The Writers' Union Is RIGHT (Socialists Rejoice)

[mosdef]

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Genuine free market unions are a great thing and absolutly have a place . The problems come when people have to join or face intimidation or worse. Non union workers should be able to negotiate for themselves with firms if they wish without facing any recriminations. Also there is nothing wrong with firms saying we won't hire anyone in a union much like there is nothing wrong with people saying we won't work for any firm that won't deal with our union. Governments forcing firms through restrictive labour laws (read any labour laws) to deal with corrupt and brutal unions is a negative for pretty much everyone involved.

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Except the union.

[tomdemaine]

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Genuine free market unions are a great thing and absolutly have a place . The problems come when people have to join or face intimidation or worse. Non union workers should be able to negotiate for themselves with firms if they wish without facing any recriminations. Also there is nothing wrong with firms saying we won't hire anyone in a union much like there is nothing wrong with people saying we won't work for any firm that won't deal with our union. Governments forcing firms through restrictive labour laws (read any labour laws) to deal with corrupt and brutal unions is a negative for pretty much everyone involved.

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Except the union leaders.

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[tolbiny]

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Personally, shows like The Office reinforce to me that good writing makes and breaks a good (and therefore profitable) show.

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Meh, plenty of shows rely more on hot actresses, formulaic plot devices, explosions, insults and individual performers, The office is an out lier, imo, given how many shows get by with weak predictable dialog (L&O, CSI, drawn together). Are the writers on these shows really noticeably improving ratings over other people competing for those jobs?

[ConstantineX]

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So this is capitalism at its finest. How about the thread w/ the dad whose union is going on strike ---- selfish union socialist idiots, amiright?

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Exactly. I don't get why libertarians dislike unions. While the government occasionally helps or hinders unionization, unions are fundamentally a free market phenomenon. When unions first came into existence, the government regularly favored business over unions and busted unions relentlessly. Maybe it reminds the libertarians that there is such a thing as anti-competitive behavior?

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I'm not sure about the overall effect unions have, but I think the libertarian reaction to them may have as much to do with the "union mentality" more than anything. Also people have begun to blame the unions for the downfall of the most iconic and uniquely American industries, the automakers, who have a long history in our consciousness.

[kurto]

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Exactly. I don't get why libertarians dislike unions.

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1. Their philosphies are ultimately destructive. Schemes that are designed to minimize the amount of actual prodution per unit of work don't help anybody except the workers. Such practices create greater costs to consumers so that the union workers get more wages for less work.

2. They have been in many cases decidedly not a free market phenomenon. When a union beats up "scabs" so that consumers can't get their products that's not free market behaviour.

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I don't agree that unions are ultimately destructive. I can only speak from the perspective of the Entertainment Industry, but I can say that the Unions help the industry. (I'm speaking of the unions of the crews, teamsters, etc.)

That's not to say that there aren't many outrageous demands.. but for many shows the companies I've worked with WANT to work with unions. The trade unions are dependably efficient. When a production hires certain unions, they expect a certain level of quality.

(this doesn't apply to all unions... I'm merely suggesting that some unions can benefit the companies and the workers)