Am I wrong to say Reagan was the biggest foe to America's Unions? He opened the floodgates for SCABS!

Question

He fired the air traffic controllers right? He allowed strikebreakers to take the jobs of good Americans! Why do people hate Unions? Why did Reagan hate them so much? I believe Unions are key to America's success in the working field.

Answer 1

yes ! was not that great ! broke the backs of union thugs that ruled the country...............unions were great in 1900,their time is done.

Answer 2

The air controllers called an illegal strike, so Reagan canned all their sorry little a*****.  Way to go, Gipper!

Answer 3

yeah reagan sucked. bad republican!

Answer 4

Unions are an anachronism.  At one time they served a useful purpose, but now non-union workers are as well off, and usually better off than union workers.

Unions are a lot like corporate management which looks after their own interests rather than the stockholders.  Unions are willing to cost workers their jobs by demanding wages that sometimes cause companies to shut down--like Safeway in Texas when the union forced them out.  Other stores would then refuse to hire ex-Safeway employees since they didn't want the same problem.

Union demands are often excessive and force companies to downsize and maybe go broke--like the airline industry seems to be in the process of doing.  An exception: Southwest Airlines which is non-union and is one of the best paying.  

Answer 5

There was a time when foreigners lined up to become American citizens, chasing the American Dream, coming to the only land in the world where the Middle Class led comfortable, prosperous lives.

That time ended and the last near eight years of Bush have buried the unions and jobs along with it.  Auto workers, who fought bloody battles for a decent wage and a decent living style, are now working two menial jobs or still seeking work.  Our factories are gone, and teams of men are using trucks to mow your lawn, roof your house, fix your plumbing, or shovel your snow.

It's a pitiful picture these days, the scene of a once-great land brought down by a selfish, greedy group who rewarded the rich and the powerful and were gleeful at the plight of the working family.  This is primarily why I am voting for Obama, who has a good grasp of what has happened and why.

It will change. Unions will regain their strength and American manufacturing will have a rebirth.  How will this happen?  By a revamping of the Trade Laws, and by a screeching halt to the Corporate Feeders who are using cheap, miserably-treated labor to manufacture their goods for Americans to buy.  

We will return to a time when America was strong and scuttle that ten story ship filled with Dollar Store goods that arrives every four days to equip every store in our nation.  We will create Alternate Fuels, halt the sucking sound that is a Corporation leaving the country and create our own new Corporations with some loyalty to our country.  Just hang in there!  It's on its way.  And vote for Obama!

Answer 6

The air traffic controllers were part of the FAA. A government service. Patco had no right to call a strike and endanger the people that fly in our skies. Reagan acted correctly to insure the safety of the flying public.

Answer 7

yep~!

he opened the doors for illegal immigrants and busted up the Unions to appease his Rich Ruling Elite Club of Evil Doers~!!!

he also sold illegal arms and had a secret war going on the side~!!!

but he played the role of an All American Down Home Cowboy Type  Patriotic Hero, and just like with our current President, a lot of ignorant misinformed individuals fell for it~!!!

edit: now a job that used to be Union that would pay a LIVING WAGE, with Medical Benefits, cost of living raises, had a representative if their were unsafe working conditions, you know like Government Employees get now~!!!

but now working the same trade you have to have another job or two, plus the wife working just to make a living wage anymore, and no benefits, or anyone to represent you in unsafe working conditions~!!!

so the companies went for unskilled cheap immigrant labor, or outsourced the jobs~!!!

not very Patriotic of them, is it~??!!

Answer 8

Reagan choices were to let the Air traffic controllers cripple the country, or to say 'your fired'. He did the right thing.

...and he gave them ample warning.

It had nothing to do with liking or hating unions.

Answer 9

unions are a thing of the past. wages are plenty high whether you are union are not needed anymore. they are like a government agency. one guy can't s***w in a light bulb because he is not paid to do that so he has to wait for a union electrician. I was part of the Safeway union back in the 70s. as soon as other grocery stores came in to the area Safeway couldn't compete because they were paying checkers 10.00 an hr when everyone else was paying 4.50. Of course Safeway left the state and closed it's stores so what good did the union do me. If you work hard enough at anything you don't need union backing. Employers will beat a path to your door.

Answer 10

why do people hate unions? a big reason the wages demanded by unions have caused many industries to seek out-of-country labor sites, therefore adversely affecting the economy and workforce. although unions served their purpose in the past, now they are not nearly as effecient and perhpas even detrimental.

speaking from personal experience, non-union labor companies can get work done quicker, cheaper, and more efficiently than companies restricted by union regulations

Answer 11

I personally don't see a need for unions anymore. We have minimum wage and mandatory overtime pay and child labor laws and rules and laws on safe working conditions. Unions were formed for the purpose of getting those conditions before we had laws for this stuff. Now unions are a waste, nothing more than a political tool.

Answer 12

Unions have long since outlived their usefulness. There are so many ways for the worker to file grievances now... and actually do it in THEIR best interest. Unions are run by power brokers who are totally looking out for themselves... not the people they represent.