Union Members Wake Up-- an RX for failure !!!!

I am not anti- union, never have been. On the other hand, I have never been a Union member and never had any employer related issues. Years ago I believed there was ample reason for unionization. Long working hours, abuse, child labor and unsafe conditions to name a few. It was a noble cause when workers banded together to get collective barganing power to change these onerous conditions. Regretfully, what evolved was greed and corruption at the expense of Members who gave money and power to their leaders in exchange for ever escalating wages and benefits. The Leaders than negotiated with management using Gun To The Head tactics to increase wages, expand benefits, create enormous pensions, etc. Most Managers knew but couldn't really admit that their Companies could not withstand a prolonged strike and, in fact, many that resisted (newspapers, breweries,etc.) did go out of business.

Today, Unions donate enormous amounts of money to political parties and have significant financial resources. However, here's where the Members shot themselves in the foot. The cost of Automobiles, Government, Police and fire protection, teachers and everday goods has gone ballistic. Result? Higher taxes on homes, higher cost of everything American made, billions to foreign manufacturers. Hey Member, ever thought why the Batteries for the Chevy Volt are not made in the US (I will not even talk about the fact that our stimulous money went to the foreign Company that makes the Batteries)? Is it any surprise that the Turbines for our wind farms are not purchased in the US? Is it any wonder that Wal-Mart has become the giant it is with low prices? What is sad is many Union Members blindly purchase the very same stuff that takes their jobs. Go figure!

Now we have an administration symphathetic to Unions because of campaign donation payback. However, jobs are now scarce or non-existant and may never come back in some cases because there is no demand for high priced Union made merchandise. OK it is not the only reason i.e. the Economy, but it surely is a huge reason. Yet Union Members continue to entrust their leaders, who stand firm and refuse to give up anything at all to help, with money and power . If benefits are not reduced (with care),  pensions are not pared down (with care) and wages become more competative, there is no possibility for Union Members to grow and prosper. Their numbers will shrink as foreign competition out prices them and more jobs will go. 

This can only be fixed if Members of Unions get smart and understand the results of their placing blank checks in the hands of their Leadership. No, I am not anti-union. I am against greed, corruption and lack of educated decision making. Union Members need to get educated, look at the global affects of their actions and create reasonable and effective ways to partner with management to help make US made products competative (bottom line is a good secure job is better than no job at all). If not, I fear Union Members are a dying breed, victoms of their own actions.