Comments on: The Rise of Government Labor Unions http://www.errorsofenchantment.com/2010/02/07/the-rise-of-government-labor-unions/ Why is New Mexico not realizing its potential? Sun, 12 Feb 2012 00:23:16 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v= hourly 1 By: Diane http://www.errorsofenchantment.com/2010/02/07/the-rise-of-government-labor-unions/comment-page-1/#comment-5648 Diane Tue, 21 Dec 2010 21:48:09 +0000 http://www.errorsofenchantment.com/?p=1900#comment-5648 Federal workers are paid to do nothing. They are paid to add to the count as an employed worker for labor statistics. One with a good work ethic would be an outcast in such an environment. Promotions are based on the employees level of education not productivity and they are rarely if ever fired. Labor unions are dangerous. Unions pressure employers to hire union members only, a different type of discrimination. Unions promote mediocrity and suppress innovation. Federal workers are paid to do nothing. They are paid to add to the count as an employed worker for labor statistics.
One with a good work ethic would be an outcast in such an environment. Promotions are based on the employees level of education not productivity and they are rarely if ever fired.
Labor unions are dangerous. Unions pressure employers to hire union members only, a different type of discrimination.
Unions promote mediocrity and suppress innovation.

]]> By: Mark R http://www.errorsofenchantment.com/2010/02/07/the-rise-of-government-labor-unions/comment-page-1/#comment-2065 Mark R Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:53:48 +0000 http://www.errorsofenchantment.com/?p=1900#comment-2065 I am a former federal government employee, having worked for the IRS, INS and the US Army. I did join the union but only because I wanted dental care benefits which the federal medical plan did not offer (until about two years ago). With the exception of the IRS, union presence was almost non-existent plus they have very little bargaining power. When making comparisons between groups its important to look a little deeper. For example, while there is significant differences in pay between the public and private sectors there are also significant differences in the number of college educated/professional positions. I know that within the federal government almost half of all employees have a bachelors degree or higher. That's not the case with the general population. The federal government has very few unskilled positions while the general population has far larger percentage. Bottomline: The Hertitage comparisons are unfair since it makes the assumption that both groups are equal - which is fantasy not fact. I am a former federal government employee, having worked for the IRS, INS and the US Army. I did join the union but only because I wanted dental care benefits which the federal medical plan did not offer (until about two years ago). With the exception of the IRS, union presence was almost non-existent plus they have very little bargaining power.

When making comparisons between groups its important to look a little deeper. For example, while there is significant differences in pay between the public and private sectors there are also significant differences in the number of college educated/professional positions. I know that within the federal government almost half of all employees have a bachelors degree or higher. That’s not the case with the general population. The federal government has very few unskilled positions while the general population has far larger percentage. Bottomline: The Hertitage comparisons are unfair since it makes the assumption that both groups are equal – which is fantasy not fact.

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