Yup.
Hell in a frickin’ handbasket:
A Connecticut town must provide their union workers free coffee and milk, according to a ruling from the State Board of Labor Relations.
The board also ordered town leaders to reinstate “Dress Down Fridays” for the union clerical and custodial workers.
The dispute involved the town of Orange and the local chapter of the United Public Service Employees Union.
The board determined the town retaliated against the union members for comments they made at a finance meeting in 2009.
The day after that meeting, First Selectman James Zeloi eliminated the free coffee and milk and the following day ended “Dress Down Friday.” Zeoli told The New Haven Register that he pulled the plug on the coffee to save money and stopped casual Fridays because some employees were abusing the privilege.
“It shows you how crazy state government has become,” Connecticut Republican Party Chairman Chris Healy told Fox News Radio. “You’d almost laugh at it, if it wasn’t so serious in tone.
This is just another black eye on state government.”
Healy said he was especially troubled that not only will taxpayers be forced to purchase coffee and milk for the union workers, but they will also be required to pay $10,000 in legal bills.
“It says the state labor relations board is in the pocket of labor,” Healy said.
Bought and paid for.
In fact, I’m beginning to wonder just what part of government isn’t an elaborate money laundering scheme.
[insert the goofy sign for Anarchy here x]
Here’s a historical quotation that might be appropriate:
“The court has made it’s decision. Now let’s see them enforce it.”
mojo, I think that’s what Obama is saying to Judge Vinson. A knife cuts two ways, and all that.
This sort of thing happens more often that one might suspect. Too often, a lazy supervisor will allow his workers to take extra-long breaks, or let them take City vehicles home at night, or let them buy coffee and donuts out of the department budget. That supervisor retires, and when the new guy comes in, he puts a stop to all the nonsense. The workers file a grievance, complaining that they’ve had a certain set of working conditions for years, and that this guy has no right to change things. The grievance is usually upheld, and City winds up continuing the nonsense indefinitely, or giving up concessions in the next bargaining agreement in exchange for curtailing the behavior.
And you won’t read about it in your local paper at all, except under a headline like “PUBLIC WORKS LOSES GRIEVANCE PROCEEDINGS WITH TEAMSTERS.”
What! No Muffin Basket! I want a fucking Muffin Basket!!!!!
You are just like Hitler.
It’s sad watching monkeys fight for their right to bad coffee and K-Mart leisure wear day. If they’d only gone to college they could be working at Starbucks, where the free coffee is tasty and the snazzy apron raises the spirits of all the former Sociology majors who wear them.
So who do you suppose is going to get laid off so that the milk and coffee can continue to flow?
I thought Starbucks only hired English majors, Abe.
Add anti-union to my list of evil. I’m already anti-immigration because I think illegal immigration should be significantly reduced, and I’m therefore anti-union because I want public-sector unions eliminated.
Here’s how you assess pay and benefits for public employees: you see how much the private sector pays on average for an equivalent job in the local area, reduce that by some percentage, and there you are. You can do the same for benefits. It should always be better to work for the private sector, and that means encouraging people to go private. Sure, you will probably end up with the less effective workers gravitating to the public sector, but someone should explain to me how that will be any different than it is now. There are a few good ones, but there are a bunch of bad ones.
I have a better idea, I think. The first question you ask is: can we contract this to a private firm?
The custodial and clerical workers don’t need to be city employees.
I’m pro-jobs see. RESEPCT MY MORAL SUPERIORITEH!
And please, feel free to mock my transpositions.
Teamsters are a lot like lawyers: it’s 90% of ’em give the rest a bad name…
7. Ernst Schreiber posted on 3/4 @ 2:14 pm
I thought Starbucks only hired English majors, Abe.
Many English majors go on to law school. They end up taking on these cases.
8. cranky-d posted on 3/4 @ 2:16 pm
Here’s how you assess pay and benefits for public employees: you see how much the private sector pays on average for an equivalent job in the local area, reduce that by some percentage, and there you are. You can do the same for benefits. It should always be better to work for the private sector, and that means encouraging people to go private. Sure, you will probably end up with the less effective workers gravitating to the public sector, but someone should explain to me how that will be any different than it is now.
We might as well keep it the way it is now: you see how much is in the budget, divvy it up per worker and whatever perks they deservedly insist, pink-slip the ones left standing when the music stops. Sure, you will probably end up with the less tenured workers gravitating to the public sector. Fuck ’em. Let ’em fight it out.
I thought Starbucks only hired English majors, Abe.
In deference to our genial host, I took liberties with the joke.
We should stage some big puppet theater: first the TaxPayer gives all his money to Dem Politician, who keeps 10%, burns 10%, and gives the rest to Union Boss. Union Boss then gives half back to Dem Politician, and then they both fuck Taxpayer in the ass.
You’ll also need a couple of Union Employees to get their cut before kicking back a piece of it to both the Dem Politician and the Union Boss. Afterwards they stick around to appreciate the free sex show.
Ernst: Free sex show? Let’s sic PETA on their asses. Oh wait…
GOP Sellouts are abandoning Walker
Fuckers.
