www.RogerWendell.com
Roger J. Wendell
Defending 3.8 Billion Years of Organic Evolution^SM

Overpaid/Underworked Government

• Bureaucrats - wasting our national treasure on wasteful programs and foreign giveaways
• Government employee unions - a public conflict of interest
• Government debt - state and federal debt as of FY 2013 is not sustainable
• Taxes - too high at all levels of government

Government Employee Unions - a public conflict of interest!

Don't get me wrong, I take a very dim view of the huge concentration of wealth and power that's taken place in our society over the past three or four decades that I've been an adult. Nevertheless, two wrongs don't make a right - overpaid public-sector unions don't have a right to strap the American taxpayer for so little EVA (Economic Value Added, i.e., lots of pay and benefits, compared to the private sector, for miniscule output). In early 2011 this theme became popular when Wisconsin, and other states, attempted to rein-in their gigantic deficits by controlling or eliminating collective bargaining in the public sector. I, myself, publicly addressed the issue nearly three decades ago but it was at a time when the economy was relatively strong and jobs were plentiful. Despite that era's prosperity it was clear to me, and others, that the huge burden public sector unions were placing on government entities was simply unsustainable. So, in 2011, during the Great Recession, our economic chickens came home to roost...

Anyway, what it amounts to is that inefficient, overpaid, underworked, and often times corrupt - fire fighters, police, street workers, teachers, college professors, administrators, and a whole host of others on the government payroll have taken more than they'll ever give back. In private industry it wouldn't raise much concern because an inefficient business would simply succumb to competition (take, for example, the various car companies and their unions that went under at around the time of the millennium). However, in the world of government employment there are no such checks and balances - unionized government workers demand more and more while regular working people are required to endure higher taxes, poorer service, and a diminished quality of life.

During the Great Recession of 2008 - 2011 things started coming to a head as local and state governments found themselves on the verge of bankruptcy while their employee unions continued demanding more than what the people could afford. In Wisconsin and other bankrupt states union thugs rolled out in force to squeeze more and more from government coughers that had simply run dry. In response, I created this page (and related domain names) as a way of not only fighting back but also to set the record straight. Having held jobs in various municipal and federal agencies, myself, I had witnessed firsthand the corruption capable of government employees and their unions. But, all of the blame can't be placed on just the unions themselves - we mustn't forget that it was the elected officials and government bureaucrats that continually caved-in to union demands at the public's expense. Why? Because many of those running for office were financed and supported by the unions - a horribly corrupt system that perpetuated itself at the expense of the rest of us - a definite conflict of interest!

Yes, I know that in the times before unions people (and, sadly, children) were grossly overworked and underpaid throughout large segments of our economy. But, that was many decades ago - since then countless laws have been enacted that guarantee a minimum wage, safe and healthy working conditions, and overtime for anything over a 40 hour work week. So, why would a union be needed - especially in government employment?? With hard work and determination we can ban together to eliminate the stranglehold government employees and their unions have on the American taxpayer - our economy can simply afford nothing less...

Public Sector Unions:

• Private sector unions usually have some interest in the business staying profitable so that their union jobs don't go away.
• Profit isn't a concern to public sector (government) unions since their jobs aren't going to go away. So there's no incentive for unionized government employees to do anything other than take as much as they can get from taxpayers.
• Citizens can't "decide" not to pay taxes if they don't like the quality of policing, roads, schools, or other government "services." Taxes are mandatory regardless how poorly unionized government employees perform.
• In the private sector if I don't like the quality of a union-made shirt I simply don't make the purchase. The unions behind the manufacture of shirts have an incentive to protect quality and remain competitive.
• Public sector (government) unions have no incentive to protect quality or cost, so they serve no purpose for the common good.

Yes, I have belonged to unions in the past! And, I do believe that working people need/deserve good paying jobs with benefits - not only because it's the right thing to do but because our entire society benefits from a more equitable distribution of wealth. However, with the exception of the Ironworkers (see photo at left - back in '79 they were a hardworking, honorable bunch) the other unions I belonged to encouraged sloth, protected our worst workers, contributed part of my dues to political campaigns I didn't believe in - all while lining the the pockets of stewards, local officers and business agents.

