join one! Leave the rights of others to join them alone! It is not your right to take our rights away!

Jim:

Your comrades with signs saying “unions = communism” are not anti-union? If your right, and your group is not anti-union, does that mean your comrades are not anti-communists either.

What is diffrence between “anti-union” and you “opposing the union” ? Does using common sense seam “unfair” to you too?

I concur. Jim Freeman — you haven’t a clue and are an absolute embarassment. Totally disgusting, that be YOU! Argggggh.

commonsense rules! you are so on point. why are there so many haters in this country of mine.

Oh yes now Hitler get’s involved, even so you don’t have a clue about Hitler. Here in California the advertisments on TV are, Oh did you read the Governor is taking away the 11 billions he has promised for our childrens education. Guess what a big percentage of children can’t read or write proper after 12 years of school, so does more money really solve the problem, mind you that more money just is not even there.

This is such a biased report… it makes me sick its so one sided, i hate cbs

Well Dale, that would be wonderful but unfortunately this is not a right to work state. Public employee union members make more than private workers, we pay for our pensions and health care, don’t have government job security because government regulation and taxes are driving business out of the state. We are losing our homes and our jobs and are barely making ends meet and you want more of my money so you can live the good life….I don’t have any more money for you so call that what ever political rhetoric you want but I have never thought that paying my bills was a political issue.

But the problem is that many places, you cannot be hired without first joining a union. If I want to get a job some place, and I am fine with being paid less, because I don’t want some 3rd party interfering and taking a cut of my pay, then I should be allowed to take that job.

I shouldn’t have to pay someone so I can have a job.

The only reason you call it biased, is because it isn’t pro whatever you believe in. I didn’t read any bias in it. I just read a neutral story about a bunch of people who are rallying for some cause, with a mention of a group of people rallying against what the primary rally was about.

Since when is reporting on facts, somehow a biased opinion? If someone printed a story with a picture of a puppy, and the entire story was just “This is a picture of a puppy”, you would shout that they are showing bias AGAINST kittens, or bias FOR puppies.

You people are stupid.

“Hundreds At Capital Rally to Support WI Unions”. Millions and millions of us (non union people) find it very difficult to sympathize with these protected prima donas. They’re a priveledged and spoiled bunch who call us “scabs” and other expletives despite our qualifications meeting or exceeding thier’s. Welcome to the real world of (supply and demand) market forces, P&L responsibilities, and a declining tax base,… oh yeah, might as well add “the laws of gravity” to the list as well since in reality, it applies to us all. It’s a cold, dark, lonely, world out here. Learn to embrace it like the rest of us.

Liking those Repugs you put back in office? Just wait, it will get worse, much worse.

I was there. I didn’t see any signs stating Union = Communism. We understand how the Unions are now attempting to do for the TAXPAYER SUPPORTED EMPLOYEE, what they did for employees of the Steel Industry and the American Auto Industry. I am paid to ADD VALUE to my company. You seem to be unclear on that concept. It seems you have been feeding at the public trough far too long. Until you are paying as much for your benefits, healthcare and retirement as we are in the private sector, you will never garner the support and sympathy you seek. We have been TAXED ENOUGH ALREADY, and feathering your nest is not on our “to do” list.

collective bargaining is not an evil Anyone who supports destroying arguments for working wages or conditions for workplace rules, is undermining the foundation of American culture.

All of us in the private sector holding real jobs and paying taxes have done our best to provide those of you who cannot compete in a capitalist society with a way to make a living. Sorry, out of money we can’t afford you anymore. Many of you will have to wake up, switch gears and try your best to compete in the real world out there.

Rather than trying to take the rights of people to protection from dismissal for no cause, lack of due process, forced pay cuts and overtime, fight and work to get them for yourselves. That’s how and why unions (which gave everyone the weekend) were organized in the first place. They weren’t GIVEN to people. People fought and some gave their lives for fair treatment and protection. Don’t try to take it away from others. Organize and fight to get it for yourselves. Our unions would be GLAD to help you.

