Nader: 'Unions are corrupt. They sell out for high pensions & salaries'

[denem]

The labor unions. They have the money. They have a lot of cash. These idiots are going down. UAW is a paradigm of a suicidal, supplicant labor union. It is disgusting. They are a puppy dog of GM, Ford and Chrysler. They have huge reserves. The labor unions could organize the country, but they are into their own emoluments and high salaries. The union leadership has so distanced itself from the rank and file that it is ashamed to do anything controversial. These union leaders will not go on TV on Labor Day because they do not want someone saying ‘Why are you making $500,000 a year with a pension that is six times your rank and file?’ There is corruption at the top.

-Ralph Nader
From The Left Has Nowhere to Go
http://www.truthdig.com/report/page2/the_left_has_nowhere_to_go_20110102/

I agree. We should have let GM die. :sarcasm:

[hobbit709]

1. So what does that say about senior management?

since they sold everybody out for the sake of high perks and salary.

and the pension funds wouldn't be in trouble if the corps had kept their sticky fingers off the money.

[denem]

2. It says much more about GM's incompetent management

than pointing the finger at the unions. That's standard RW Sthick.

[hobbit709]

3. So wanting a decent pension and good pay is "corrupt" now?

I guess practically every worker everywhere is corrupt then.

This BS from the owner class is about to make me go off.

[JustAnotherGen]

4. Amen

The "Unions" and their members are listening to the radio station WIIFM.


What? It's only okay when it's a hedge fund manager but it's not when it's a woman inspecting cars at a plant in America?

Maybe the beast that needs to be woken up in America is the one that says "You folks got yours. I'm going to get mine. And I'm not giving an inch because I don't have an single penny to concede. But you are 10 Milllion dollar bonus last year have a lot more to lose than I do. So let's play chicken Mr. Union Hater".

[rfranklin]

7. I think you should read that passage again...

it's about the leadership of the unions who I often hear union members criticize for their lavish salaries and perks.

[denem]

6. This is Ralph Nader's opinion.

as quoted.

[Luminous Animal]

14. That is nowhere near Nader's point. The OP should have included the previous sentences...

“Every major movement starts with field organizers, the farmers, unions, and the civil rights movement,” Nader said. “But there is nothing out there. We need to start learning from what was done in the past. All over the country people are pissed off. They hate Wall Street. They know they are being gouged. They know they are slipping behind. They know their kids will not be as well off as they were, and they were not that well off. But no one is putting it together. Who could put a thousand organizers in the field, besides George Soros? The labor unions. They have the money. They have a lot of cash.

[blondeatlast]

37. They are also damn busy trying to keep people employed, benefitted, and

represented.

Why isn't Nader doing this? He once was a leader who got things done--now he just wears a lousy suit and shoots off his mouth instead of actually PRODUCING results.

[CanSocDem]

10. That's another story.

This article is about the unions inaction.

.

[blondeatlast]

39. Inaction? Is representing millions of workers in an age of shipping jobs overseas,

unbelievably stupid marketing practices that hurt once strong American industries, and fighting for their very survival INACTIION?

I bet your fingernails are pretty, regardless of your gender...

[Bluenorthwest]

5. The UAW stands alone, they are not like my Union at all

They are the UAW, not 'Unions'. Anyone who would color all Unions with the actions of one is clearly working an agenda.

[denem]

8. Ralph says: THE labor unions ... are into their own emoluments and high salaries

not just us UAW.

[Bluenorthwest]

12. Yes, and I do not agree that UAW is representative of Unions

as a whole, anymore than one politician represents them all. Cheney and Nader, both politicians, Cheney is corrupt thus so is Nader, and all of them? Perhaps they are, but not because of Cheney. They are all on their own. What UAW does is what they do, not what other Unions do. If they are all corrupt, it should be easy for Ralph to prove, right? He should do so.

[kctim]

9. Can anybody refute what Nader is saying?

[denem]

11. Prove that Union Leadership is corrupt?

Ash Rush, Billo etc. They'll help a lot.

[kctim]

16. No

that the union leadership has placed itself in a different class than the rank and file, so they worry more about money than about doing what is best for the workers they are supposed to represent.

[DainBramaged]

17. Do you belong to a Union? If not, than you have no right to make that statement.

[kctim]

21. I did not make that statement, Nader did

and I am curious if it can be refuted. That is all.