I’m starting a new business. It’s called “Extra Cream”. I’ve line up some porn stars to make the coffee, and when it’s a union guy, Ron Jeremy will put extra cream in it.
1-800-Spl00ge
Where have I heard this before?
Except there is actually no proof of that and plenty of proof against it.
Shit, even Captain Eeyore says this:
These people are putting their asses on the line to do something big. How about we don’t call them assholes and fuckers at the very moment they’re finally doing the shit we keep demanding they do.
Let me spell it out for you: there is a reason we’re all whispering that Tim Cullen is weakening. There’s also a reason that cops separate two criminals and then tell each of them that the other has ratted them out.
That’s all they’re doing against us here. Recognize it for what it is and stop helping them.
Bh – it seems like perfect is the enemy pf the damn fucking good sometimes.
Connecticut is a joke.
I have lived here since 1956, and I feel like I am living on Mars. If not for my tick of an ex-wife and my wonderful son, I would have been gone years ago.
I went to court and told the judge that I had lost $700 a month in income – and the asshole RAISED my child support payments by over one hundred dollars a month! I now owe child support/alimony of approximately $200 dollars a month more than my income. And these assholes are threatening me with jail for contempt!
There is no intelligent life left in the Northeast, my friends. Sad to say, because when I was growing up, this state was a wonderful place to live. The memories are wonderful, but the reality is totally Obamao.
I think we who believe in liberty are just a distant fart from from the past…
bh-I am not demanding perfection. But the GOP better realize that abandoning Walker is not acceptable under any circumstances.
Of course.
They haven’t abandoned him though.
I hope you are right.
Well, Joe, on the one hand you have anonymous people saying anonymous things that just so happen to be promoted by leftists in order to spread doubt. On the other hand, you have the legislature continually increasing the pressure along with Walker sending out lay off notices today.
“And these assholes are threatening me with jail for contempt!”
you can make money being a political prisoner.
With some people, yeah, JD. I hear a goodly bit of constructive criticism as well.
I suppose my main concern is with not allowing a “of course we’ll lose, we always lose” mindset to take hold on our side.
Threatening to not forgive or forget GOP politicians who waiver or calling them fuckers is not the equivalent of “of course we’ll lose, we always lose” mindset.
Here’s what you said, in full:
Here’s how you now characterize it, in full:
You said they’re abandoning him. Not that they might or that you wouldn’t forgive them if they did. You said they are — present tense — abandoning him. Then, based on this theoretical betrayal, you called them fuckers.
Ever train a dog? You don’t smack them on the nose when they’re being good because they might crap on the carpet later.
Sargent. Is. A. Shill. For. The. Left.
Treat anything he says like it’s from Michael Moore.
I’m quite sure it’s a journolist meme of the moment, Geoff.
1. Spread the rumor that the Republicans are getting ready to jump ship. 2. Reference one another’s attempts to spread the rumor as if it’s further evidence.
The rumors are gross exaggerations and the typical lefty propagandizing…
Don’t help them spread the BS. This is all they’ve got. They already went nuclear, with the fleebaggers leaving the state and guys like Howard “YEEEEARGH!” Dean helping an organization raise money and start the process of trying to recall Rethug! WI Senators, while-of course-demanding that the vote on the measure be put off until the recall attempts play out…
This is as specious as Dean’s talking point about fleebaggers = Rethug! US Senators filibustering; it’s all BS.
Don’t help them spread the BS. They have enough allies and mouthpieces without the aid of useful… well, you know…
bh,
Did you hear this (Attourney Jim Troupis link)?
http://www.newstalk1130.com/pages/mckenna_blog.html
No, I haven’t, Mr. B.
Giving it a listen right now.
Bh – well said.
Oh, I was wrong about the NFL lockout, at least in th short term.
I haven’t entirely finished it but I can already recommend it to others to get a feel for the thinking of the WI Reps.
Short take so far: they realize the seriousness and the precedent being set, they have more options and they’re going to keep ramping up the pressure until they win.
(This is what we’ve all been hearing in private as well. I’m glad he said this publicly. Maybe it’ll help stop some of these rumors.)
Heh, I almost had a heart attack when I got your text, JD.
If they kill next season when the Packers actually have a good team I might go on an epic rampage.
bh, I hope you are right.
bh,
I sent you a homework assignment. Graduate level stuff (actually just a long presentation).
So I’ll just check back with you tomorrow;)
I will agree Walker has more balls than some other governors.
Ooops, must have missed it, Danger. (Gmail’s priority inbox is a mixed blessing.) Let me check my email. If it’s graduate level stuff I might need to go get a six pack of beer and rent a few Ren and Stimpy tapes and then procrastinate for a couple days until the night before your deadline.
bh,
Just make sure you have plenty of Mountain Dew to fuel the all-nighter.
Bah. The only English major I ever met that amounted to anything was soon an English colonel.
Of course Mountain Dew and Vodka will enhance your Ren and Stimpy experience (and allow you to tolerate the presentation, unfortunately their is no fast forward option that I could find)
Bh – I talked with a few of our clients this wek, and none of them were hopeful. I only talked to one today, and they were only a little more optimistic, but still pessimistic.