Rather than trying to take the rights of people to protection from dismissal for no cause, lack of due process, forced pay cuts and overtime, fight and work to get them for yourselves. That’s how and why unions (which gave everyone the weekend) were organized in the first place. They weren’t GIVEN to people. People fought and some gave their lives for fair treatment and protection. Don’t try to take it away from others. Organize and fight to get it for yourselves. Our unions would be GLAD to help you. And almost $1,000 a month comes out of my paycheck and goes into my pension fund. It is not a gift from the taxpayers. We are NOT special interests. We are the people of California, and we ARE taxpayers. Remember that when you try to paint us as the enemy. And when we retire, we pay taxes out of our small retirement. Who makes the 3-figure retirement incomes the media refers to? No one I know or work with. And I also pay a substantial amount of my healthcare. The people you are complaining about are not the average state worker. Again if you resent that we have SOME protection then work with other people to get it for yourselves. Don’t try to take it away from the people who have it.

You seem to be implying that union members don’t work and don’t add value. Where would our society be with out fire protection, police protection, teachers, or healthcare workers? Most of these are union jobs.
People who work for corporations without unions risk being fired for anything at will. What is wrong with having some protection for yourself and your family?

Judy, I know the union drill, did the union organizing and was an officer in my union. I also know that California is broke…the taxpayers are broke and less than 49% of all Californian’s pay taxes. This started over teacher’s benefits in Wisconsin but it has touched a cord with most of us. For one things we have paid and paid and paid for education and we have what for the money. We have a system where those students who graduate with a GPA of 3.25 still rank 23rd in the world. Most of our college bound students have to take remedial courses to do college work. I mean it would be one thing if our kids were at the top and we were getting what we were paying for but a large percentage of our students won’t even graduate from high school. I don’t want to be in a union again and I don’t believe in either party….I think you are just seeing a lot of American’s that are tired of the rhetoric, the spending and the self indulgent unions and politicians. We are forming our own union and it is the union of the Taxpayer Revolt.

When was the last time a union member cared about the rest of us when they went on strike.Its not the company your striking against that pays for your greed after you get what you want.Its all the rest of us who didn’t get a raise to help pay for that cost of products rising after your strike is over.California Teachers Union Teachers can’t seem to inprove their teaching skills no matter how much they get paid.They just use the system as an excuse and keep on wanting more and never improving the education system they hurry to blame for the woes.

Your DEMOCRAT HERO FDR was passionately against collective bargain for government workers…..why are YOU so special?…the rest of us”middle class working families”do not get your bogus pensions and benefits….you are selfish greedy MORONS…..WE ARE GOING TO DISMANTLE BRICK BY BRICK PUBLIC WORKER UNIONS…STARTING WITH WISCONSIN.

you people are STUPID it is not a union issue the government waste money the city waste money it has nothing to do with the union people they are paid and have benefits because unions help to get them. If you want MONEY then get the government to go after wallstreet the banks and insurance companys that stole and wasted it in huge bonuses for selling you faulty loans and stocks.
FOOLS FOOLS FOOLS

The more we pay the less we get

what if you are talking about union dues if you didnt have them or pay, then you wouldnt be getting a cost of living and paid hollidays or vacation i worked for independant companys and they dont give if they dont have to

I have been a union member at past employers….there is both good and bad with unions…we have reached a point when what unions are asking for hurts the pocket book. anyone with budget experience knows you cant spend what you don’t have. so cuts must be made…look at europe for example…greece ring a bell..its comon sense here folks. i commend the gov for taking harsh steps, but it must be done…soon we in california will be in the same boat. will you all turn on the good dem. gov brown and call him hitler too?

Look at the lunatic’s that scream the laudest and that say’s it all!

Unions + Democrats + Media = lefty Iron Triangle. No one is fooled. Its about power and money. When I want a raise I have to help my employee make a profit.

When public employee Unions wants a raise they slide a check into a Dems pocket. Dems call for higher taxes, the media parrots and vilifies anyone against the idea. Repeat until broke.

Those of us in unions work for our money. How does that make us prima donas? We pay taxes and pay into our pension programs. I could have made more money working in the private sector, but because I was a single parent, I opted for less salary and a better benefits package. The people who have the most money (read power) are trying (and it appears successfully) to make hard working government employees into scapegoats for the government’s overspending. We are not the enemy, but they try to divert attention from their fiscal mismanagement by pointing the finger of blame at someone else. In an economy where everyone is worried about the future, it is easy to be misled into believing your neighbor is the enemy.

