Labor

Wagner v. Taylor

By Carroll Andrew Morse | December 18, 2008 |

Michael Barone of U.S News and World Report has an interesting capsule history of how labor/management relations through the 20th Century have brought the U.S. auto industry to where it is today…Mickey Kaus, pretty much alone among the commentators I’ve been reading, indicts “Wagner Act unionism” for the decline and fall of the U.S. auto…

Outsmarting the Taxpayers

By Justin Katz | December 18, 2008 |

I’m sure there are arguments that it’s financially efficient. That it preserves human capital. That it’s better than alternatives. But when all th talking is done, this is just outrageous: They left the state college system in droves in recent months to avoid paying more for their health insurance or losing it entirely, and they…

The Impact of the “Employee Free Choice Act” on Minorities

By Marc Comtois | December 18, 2008 |

Jennifer Rubin reports that “Al Sharpton announced that he would be opposing the EFCA and mobilizing the African American community against it.” Additionally, some of Sharpton’s concerns–and that of other African-Americans–were explained in a discussion on Sharpton’s radio show with African-American small-business owner Sylvester Smith and Charlie King of the National Action Network (the civil…

Predirecting Anger

By Justin Katz | December 17, 2008 |

My response to Richard Joslin made it into this week’s print edition of the Sakonnet Times (as did TCC President David Nelson’s), and I’m sure it’ll spark an angry response or two from unionists. Who knows but that ringleader Crowley will pen a guest letter from across the state. Given the extent of his so-called…

“A Fussy and Difficult Student”

By Justin Katz | December 14, 2008 |

There’s a familiar face on the front page of the Providence Journal today: From the beginning, the relationship between William Felkner and the Rhode Island College School of Social Work has sounded like the screech of chalk on a blackboard. … Felkner has filed a lawsuit against Rhode Island College that revives arguments from conservatives…

Fortunes Untold

By Justin Katz | December 12, 2008 |

Police officers deserve to be well paid, but this is astonishing: Nearly one in 10 Massachusetts State Police officers made more than the governor last year, with 225 officers topping the $140,535 annual salary of the state’s chief executive. Four of the 2,338 state troopers were paid more than $200,000, and 123 others were paid…

How Employer and Employee Achieve Fairness

By Justin Katz | December 10, 2008 |

Last week, I sent the following unpublished letter to the Sakonnet Times: School Committee Vice Chairman Sally Black gave an impassioned speech at the board’s meeting last Tuesday explaining why she voted unsuccessfully to approve the latest iteration of the teachers’ contract, despite likely cuts in state aid. As sincere as her reasoning may have…

Individuals in a Package Deal

By Justin Katz | December 4, 2008 |

In the midst of a very edifying conversation in the comments section of my “Powers and Victims” post, Tiverton teacher Ed Davis offers the following significant perspective: You’re right, no one is forcing us to work here. Unfortunately, I saw this philosophy take hold in the school system my son attended. Many of the good…

Vulgarity No More at Council 94

By Marc Comtois | December 1, 2008 |

Apparently there was a “vulgarity” problem at Council 94 and J. Michael Downey ain’t gonna take it anymore (h/t). In an internal memo obtained by The Journal, Council 94 President J. Michael Downey tells staff that he will be “fully involved in the decision-making process” of union leadership following the departure of former executive director…

It’s Always a Matter of “Fairness”

By Justin Katz | November 29, 2008 |

The title of this post refers to the words of Paul Saccoccia, a national rep for the International Brotherhood of Police Officers, who believes that disabled policemen and firefighters in the state pension system should receive pension contributions from their towns when the state doesn’t give them the full amount that they want: Lawyers for…