PUBLIC EMPLOYEE UNIONS (PART 1 OF 2): ARE THEY TO BLAME FOR OUR BUDGET CRISIS?

Fox Business Anchor John Stossel (recently departed ABC news anchor) reports on the significant fiscal impact of public employee unions(PUE)(teachers, police, firefighters, etc...) on state and local governments. He interviews Steven Greenhut, author of "PLUNDER!: How Public Employee Unions are Raiding Treasuries, Controlling Our Lives and Bankrupting the Nation"

Greenhut alleges that due to the powerful political influence of public employee unions, they have gained an unsustainable level of pay and benefits, untouchable even in a fiscal crisis unless there is mutual agreement to reduce pay and benefits. It is also very difficult to nearly impossible to fire any public employee. This has led to higher taxes, depleted services, and excessive levels of debt with most of the available funds paying the union workers and paying the required contributions of their pension funds at the public's expense.

http://www.amazon.com/Plunder-Employee-Treasuries-Controlling-Bankrupting/dp/...

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• public employee unions
• teachers
• police
• firefighter
• vallejo
• CA

[therealist1057]

@JKBBMF U.S. soldiers(Which include battle field paramedics and the like) work 24 hours a day 7 days a week and on average only make 17,000 per year fighting and dying for a country filled with people calling them baby killers. How the hell do you think they feel about their pay checks? Selfish assholes like you make me sick. You only think of yourselves and how much you are entitled to. This kind of selfishness is inconceivable.

[therealist1057]

@CPDCFD Most people don't pay into 401k's because we pay the other 90.4% of your pension and 100% of your income on top of what we have to pay for our ss. Pay for my own expensive lawyer? The department of justice will pay for your lawyer. History 101? You mean in the depression when you were lucky to even have a job. Plus those were PRIVATE sector unions.

[alvinfry]

@gregd5138 Go fuck yourself you lying sack of crap.  You're probably one of those pension whoring shitbag firemen stealing all our money. You greedy union scum. Shame on you.

[tehatemachine]

@shootduckrun it's just the Achilles heel of a free society. And that fault eventually turns it into a less free society.

[tehatemachine]

@shootduckrun I've tried to find a law that could end unions. There's just a problem. I couldn't find a law without interfering with the First amendment. And who would pass it?

[gregd5138]

This guy is a fucking Liar!!!!! 90% of of their pay...bullshit!!! they get 50% of their 3 best years. Thats the problem with Fox News they allow these rumors and lies to be spread and that is why i never watch them!

[shootduckrun]

take it from these rip offs and give it to military staff. The military are the ones who need raises but they are the least paid out of most state and federal employees. we gotta cut this spending crap and end unions.

[Galenscott]

This is BS!

[lifeline52002]

I love it Teacher say we are not in if for the money but for the kids but than she picket that she need a raise and more money over her $50,000 a year. Wonder if she was even told about talking out of both side of your mouth is wrong. Than Democratics are good at this, you know say One thing out the left side than say something else out of the right side, and hope no one will know it .