The Republican Party is doing a very good job distracting what’s really going on by throwing this anti-union sentiment into the mix. What they’re really doing is starting a war within the middle class, making us argue with each other who should be making how much money and why, while they’re still giving huge tax cuts to the rich and corporations. The gap between the middle class and the upper class is spreading at an incredible rate. And I thought that the Republicans swept into office (which thankfully stopped here in California) on the promise of creating jobs!?! I don’t know of 1 single bill the republicans have passed which does that. They’re just treating us like dogs, throwing a piece of meat into the cage and watching us fight for what they’re willing to throw at us.

As a teacher, I guess I should apologize for not teaching you to use the adverb “properly” instead of the adjective “proper” with the verbs read and write. Your correct, that money alone doesn’t improve education, but why would an educated professional take a teaching position without getting paid a fair wage for the job?

I remember the California Lottery started in 1985 was supposed to save our educational system….what happened to all the BILLIONS AND BILLIONS…have you noticed they never mention who this money was originally supposed to help…voters forget…and the UNIONS AND DEMOCRATS want more money…more,more,more…and our kids are dumber,dumber and dumber…why?..NO DISCIPLINE ..LIBERAL TEACHERS AND ADMINISTRATORS who allow sagging pants and are afraid of getting sued by these little brats…. and these “TEACHERS” WANT MORE AND MORE….THE ANSWER BY US TAXPAYERS IS ….NO…HELL,NO….make them learn,you limp wristed liberal teachers.

Please read the Krugman column from the Sacramento Bee yesterday. This is not only about the right to organize and collective bargaining, but also about the hidden agenda that Walker has that is not so hidden now. http://www.sacbee.com/2011/02/26/3431919/true-goals-of-gop-are-privatization.html Be informed on who some folks are trying to divide.

No one claims you should not be paid fair. But union bosses should not be able to use there big wallets to see that there puppet is getting elected so that when it comes to contract bargening they get whatever darn well pleases the union while the comunities are going broke. Und ja Hitler war ein Scheisskopf!

Shhh…your screaming is a little too loud.

everyone gets those things you just described. THEY ARE CALLED LABOR LAWS. THe problem with unions is that they will not negotiate. The gov says “we dont have the money to pay for all your perks, the union responds by saying ‘PAY UP OR WE STRIKE! WE DONT CARE HOW JUST FIGGURE IT OUT”

And that is the problem. Everyone is making cuts, making adjustments, working longer so that they can keep their income, waching retirement plans crumble and fall to the side But not the unions not them. Do gov employee members forget who writes their checks. Its called civil service not Make myself rich off of someone else’s taxes.

Billionaires and big corporations have an overwhelming influence on which politicians get elected and which legislation gets passed. And according to all the latest studies, the rich are getting even richer, which gives them further power. This tactic of pointing blame at the scapegoat group of the week is a move calculated to divert attention from the fact that while our economy is in trouble, the people who make the most money are not suffering, but amassing more wealth. The rest of us working stiffs are left at the bottom, and being played into thinking that their neighbor is somehow responsible because they belong to a union.

@lborcz

As a teacher you should know that the contraction “you’re” should be used instead of “your”. I believe you meant to say “you are correct”.

Anyways lets talk about a “fair wage” Average pay for a 9month employed teacher in CA is $59,825. That is money in your paycheck and doesnt account for the insane benefits. Give me a break.

Hey judy, your 1k a month into your pension IS A GIFT FROM THE TAXPAYERS!!!! WE ARE THE ONES PAYING YOUR SALARY!!!!

Unions dont protect people from “dismisal for no cause, lack of due process, forced pay cuts and overtime” Those things are what we call labor laws. In reality all your union does is hold the employer hostage to get more goodies for itself. With gov employee unions the hostage is the taxpayer. And we dont like it. If the unions are truly about making things better for everyone why dont you all step up and give up your cola untill the unemployment rate comes down? I mean do you really need a raise every year? Im sure your performance in your job isnt getting better every year…. at some point you have to top out.

