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REDFORD, MICH. – President Barack Obama traveled Monday to Michigan to tout a new investment in domestic auto jobs, while using the opportunity to assail the state's Republican lawmakers for pursuing "right to work" legislation.
With three weeks to go to avoid the fiscal cliff, President Barack Obama will travel to a Detroit auto plan and attempt to sell his plan to raise taxes on the top two percent of Americans.
Obama renewed his offensive to pressure Republicans into extending middle class tax cuts, calling on Congress to pass legislation making the Bush-era tax rates for those making below $250,000 permanent.
But this trip to the Detroit-area came with some extra baggage in the form of a state-wide union battle over a right-to-work law that Michigan’s governor, Rick Snyder (R) has pledged to sign. The president addressed the union controversy towards the middle of his remarks:
"We should do everything we can to encourage companies like Daimler to keep investing in American workers," Obama said, "what we shouldn’t be doing is trying to take away your rights to bargain for better wages and working conditions."
Related: Lawmakers implore Michigan gov. to halt or delay 'right to work' law
The audience responded enthusiastically as the president continued: "These so-called right-to-work laws, they don't have to do with economics. They have everything to do with politics. What they're really talking about is giving you the right to work for less money."
While Snyder did not join the president for his event at the Daimler-owned Detroit Diesel Corporation, the governor did greet Obama on the tarmac along with some of the Democratic members of Michigan’s congressional delegation.
Snyder had a meeting with many members of the Michigan delegation earlier today to discuss the legislation, which would make mandatory payment of union dues or fees as a condition of employment illegal. On the flight to Michigan, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney noted that the president’s opposition to right-to-work laws was “well known” and the optics of this were brought even more into focus by the president being accompanied on his tour of the engine plant by the UAW NW Local 163 Detroit Diesel Engine Unit Shop Chairperson Mark Gibson, and multiple people in the crowd sporting UAW stickers. Currently, 23 states and Guam have some type of right-to-work legislation on the books.
Saul Loeb / AFP - Getty Images
President Barack Obama speaks on the economy and fiscal cliff negotiations after touring the Daimler Detroit Diesel Plant in Redford, Michigan, December 10, 2012.
But while the president was on the tour of the Redford engine plant, the clock continued to tick towards the end of the year and the so-called fiscal cliff. Obama again insisted that tax rates on the wealthiest Americans should be allowed to go up,
"What you need is a package that keeps taxes where they are for middle-class families," he said. "We make some tough spending cuts on things that we don't need, and then we ask the wealthiest Americans to pay a slightly higher tax rate. And that's a principle I won't compromise on."
He didn’t mention his meeting over the weekend with House Speaker John Boehner, choosing instead to focus the blame on Congress if taxes go up for everyone at the end of the year.
"If Congress doesn't act soon -- meaning in the next few weeks -- starting on Jan. 1, everybody's going to see their income taxes go up. It's true,” the president said. The audience loudly booed and the president responded, “You all don't like that.”
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As usual, Oblunder lies, lies, and lies some more with Pravda here fawning over every one. Nobody is taking away anybody's right to collectively bargain. Anyone will be able to join or not join a union. What they're taking away is the union's ability to force tribute from workers who do not want to be members of a union, and to keep those people from being denied jobs for that same choice. It's all about how much get extorted from workers and sent to Liberal campaign coffers... that's the reason Oblunder is blathering....
So, were the union members paid to go to the rally, were they there on a vacation day. I have questions. Anyone seen the price of a car lately. Yep, its all because of the engineering. Thats what it is.
Volts. 40,000, Yep, i am going to spend 40,ooo dollars on a car, to save on gas. It runs out of electric in 30 miles, I would rather spend 25,000 on a car, keep the extra 15000 and buy gas. At 3.25 a gallon, ( present price in my town) and 28 miles a gallon, average highway for a 25,000 car, I could go 120,000 miles.
