Aren't we all thrilled about how happy "the market" is this morning?

[SoCalDem]

I wonder how "thrilled" all those oldtimers at GM are..or how the ones in other unions who will soon "face the music" at their own re-negotiations.

This is the consequence of NOT having a national health care plan, folks..

All those years of new contracts, throughout all those previous years.. all down the tubes..

I used to be in a union, and I can recall how we would often forego a real pay raise, in lieu of "enhanced pension/retiree- health care benefits".

Unions are and have been about the FUTURE, as much (maybe more) as the weekly paycheck.

Union jobs are often jobs that are dirty, dangerous, repetitive, and that "use up" a person over a working-life. The retireee benefits are often the carrot that keeps people plugging along decade after decade. people are willing to give up the instant gratification of a few bucks more every paycheck, in exchange for the retirement benefits (if they should be lucky enough to live that long).

Well Hip Hip Hooray for "the market" and for the robber barons today.. they carried out yet another heist.. they ate that carrot..and told the workers to bend over for that remaining sharp stick..

They just stole retrocative money.. They paid people less for years, on a promise..and now they stole back that promise..and got them to work for less for all those years too. It's a double-doozy delight..

They are right up there with the guys who hire "Home Depot" wall-sitters, have them build a patio in 100+ temperatures, and at the end of the job, when it's time to pay, threaten to call immigration...and end up paying the guys nothing.. Then they relax on their new patio with a tall one and laughingly describe to their pals about how they got such a "good deal"..

But hey.. the "market" is happy today...and that's all that really matters ...now, isn't it?

[antigop]

1. And, sadly, the Dems are complicit because most of them voted for the Pension "Protection" Act. n/t