Hats off to the hard working people who are members of the union. I am a hard
working person and not a union member. My salary is based on my performance
and quality. There salary is based on a scale. equal the playing field and things
will improve. Unions spend to much on politicians to get things they want and so
does other non union people. I say let everyone go by the same labor laws already in place. Fair across the board.

lborcz its not the indivdual thats the problem its the whole dang group. What did u think about the report came out CALSTRS and CALPERS are headed to insolvency fast. What are you going to do? Give some stuff up now or get NOTHING later. Those are teh choices, i know unions hate it when there isnt a choice that gives them MORE stuff but the time of reckoning is coming.

well put

the union pensions/benefits are ONE of MANY things the gov WASTES money on.

duh! why pay more for the same product??? why should a company pay you more just because the calander moved forward? thats stupid and will eventually kill the company

they are doing what was asked of them by those who elected them. We realize that gov shouldnt be the job giver, we need to dissmantle the bloated beauracry and get things balanced.

People that oppose unions are the same people that enjoy the benefits that unions gave everybody. 40 work weeks, overtime pay, better working conditions, protection from big business taking advantage of the common worker. I’ve worked in the private sector for over seventeen years and now I am a state worker. It took me over a year and a half to get a job with the state. State workers are an easy target because the media know they can stir the pot with stories like this. You private sector workers act as if you were denied the opportunity to apply for state work. Is there waste in state government? Of course there is and in any other business as well. It’s funny how gas is topping almost four dollars a gallon and big oil companies are making record profits, yet everybody wants to pick on state workers. This country is doomed! Our so called government is loving the fact people are turning against unions. If unions do faulted, who in the he’ll is going to look after the worker. Sure in he’ll ain’t the government or businesses. Watch what you people wish for! If you really want to make change, do away with all the liberal programs for people who are to lazy to work. They are the ones draining the system of money not state workers!

Does that mean France for instance has such good unions since they have a ridiculas 30 hour work week. You people are all brain washed by the union bosses. When a company has demand for it’s product it needs good workers, it raises it’s pays and benefits in hope to keep these employees.
Federal employees have no colective bargining power and the reason is simple and the reason is simple, Elected officials that were mostly financed by union power would alternatly give in to any and all union demands or else and the government be mostly on strikes like the auto industry and many of the others that since have vanished from the landscape, like the machine and metal fabrication industry. Remember how the Greyhound bus line used to be.

Hey Government Workers!
You SERVE the public not the other way around.

WE employ you.

You work for us.

There are thousands of people who will gladly step in to do your job.

I have an idea, everyone go to the gun store, buy a gun, load it, put it in your mouth and pull the trigger. have a nice day

[...] The KOVR-TV slideshow can be seen here. [...]

You are a fool. I posted a comment further down for your enjoyment only.

Most elected officials, like Scott Walker, have a Koch addiction. Only his drug is power and money. Stop politicians from accepting so much cash and you will see
a big change in government.

Belief me I am very much aware of the corruption in government having worked for the SBA Disaster assistance. They have the most corrupt hiring practices there is and if one in the privat sector would do things they do one would get fined or even go to jail. In fact the entire disaster assistance programm is a fraud since it serves the purpose to gain votes in disaster declared areas regardless if the claims are bogus.
The trouble is we have to find ways to learn to spend money where it is needed but the union bosses have set bad examples and with there obsurd demands have ruined many if not all of our industry’s. We used to be leader in everything, now we limp behind in about everything. Even Boeing is fighting for it’s life to stay on top with Airbus giving them a run for the money and don’t ever belief the Airbus employees are working for peanuts.

As a self employed marketing consultant. I would ask..who has a 40 hour week?
I think you should be a little bit more entreprenueral in your outlook.