President Obama needs to get back to Washington and start doing his job. He still thinks he's on the campaign trail. Campaigning is the only thing he is good at. RTW in Michigan is a state issue and Obama needs to STFU and stay out of it.
???
Why wouldn't Obama attack what is going on in Michigan. This alliance that the Democrat Party has with unions is one of the more successful money laundering schemes that they have going. Forced union dues by memebers help finance union contributions to the Democrat Party.
I used to work at a paper mill to earn my way through college.
Me and the other helpers were paid $8.00 an hour. About $1.50/hour of that went to union dues. Since we were only temporary college help, hired during the summer, it didn't make sense for us to pay union dues. We didn't get any of the benefits at all. So we asked to be let out of the union since Georgia is a right to work state.
The union couldn't force us to stay in, but the union boss met with the HR manager and told him to give us a cut in pay to penalize us. The HR guy, being somewhat concerned about the union boss's power, did give us a pay cut to $7 an hour. Considering how much we saved in union dues, we came out about $.50 ahead!
As with anything, unions have their place IN MODERATION. But the only people who get rich in unions are the union bosses. When you mess with unions, it's their job security they care about, not the rank and file.
Sorry, but that's just how it is. We found that out first hand.
A few years later, that union boss was arrested by the feds for all sorts of graft and corruption. The funny thing was, as a helper, I was assigned to "help" him. He had a little hideout in an air-conditioned room where he'd go and write his memoirs and talk politics. I ended up asking him what jobs we were supposed to do and went out and did the entire thing myself! I sure learned a lot on the job.
Yeah, let's let the unions keep forcing companies into bankruptcy so we can have more people dependent on the government. The dems have such a beautiful plan, don't they.
"Right to Work" is a joke. This is all about union busting and eroding workers' rights.
how is giving the worker the right to decide to be in a union or not equal eroding worker's rights?
Why should someone be FORCED to join a union??????
nobody should be forced to join a union as a condition of employment
Goes both ways. If it's a union shop and you prefer not to join... don't apply.
Unions have place. I would much rather hire a union worker to do service work for me because they are trained better and do a better job. get what you pay for.
I am against government workers being unionized.
Unions, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, Welfare, unemployment insurance - these things do nothing for the super rich in this country. So the republicans would like to get rid of all of them.
Breaking the unions was and is an underlying agenda of the GOP. It's all part of the attack on the working and middle class by the wealthy. This, along with less benefits, lack of health care plans, less pay and less retirement benefits. Meanwhile the wealthy have big tax breaks and shelter the profits in offshore accounts where they can aviod US taxes. It's all part of the GOP attack on the middle class and working people. It's part of thier platform and why they work so hard to represent the 2% from tax increases. If you are a working person and don't understand this you are just plain ignorant of the facts or too stupid to figure it out.
Unionism which is contrary to the principles of liberty needs to be removed from our nation.
Furthermore I encourage all corporations to stop offering benefit packages of any kind. That outmoded business model is contrary to the principles of a free market.
Let people negotiate individually contract agreements with employers including compensation, time off, and terms of service.
Most working people today are idiots about economics because the communist public school system that John Dewey created, was purposely established to create unthinking masses rather than entrepreneurs and supporters of capitalism.
Thank you Johnny B-1876520
you told the truth.
My wifes job has a union and if it were not for the union she would have crappy insurance, horrible hours to work and no paid holidays off. My job I have no union and I am forced to work for sometimes 45 days with no day off. I have to work all holidays and am paid 4.00 less an hour then she is and my insurance is not worth crap. This is why we decided to stay away from taking insurance where I work and just put the entire family on her insurance plan.
What we save on insurance premiums alone easily covers her 30.00 a month union dues and we don't even miss it. Nobody in this thread that is vilifying unions has a clue what they are talking about.
Kevin, No on is holding a gun to your head to stay where you are and most posters don't want to outlaw unions but other than a level playing field so that employers can't break unions why do states have to make employers force employees who don't wish to to join a union to do so by using that same legal gun.