Well, who decides when a teacher, police officer, administrator, or other public-sector employee is overpaid or underworked? Answer: The marketplace! You know something is amiss when, even during an "up" economy, the line of qualified applicants for a government job goes out the door. Almost without exception, announcements for government job vacancies are met with more applications than the hiring office can handle. Do you think that's because the pay is too low or the work too hard? Why is there always so much interest in a government job? The average worker and taxpayer can't long afford the largess unions have forced on them - it's time for a change!

Teacher Unions

by Mike Rosen during the 10 O'clock hour of his October 18, 2011 Jefferson County School Board election show on KHOW, 850 AM, Denver:

"The teacher unions exist primarily for the purpose of advancing the interests of the members of the teacher union. It's not for the children. The children are incidental. Any labor union works to advance the cause of its rank and file dues paying members. Another thing labor unions do, is avoid any competition among its membership [Rosen's emphasis]. That's why labor unions like to be compensated on a contractual basis, based on not performance, but seniority. And public education is no different. If there's a need for layoffs, in a public school, union bumping is the way it works under the contract. That is, the people with the most seniority, regardless of their performance and their ability, they keep their jobs. The least senior members, who have tenure are the ones that get laid off. The ones without tenure are obviously the first to go."

Postal Unions

Although the Postal Service was near financial collapse in 2011-2012, their unions wouldn't
give an inch and management remained petrified with indecision and inability. In early 2011
both parties negotiated yet another no-layoff clause despite plummeting volumes and huge
debt - obviously the strategy of both parties was to seek another taxpayer bailout without
efficiency improvements or planning for the future.

The following letter was posted here with permission:

(Click on this image for a larger view of the original letter)

Letters to the Editor Postal Union,                                                                                                                         Dec. 22, 2008 Denver, Colorado Greetings! So, you guys now have to lay off employees. Well good. Working as a casual at three different facilities in Denver I never saw such laziness, disregard for duty, backstabbing and phoniness in my life in an organization. Half the people who work for the Post Office deserve to lose their jobs. I've seen Union reps who strut around the premises when they should be working instead act like Mafia goons trying to intimidate managers. As a casual I often got treated like crap and often worked while my union co-worker screwed around or slept. Maybe some of you will have to go out and get real jobs and really have to work for a change. This is not to disparage those who really do have to work hard at their jobs like a lot of the Vietnamese I saw working the night shift or the mail carriers. What goes around comes around. I'll be glad to see some or your boys get it. Remember to use the Internet - it's bringing the Post Office to its knees one e-mail at a time. Roger Freed Roger Freed Fairbanks, AK 99709

The Mountaineer
American Postal Workers Union
Denver Metro Area Local
Winter 2009, p. 2

Postal employee sleeping on duty

Mr. Freed,                                                                                                                         January 14, 2009 In response to your letter dated December 22, your attack on this union is unwarranted and hateful. It appears you have no understanding of what it means to carry a union card. It means when on of us is attacked, we all are being attacked. My union card also symbolizes a level of commitment to work for better pay and benefits, as well as dignity and respect on the job. It appears you don't know anything about that. As the second largest employer in the United States, your opinion of a couple co-workers in the plant doesn't reflect the entire force. Postal workers are a part of the fabric of every American community and according to the American public, the United States Postal Service was rated the most trusted government agency for the third year in a row. With the economy mired in crisis and the Postal Service facing the most serious challenges in its history, the American Postal Workers Union intends to pursue an ambitious legislative agenda in order to protect our hard won rights and benefits. And, if I may correct your message, to date, there has not been a layoff in the history of the United States Postal Service. Being a union member requires our determination to speak to our nations [sic] leaders about issues that are important to postal employees and working families. Just like it was in the 1940's, it will be the collective voices of working men and women who will lead this nation to its rightful leadership role in the world we live in. You don't have to join a union to participate in the movement to change the direction of this country. Call up the Alaska AFL-CIO and join their "working America" program and stand shoulder to shoulder with your fellow Americans. Be a part of the change and stop hating.

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