Well done Gov Scott Walker of Wisconsin!

56 replies

longfingernails · 12/03/2011 02:05

Finally, the venal public sector unions have gotten their just deserts, if only in a small corner of the world.

Gov Walker has shown inspired leadership, and is surely a contender for the GOP Presidential nomination.

We could do with someone of his mettle here - often, Cameron is far too consensual for his own good - not because he lacks steel, but he just has too much of the misguided noblesse oblige sense of "fair play".

Anyway, if Gov Walker continues in this vein, he may one day be spoken of in the same breath as Thatcher and Reagan!

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huddspur · 12/03/2011 13:08

I don't like this at all, people must have the right to collective bargaining. A consensual approach is more likely to be suceesful than a dictatorial one. I think that many of the union leaders are unreasonable and do make some pretty extortionate demands but the Government must try and work with them to reach a settlement but thast obviously doesn't mean giving into the unions.

Original poster

longfingernails · 12/03/2011 12:45

There may be a case for limited private sector unions - though I remain unconvinced - government should lay out minimum standards, and anything over and above that should be individually negotiated.

However, when it comes to the public sector, decisions are taken by democratically elected representatives. Public sector unions do nothing but screw over the public, by wasting taxes, destroying productivity, and fostering a suffocating miasma of mediocrity.

If the public want public sector workers to have gold-plated final salary or career average pensions, and all sorts of other unaffordable perks, they will vote for parties who say so. If they don't, then they won't - and to defy the public will in this way through union thuggery and bully-boy tactics is thoroughly undemocratic.

The actions of the 14 Democratic state legislators who ran away instead of doing their democratic duty and voting disgust me.

Elections have consequences. The right, in every civilised country in the world, has always recognised that. Time that the left did the same instead of trying to subvert it.

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Chil1234 · 12/03/2011 12:37

The people who rely on unions are those who, without joining together, would not have any voice at all and would be relegated to the realms of slave labour. I think it's insulting to refer to them as 'mediocre and incompetent'... they are simply working people joining together to achieve what they cannot achieve individually.

Original poster

longfingernails · 12/03/2011 12:30

Those who add value - those who are genuinely the best - won't have a problem. The people who rely on unions are the mediocre and the incompetent.

I do believe unions have an important role to play - and that is maintaining safety standards in potentially life-threatening situations.

However, anything to do with salary, job security, pensions and perks should always be individually negotiated. If you're crap at your job, you should be fired, regardless of seniority.

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comixminx · 12/03/2011 12:28

Is it good to be spoken of in the same breath as Thatcher and Reagan?

I'd treat it as pretty much a black mark to be honest.

Chil1234 · 12/03/2011 12:25

I really don't like what this man has done. I think there is a balance to be struck between the aspirations of workers and their rights to fair treatment and representation, and the requirements of organisations (public or private) to be competitive and flexible. Too much power on either side is unhealthy and wrong. Cameron is perfectly right to insist on fair play & consultations because we can only progress as a society with a degree of consent on all sides. Without fairness, all we have is bullying and resentment - a toxic mix that this part of the USA will doubtless rebel against in due course.

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