That's nice just don't FORCE people to join. Give them a choice
Oh believe me I am trying to get on where my wife works at as a ton of people are retiring at the first of the year. I would love to get on with that union as they make sure the employees are paid what they are worth. If the republicans had their way unions would be gone and we would all be working for slave wages and living in grass huts.
jmotts no one is forcing people to walk up to an employer with a union and work for them. It works both ways. If you do not like a union then do not apply to a job that has a union.
Your right, sorry. I'm just jealous of people that can drink and smoke pot on the job and not get fired.....
Oh, and then go install the brakes on YOUR new car...... That's so cool..
kevinh is just another example of the parasite mentality that votes democrat. No sense of personal responsibility; just look for a nanny state condition in work and government
Larry Robinson I am a Retired, disabled vet. I have worked hard my entire life and continue to do so in the private sector. I have never, ever taken public assistance in my entire life. Way to judge me without knowing any facts. I however believe that companies need to pay their workers their worth and if the Republicans have their way everyone will be working for slave wages.
jmotts is talking about the Fox investigation at Chrysler where 15 people were caught drinking on their lunch breaks. Of course, 55,672 employees at Chrysler were not drinking on their lunch breaks. I would like for Fox to investigate Wall Street to find out how many money managers are drinking on their lunch breaks.
And I'll bet that any company with over 50,000 employees could find some people drinking on their lunch breaks. But this is a big deal at the conspiracy loving network called Fox News. And to their uneducated, uninformed and mentally challenged viewers.
Well Kevin, I'm also a disabled vet age 63, don't believe in retirement; but you do want the govt to force companies to unionize judging by your post.
I can't speak for republicans since I'm a libertarian, but I'm not aware of any Republican who has ever wanted people to work for slave wages
I live in a right to work state. We have a great economy and wages are good. We have not been hit hard by the recession and unemployment is low. I see little value in having unions running the show. And as many have said above right to work does not ban unions it only frees people to choose to be non union and still have a job.
You forgot the major part of the right to work legislation and that is removing the right to bargain for higher wages and better benefits. It seems like everyone of you right to work advocates forget this huge part of that legislation.
there are so few posters from a farming background that few realize that even the best milk cow can be milked dry if it doesn't get the right feed. Union membership should be a voluntary thing just like union donations to one party or the other but get on a taxpayer funded trip to point out the injustice of that. someone from the left tell Obama that he won the election and now it's time for some real work. the constitution won't let him run for a 3d time so if all the running fun is gone from the gig resign and let Uncle Joe take over.
I don't think I want wisdom from a farmer. Most farmers get more handouts than any segment of society.
I suppose you don't want any food we grow either cause you're living off the land by yourself.
Shortly after Obama was elected, due to his policies towards the energy industry, my husband was laid off. Our income was cut by about 60%. He is now underemployed. We have survived by budgeting our money carefully, with me working full time, and my husband took a minimum wage position. With the end of the Bush tax cuts, it is a little difficult to see where an additional $400 will come from out of our close budget. America voted for handouts over prosperity...what a shame for all of us. If we can live on on our reduced income, so can other people. This includes lawmakers...since they went along with the president in taking away my husband's income, they can have their salaries and benefits cut by a minimum of 60%...it's only fair. So everybody, work for less and be happy! And as the potus says, "it's just politics!"
Does your husband work in coal?
This is simple. Every single worker that wants to be in the Union can be in the Union. Each one has the free choice to do so; everyone has the free choice to pay union dues; everyone has the free choice to support the union's objectives. But this law gives those workers who do not want to be in a union, do not want to pay union dues, and do not support a union's objectives to not do so. Every single worker gets a free, uncoerced choice by unions and corporations, on what he wants to do. And the Labor Department supervises it to make sure each worker truly does have a free choice. With this bill in Michigan, as else where, now the current union members get a vote. They will vote to be in union by staying in a union or they will vote not to be in a union by resigning without punishment. That is democracy in actioin.
Neither party is doing the United States any good.They need to settle the fiscal budget.
