DISQUS

bmenezes · 2 years ago

Harsanyi: Opted out or free-rider?

So, anyone want to bet on whether Harsanyi actually has opted out (or tried to opt out) of the protections and benefits negotiated by the Newspaper Guild on his behalf, and took the "freedom" route to negotiate his own health care and job protection? Or whether he has he opted out of the pay raise that I understand is going to hit soon for local Guild newspaper employees (or any other past Guild pay raises, for that matter), in favor of the "freedom" to negotiate only his own merit and cost of living raises?

If he has in fact taken a principled stand to negotiate on his own behalf instead of taking a free ride on the Guild's collective bargaining, that should be noted with respect. If not, then perhaps he'll have the guts to explain why his readers don't deserve to know that while promoting "right to work" he already essentially enjoys the option of collective bargaining without compulsory union membership,

I'll take the under on this one.

tallport · 2 years ago

Exactly........ That is why Right to Work for less laws are inherently wrong and unfair on premise. If people choose not to join unions that's fine, but then they should not be covered under the contracts.  They should not receive the benefits from the collective bargaining agreement.  Why do we have to pay homeowners dues?  I do not always agree with our elected board, but if I choose to live in my neighborhood, then I have to belong to the association. This is the same principle, but we do not hear much opposition to homeowners associations. The reasoning is simple.  The associations would NOT work effectively if people could choose to join or not join and the same is true with unions in "closed shop" situations. Right to work laws are designed to cripple unions pure and simple. Sure, labor unions get involved in the political system, so what?  Labor unions are certainly no more political than corporations.  Not even close. This is about balance, democratic principles and basic fairness. The biggest joke is when pro right to work for less supporters claim to be acting in the interest of employees. That is such garbage. They are acting to cripple collective bargaining and  anybody who claims that helps employees is just not being objective.  That is not to say every business needs to be unionized.  Not at all, but people should have the right to join unions. In this country that is no longer the case. 

johne · 2 years ago

actually Unions are about 15 times less politically involved than corporations when you consider that the supreme court equates money with free speech.  I don't have the linky handy but it was first told to me by David Sirota and hasn't been refuted.

Mark Mehringer · 2 years ago

If people want to opt out, why not let them... But make them opt out of the higher pay, too.  Who is to say that if they union can negotiate pay for non-union workers, that they have to negotiate it to be the same rate?

tallport · 2 years ago

No Doubt.... No doubt John.  I had not heard this exact number, but it does not surprize me.  I sure wish somebody with the major Denver Newspapers would discuss the fact.

tallport · 2 years ago

Good Question That gets into a whole new ball of wax if I am following you correctly.  Members authorize us to bargain for them of course.  Non-members choose take another road for various reasons.

Mike S. · 2 years ago

Are you sure? I'm not clear how the writer is sure Harsanyi is part of the union. The article doesn't say Harsanyi confirmed that he's covered by the collective bargaining unit. The union official said "some columnists" are exempt, and Harsanyi is a columnist. 

Jim Spencer certainly wasn't a member. That's why Post management was able to give him his walking papers a few months ago.

Erin Rosa · 2 years ago

Yes The guild confirmed that he was one of the many employees covered.