Why is it so hard to show what the UAW leadership makes and prove Nader wrong?

[DainBramaged]

22. You did not answer my question, and why do you hate the UAW?

[kctim]

24. Funny

Some people ask why I hate my country because I dare to ask simple questions. Nice company you keep there.

And, btw. No, I am not a union member. But I fail to understand why it is taboo to ask what union leaders make and question their actions concerning who they 'represent,' but it is ok to do the same exact thing to our Representatives, Senators and President?

Why won't anybody answer Nader's question? Are they afraid of the answer?

[Brickbat]

25. Nobody has to "ask what union leaders make."

It's public record.

[DainBramaged]

29. If you don't belong to a Union, then you have NO idea if the bosses are doing

right by membership........ you are simply assuming.

[kctim]

48. No, Nader is

all I am doing is asking why it is so hard to prove him wrong.

[FreakinDJ]

20. BINGO - We have a Winner Folks

and this is from a "Life Long Member"

Union Leaders and Democratic Politicians alike need to listen up before they become extinct

[Javaman]

28. Making the statement that "union leadership is corrupt" is a bit of a massive blanket statement...

don't you think?

I still belong to the Cameraman's Union. And while they hold a lot of influence in the film industry, I would say without hesitation that they are not corrupt.

Ralph is better than this and needs to clarify his statement.

[FreakinDJ]

43. Welcome to the IBEW

our leadership President Edwin D. Hill has currently mandated a collective slitting of the throat for ENTIRE Journeyman Electrician membership. AND if any Local Leadership so much as question his methods and or authority he has them Unseated from Office and Replaced by his appointed lackys

[Javaman]

46. Sorry to hear that.

but still, making blanket statements about all unions being corrupt is not only disingenious, but really really really bad for those people who are in good reputable unions.

btw: I'm in the local 600 out of los angeles.

[quiller4]

31. UAW President's salary is nowhere close to $400,000

The UAW President took pay cuts in 4 of the last five years. During that time his average annual compensation which included salary and car allowance was $159,500. There is no current labor leader whose annual compensation approaches $400,000. The range seems to be $155,000 to $285,000.

Why am I not surprised that Nader invents his own facts. He has been doing it for years and getting away with it. If our main stream media weren't so anti-labor, perhaps they would call him on this one.

[kctim]

49. Thank you

Still awfully high compared to who they 'represent,' but I appreciate the info.

[Brickbat]

13. Nader's a union buster, so this kind of approach to the problem doesn't surprise me at all.

[Cleita]

32. That's something his adoring followers don't want to

know, that he busted the unions his own employees had organized under.

[Brickbat]

33. So very true. I've confronted Nader supporters to their faces with this information, and they just

looked at me and then walked away. So frustrating.

[DainBramaged]

15. Nader sold out for Republican gold to enter the 2000 election

[jpak]

18. Nader is an asshole and Naderites are idgits

yup

[Luminous Animal]

19. FYI, if anyone actually bothered to read the article, Nader never said what the OP's title

claims he said.

[madrchsod]

26. my wife is the secretary- treasurer of her union local

she`s starting to question why her union gets back around 2% of their union dues. i read where there`s more than just her local that is questioning why.

unions are like any organization, change has to come from the rank and file.

[LiberalFighter]

23. The UAW International President has an annual salary of less than $145k

How can the current UAW President receive a pension if he is receiving a salary of less than $145k?

Nader needs to prove his statement or STFU.

[DainBramaged]

30. Nader will not STFU and his followers believe his every word.

[Hannah Bell]

44. Nader didn't cite any UAW salaries. And your "less than $145K" isn't accurate.

Section 1. The International President, International Secretary-Treasurer, International Vice Presidents and International Executive Board Members, shall receive a further three (3) percent increase in base salary effective March 1, 2007. In addition, the salaries may be adjusted quarterly in accordance with changes in the cost of living based on the current formula as developed by the International Executive Board.

International President, one hundred and forty four thousand, seven hundred and thirty-three dollars and forty-seven cents ($144,733.47) per annum. International Secretary-Treasurer, one hundred and thirty-three thousand, eight hundred and ninety-one dollars and thirty-two cents ($133,891.32) per annum.