You are absolutely correct. However, America picked food stamps over prosperity.
GBA that is absolutely not true. It is a GOP/FAUX News talking point and is a flat out lie. I voted for President Obama who is for the middle class and poor over a coporate shill who has been shown to lie, cheat and steal and openly show disdain for nearly half of our countries population. I can tell you this I have worked hard all my life and have never taken a handout or public assistance.
Does anyone really want to fly in an airplane constructed by non-union workers? Union workers get the job done on time , on budget, and with no call backs. Major manufacturing put Capitol improvements out for bid and pray that a union shop wins the project. Why is that? (refer to previous sentence). It's very clear to me the union issue is politics, plain and simple, and the losers from the last election are very mad but to use the unions as the reason you lost is sad. You lost because your hatred of unions, woman, Hispanics , gays, blacks are not where a majority of Americans want to be. RTW states have the worst education and are racing to the bottom. Yes the president was right you do have the right to work for less. Proceed RTW! Just saying
I'd personally much rather fly on an airplane built by non union members. Union members do stupid things like work slow downs and picketing when they get whiney about their union contract. This compromises quality. Real people don't need a labor union to negotiate for them - and they certainly should not be coerced into being required to join one as a condition of employment. Your "union workers get the job done on time...." comment is laughable. You can always tell a union job by the poor quality workmanship standards, lazy employees, and employees who whine about their union contract like little children. Decent, hardworking people don't need some scummy union to negotiate on their behalf.
Nick
If unions are the 2nd coming then right to work laws won't end them. It's not 1910 with people working 60 a week hours in unsafe polluted working conditions for 25 cent an hour but with the fiscal cliff looming Mr Obama is still running for office. You tell him he's already won. Many politicians find the running for office a great deal more enjoyable than the actual job.
Obama is an idiot. This law is not about taking away one's rights to collectively bargain, it's about keeping one's right to freedom of choice, whereby one can join a union if they want and not join one if they don't want to. If unions are good, then let them attract members naturally instead of coercing them to join as a condition of employment at a certain company. As usual, the libtard kool-aid is such that freedom stops when a labor union is involved. When will these moronic dumbocrats ever wake up? And, I'm no republican sympathizer either - Right to Work is simply something that makes sense, giving freedom to all employees.
Right to work, mostly GOP/bible belt state ideology, family own and operated concept of modern slavery.
low wages, no vacations, no health insurance, no benefits what soever, nothing, zip.
no education for you children, no future.
Sweat, Sweat
, Sweat, work, work, work for nothing?
Are you really that stupid? Have you ever thought of trying to find a job besides McDonalds? I have been in the same non-union industry for 17 years. 4 weeks paid vacation, paid holidays, great insurance, 401K match, LARGE salary, bonuses and a company truck. Not one cent paid to a blood sucking union! My wife is a teacher FORCED to be in the teachers union who do not benifit her one bit. She is the only one I know in a union and all my friends and family are very well off. I'm guessing you're just a lazy POS who earned what you got, NOTHING!
To say you're a "working class-republican" is to admit to all who know you that you're a walking, talking, mindless, oxymoronic numbskull!
In the 19th Century, prior to the origination of the first labor unions, Business had Labor securely under it's thumb. Didn't put your nose up you're bosses' asses quickly enough that morning? You were gone, fired, kaput and without a person to step to the plate to go to bat for you! Working on a machine that could mangle,slice, and dice your fingers, hands or arms and then have the temerity to bring the danger to the attention of your boss? You were canned on the spot and blacklisted from working at your skill specialty for being one of the "bad" guys, being a "troublemaker"!
In other words, in those days, Business had you exactly in the same fix these "bought and paid for" Republican congressional stooges in Washington are in the process of replicating. Further, when the last labor union is dead in this country Business has succeeded to achieve it's goal: the neutering and emasculation of America's labor force! Divide and Conquer has won!!