Americans have out grown the unions. They do more harm then good. Company’s going out of business and moving over sea’s because the unions make it so difficult for company’s to stay in business and we have so many bad teachers that we are stuck with because of the union. Because people are no longer judged on there work ethic if they are in the union and it’s the public and our children who pay the price. I use to be in the union and it is legalized crime! You have to pay your dues or get fined…You have to picked or get fined…. You have to go n strike or get find… Those people out there protesting do not have a choice the union controls them! Once your in the union they own you until you quite your job! We have laws set up to protect people in the work force that we didn’t have before, there for there is not longer a need for unions. It’s is all about money for them don’t be fooled that they care about the people!

Hundreds of union workers rallied on the steps of the California Capitol on Saturday to show their support. I hope they all drove there in their union made cars and their not just a bunch of hypocrites maybe they even live in union made homes. Or their just worried about their money?

Carr: Most people have a 40 hour a week thanks to union collective bargaining decades ago–self employed choose to be self employed and their business dictates their hours. I was formerly a “forty hour a week” for line work but my management job required more as did my self employment later. So you want to go back to the 1920′s when workers had no rights! Great then say goodbye to the middle class.

WE DON’T NEED THE uNIONS ANYMORE, ALL THOSE LAWS ARE IN EFFECT AND ON THE BOOKS. UNIONS ARE WORSE THAN CORPORATIONS, AND UNION WORKERS ARE THE UNIONS SLAVES. WAKE UP PEOPLE, YOU ARE DEFENDING WHAT YOU ARE AGAINST. OPEN YOUR EYES, AND WAKE UP YOUR BRAINS, UNIONS MADE YOU THEIR ROBOTS, YOU ARE NO MORE FREE PEOPLE.

You Have More Money in Your Wallet Than Bank of America Pays in Federal Taxes
Zaid Jilani, ThinkProgress: “It wasn’t teachers, fire fighters, policemen, and college students that caused the economic recession that has devastated government budgets – it was Wall Street. And as middle class workers are being asked to sacrifice, the rich continue to rig the system, dodging taxes and avoiding paying their fair share. In an interview with In These Times, Carl Gibson, the founder of US Uncut, which is organizing some of today’s UK-inspired massive demonstrations against tax dodgers, explains …. you’re paying more than the “combined income tax liability of GE, ExxonMobil, Citibank, and the Bank of America. . . . BANK OF AMERICA: In 2009, Bank of America didn’t pay a single penny in federal income taxes. . . CITIGROUP: Citigroup’s deferred income taxes for the third quarter of 2010 amounted to a grand total of $0.00. At the same time, Citigroup has continued to pay its staff lavishly. “John Havens, the head of Citigroup’s investment bank, is expected to be the bank’s highest paid executive for the second year in a row, with a compensation package worth $9.5 million.” . . . EXXON-MOBIL: The oil giant uses offshore subsidiaries in the Caribbean to avoid paying taxes in the United States. Although Exxon-Mobil paid $15 billion in taxes in 2009, not a penny of those taxes went to the American Treasury. This was the same year that the company overtook Wal-Mart in the Fortune 500. Meanwhile the total compensation of Exxon-Mobil’s CEO the same year was over $29,000,000. . . – GENERAL ELECTRIC: In 2009, General Electric — the world’s largest corporation — filed more than 7,000 tax returns and still paid nothing to U.S. government. . . .That same year GE CEO Jeffery Immelt — who recently scored a spot on a White House economic advisory board — “earned total compensation of $9.89 million.” In 2002, Immelt displayed his lack of economic patriotism, saying, “When I am talking to GE managers, I talk China, China, China, China, China….I am a nut on China. Outsourcing from China is going to grow to 5 billion.” . . . – WELLS FARGO: Despite being the fourth largest bank in the country, Wells Fargo was able to escape paying federal taxes by writing all of its losses off after its acquisition of Wachovia. Yet in 2009 the chief executive of Wells Fargo also saw his compensation “more than double” as he earned “a salary of $5.6 million paid in cash and stock and stock awards of more than $13 million.” Read: http://www.truth-out.org/you-have-more-money-your-wallet-than-bank-america-pays-federal-taxes68094

[...] A more balanced report on the Sacramento rally [...]

If you haven’t checked out this blog yet you should…it has some really funny stories and it’s all clean and kid friendly stuff. http://www.jaredslighterside.blogspot.com

[...] A more balanced report on the Sacramento rally [...]