A Couple of Union Stories in the News

Three interesting stories on unions have hit the media this week that should be watched.

#1- Bush’s Union Transparency Rules Retracted Under Obama

The Washington Times reports that Obama is still giving favors and pay back to Big Labor. This time Obama is eliminating the transparency rules that Bush had put in to try to keep unions honest and legal. Sadly, Obama doesn’t care much if unions are held to the rule of law.

Since President Obama took office, the Labor Department has rescinded or delayed three sets of rules proposed by the George W. Bush administration that would have required unions and their leaders to more specifically detail their finances, according to a review of records by The Washington Times.

So much for the most transparent administration in history, eh?

#2- In a shocker, USA Today pronounces that unions are the problem not the solution…

Our view on school reform: Unions protect bad teachers, harming kids’ education

At this time of high unemployment, one group of professionals has no shortage of job security: bad teachers. Few public school principals in the country are able to dismiss an incompetent teacher without a protracted, expensive struggle, and therefore firings rarely happen. Yet, researchers agree that hiring good teachers, and ditching bad ones, is the best way to improve education.

Ouch. If unions are losing friends even in the Old Media, this is bad for them! I say GOOD. The USA Today piece has some very good points to make and is a must read.

#3- Lastly, The Hill has one on unions lashing out at those Democrats that have the gall to think for themselves…

Unions taking on Dems who don’t toe labor line The Hill tells us of Big Labor’s desperate attempt to stay relevant even though it has fewer votes to deliver to America’s Democrats every year. Oh, sure, they have a ton of cash to give the politicians, but without the votes to back up the cash, that cash is a bit devalued — though is still a strong call to the Democrats.

Frustrated at seeing their legislative agenda stymied, unions are becoming increasingly active in competitive Democratic Senate primaries.

Look for unions to try to defeat some conservative Democrats in 2010. This, of course, will backfire for them and get Republicans elected… but that’s alright by us, eh?

Warner Todd Huston——Bio and Archives

Warner Todd Huston’s thoughtful commentary, sometimes irreverent often historically based, is featured on many websites such as Breitbart.com, among many, many others. He has also written for several history magazines, has appeared on numerous TV and radio shows.

He is also the owner and operator of Publius’ Forum.