And why does Obama blame congress for the tax increases? He had a majority, and didn't pass a budget...he could've had anything he wanted! Tax increases are going to come your way next...there aren't enough "wealthy" folks to bale us out. Of course, we voted in more spending...this potus has no desire to budget, and perhaps doesn't understand what it is to struggle...after all, he is a millionaire.
A budget is passed every year. We all blame the GOP
If the GOP spent more time actually working on solving problems that our country faces than worrying about signing baseless pledges and theatrics.....then maybe they would be waiting in line for the White House in 2013.
The GOP, aka Republicans, are ALL bought and paid for by Corporate America (the same 1% that controls most of the money in America)! These GOP corporate toadies know one thing only too well: if they don't toe the corporate line and follow their marching orders to the letter they'll be replaced their next run for election and lose that cushy Congressional slot to which they've all become so addicted!
As usual, Obama mis-represents the facts regarding 'right to work' He states that workers will not be aboe to bargin collectively. This is wrong. The unions will still have the right to organize and to bargin.
They will NOT have the right to force workers to join the union if they chose not to. This is called DEMOCRACY. What is not democracy is for the union to force membership and to donate exclusively for liberal politicians.
If an individual is a union member and who is Republican, that worker is forced to support candidates that are not of thier own chosing! Is that fair? Is it fair to DEMAND $60.00 per hour in wages and benefits to fasten lug nuts on the assembly line? Is it fair to clock your buddies in and out on the time clock while they are deer hunting? Is it fair that a union worker can show up to work drunk 7 times before they can be fired?
I am a lifelong resident of the State of Michigan, and I can tell you that not a single auto plant has been built in this state in at least the past 20 years. Why? because of the union and the union work ethic. Most of the 'right to work' states have seen both domestic and foreign brand named auto plants and supplier come to thier area.....not Michigan! How many of you have been to an auto plant in the past year? These people (union workers) still move at a snails' pace and are as enthusiastic in thier work as a wet mop. Yet, at quitting time.....don't be driving by the exit of an auto plant. It's like the start of a LeMans Race! Squeeling tires and a stampede to get the hell out! Too bad that same spirit does not apply to thier work!
I have been in the retail clerks' union and the UAW (when I was much younger) and I have seen abuses by the union that would make you sick. Unions are a out-dated and home to corruption and greed by the union bosses.
Auto plants have been built and refurbished in Michigan just this year. Quit supporting The Koch Brothers.
Chuck, an unfortunate, gut wrenching side effect of the "right to work" law is that it weakens the bargaining positions of all workers and begins moving the American Labor right back to where it was in the 19th Century, which was to a state of powerlessness for the worker and a return to unbridled abusive power to the corporations. Expect to see both on-the-job mortality rates as well as abuses by management to begin spiraling upward.
Chuck Case, No good American supports criminal activity. Timing someone in or out is a crime and all those involved should be immediately fired and then arrested for that crime.
But the "disempowerment" of the worker, which this "right to work" law is all about, is a far worse crime: it's a crime against humanity!
I supported Obama with my money and my vote, and I support unions...... to a degree. Recently, however, I read about a longshoremen's strike on the West coast where someone, in what amounts to a clerical position, was making over $85,000 annually and an overall compensation package of about $155,000. That person would be lucky to make $30-35,000 anywhere else. Some unions have too much clout (as did the auto workers at one time), thus the push for right to work legislation. The pendulum always swings, but invariably seeks the center.
All these people pointing out some "isolated" rare case where union activity has become some thief's piggybank are placing the emphasis where it doesn't belong!
Unions overall do infinitely more good for the total union membership, as well as those others who've been brainwashed into hating unions!, by their gaining of hard earned benefits that unions manage to wrest out of the greedy self serving paws of management at the bargaining table.
This "right to work" law is just another way to weaken union activity in an attempt to further weaken and make collective bargaining a thing of the past.
Wake up people! Your resistance to the unions plays right into the hands of corporate America run by and for the 1%ers at the economic top who continue to wax fat by paying substandard wages to an ever weakening American labor force.