Section 6. International Executive Board Members and International Representatives shall receive such expenses and allowances, including per diem allowances, as the International Executive Board shall from time to time by resolution determine to be necessary and appropriate to the discharge of their obligations to the Union.

Section 10. International Officers, International Executive Board Members and International Representatives shall receive, in addition to their salaries, such fringe benefits as pensions, severance pay, medical-surgical health insurance, sickness and accident insurance, life insurance, vacations, Supplemental Unemployment Benefits, etc., in such amounts and under such conditions as the International Executive Board shall from time to time by resolution determine to be necessary and appropriate.

http://www.uaw.org/page/uaw-constitution-salaries

[Javaman]

27. Don't you love blanket statement?

oh ralph, you are so much better than that.

[blondeatlast]

34. Even if the $500K figure is accurate...

and I don't believe it without a damn fine source--fuck you, Ralph and the dirty money that keeps you going.

How much is that Ford executive making, proportionately, while he pays crap wages to Mexicans and Vietnamese? Hmmm?

I'll take union proportions over mega-overseas-labor-exploiting corporations any ol' day.

[FooshIt]

35. I am in the UAW and they are useless.

I guess the top has a big influence.

[LiberalFighter]

38. Your leadership is only as good as you are.

[blondeatlast]

40. +1. nt

[old mark]

36. Nader has always been concerned only about his own reputation and image...

he is full of shit.

mark

[Better Believe It]

41. Are you a shrink? That's an old point used in the character assassination campaign against Nader

You want to shoot one of your poison arrows at Julian Assange while you're at it?

[dana_b]

42. um.. sort of disingenuous. you left out:

“Every major movement starts with field organizers, the farmers, unions, and the civil rights movement,” Nader said. “But there is nothing out there. We need to start learning from what was done in the past. All over the country people are pissed off. They hate Wall Street. They know they are being gouged. They know they are slipping behind. They know their kids will not be as well off as they were, and they were not that well off. But no one is putting it together. Who could put a thousand organizers in the field, besides George Soros? The labor unions. They have the money. They have a lot of cash....."

Doesn't excatly sound like he dislikes unions - just those that aren't doing more to organize and support the workers.

Then there was this part:
“The left has disemboweled itself,” Nader said. “It doesn’t even have a strategy every four years like a good poker player. The best example is Richard Trumka and the AFL-CIO. Obama has given them nothing. Therefore, they are demanding nothing. They huff and puff. They make tough speeches. But Trumka hasn’t even made Obama’s campaign pledge of a $9.50 minimum wage by this year an issue. If you want to increase consumer demand, what better way to do it than to unleash $300 billion in wages? The card check for unionization, which Obama pledged as his No. 1 sop to the labor unions, is dead. The unions do not even demand a hearing. And now wait till you see what they will do to the public employee unions. Part of it is their own fault. They are going to be crushed. Everybody is ganging up on them. You have new class warfare. It is non-unionized lower income and middle class taking it out on the unionized middle-income public employees. It is a classic example of oligarchic manipulation."

I don't see this as Nader being a union hater - it's him pointing out the oligarchy at the top (whether it be in politics or in unions). We can't depend on them - we have to do it ourselves.

[hayu_lol]

45. What has the great 'icon' had to say about...

the fleecing of Americans by Morgan-Chase, Bank Of America, Wells Fargo, Wachovia, and all the fellow-travelers?

Nader is the same old tired nobody he has always been. He makes his money from the corporations...that is when the Repugnants aren't funding his 'causes.'

[dana_b]

47. well, Google found this:

http://www.middletownpress.com/articles/2010/10/20/opinion/doc4cbe076c0712f523933764.txt dated 10/2010

One small snippet of his article:
"The ever-more remote chain between the homeowner and the investors, who ostensibly hold the mortgage, included middlemen (the loan originators) like the Bank of America and Wells Fargo who serviced the mortgage’s monthly payments for a fee and by “agreement” were in charge of handling foreclosures after a default. Computerization and speed became a trapdoor for contractual sloppiness. The banks get higher fees for foreclosing than for modifying the loans —certainly a perverse incentive at the expense of the beleaguered homeowner. Banks put their investors first."

See? Ralph has lots to say on many topics but I thought that the OP was concerned with unions for the current discussion.