Did anyone understand why Barcky played billionaire and millionaire card, and obliquely referenced them not needing him to step in? Has anyone asked him to? Or was he just aggrandizing himself? Isn’t the NFLPA Rep Smith a Barcky acolyte?
JD,
Some reporter asked the the teleprompted one about the strike at a press confernce with the Mexican president (in what most of us would consider a transparent attempt to prevent harder questions).
Got the email. I’ll give it a look tomorrow afternoon, Danger.
Yeah, that’s what I feel in my gut, JD. I just hope, hope, hope it isn’t going to happen.
Unrelated to anything but beer, I keep forgetting that SW is in a seriously different time zone. I just tasted my Belgian Dubbel before bottling and I have to give him the recipe. It’s AWESOME.
You have his email, right, JD? Could you email it to me?
Nevermind, I just found it.
Looks like a new front in the war is developing.
This ones in my backyard. Fleein Dems beware: Our dogs hunt in these parts!
Man that post looks like my kids soccer uniform!
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d81e9a6e6/article/sides-to-resume-talks-monday-as-cba-deadline-extended-a-week?module=HP_cp2
bh
Keep the dream alive (for at least a week;)
Charlie Sheen is a remarkable person, with the power of his mind.
That’s awesome about Florida. It really is. Let the taxpayer revolt against the public unions keep spreading. They can’t fight us everywhere.
They’re going to lose. We’re going to win.
I would like to have Tiger Blood.
I would like to be a Vatican assassin warlock with tiger blood.
Boom! That’s winning!
From the link above.
“The legislature has independent authority”
“All they will have to do is threaten to leave. And the Republic has broken down”
“Democratic Senators thought this was a cute tactic” “Democratic staffers still laughing about it”
“Yesterday, the Senate acted on it” “There may be more action by the Senate in order to clarify it even more; if anyone doubts it”
“Chris Larson’s comments, on his facebook page, is mocking it”
“Some of these guys are willing to stay out their whole term”
“a private citizen has to rely on the Senate itrself to enforce its rules” – judge ruling, regarding the private citizen case against Senator Halperin. That is what forced this to ramp up.
“Trust me. There are more steps, but you hope that you don’t have to get to them”
WINNER!
“It is very much about whether a minority, in a Representative Demcoracy, can frustrate the will of the majority permanently”
Having been at one of the rally’s, I think he sums up pretty well what I observed with this statement.
“It’s intimidation” “These demonstations have nothing to do with persuasion. THey had everything to do with intimidation. If you do this, this will happen to you.”
link
C’mon bh,
Vatican assassin warlocks…That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard.
Everyone knows the Vatican’s assasins are monks…And on occasion, altar boys…In cassocks…
“Vatican’s assasins are monks…”
Cleverly disguised in ceremonial Swiss Guard apparel;)
Do Vatican assassin monks have tiger blood?
Must be something in the water JD.
I don’t know about that, Bob. If Charlie Sheen says something, I simply assume it’s true. Because, well, he’s a winner with tiger blood. A winner with tiger blood wouldn’t lie to me. That’s just inconceivable.
The Swiss Guard apparel is a special kind of camoflauge. They can move about unseen!…At any renaissance festival.
And JD, they may have tiger blood, but no where near the access to the quality of drugs and hookers that Charlie Sheen has.
But I hear Sheen is cleaning his act up…He’s realized that he’d gone over the top just yesterday; after he recieved a call from Qaddafi telling him that if he didn’t turn it down a notch folks just might start thinking he’s crazy.
Yes, Vatican assassin warlocks have tiger blood. And are F-18s. With magic and poetry in their fingertips.
They can also cure disease… with their mind.
I thought this was all common knowledge.
Boom! Be a bi-winner!
CHARLIE SHEEN’S WORDS ARE TRUTHS OF METAPHYSICAL CERTITUDE!
But the poor fellows looking like many, many miles of bad road these days.
I guess the drugs and booze diet should be crossed off all our lists.
Just catching up, but excellent insight and thanks for the wisdom, bh. I
thinkhope you’ve nailed it.It’s been a pleasure, as always folks. But I have an early curtain call tomorrow.
Until next time; continue to be cool!
If bh wasn’t busy herding the cheese stealing cats in the cheese state, he’d have Charlie Sheen walking the halls of sobriety by now!
Night all,
AND KEEP FIRING!!!
Why must unions see to it that they aren’t really liked or respected?
They’re trained professionals; who else is going to do it right?
They wish to be feared. With that coin they can purchase a fine facsimile of respect and love. The facsimiles are fine things to flash for the public, like going to the Oscars with an expensive, and secret, hooker hanging on your arm.
The fear buys all that bling. Threaten to take the fear away and the iron fist will emerge from that fine red velvet glove.
Stand firm, it is solidarity that threatens them this time.
Case in point.
So basically, joining a union is a way for a frickin’ pansy wuss candy ass to finally get back some of the crawling and cringing he’s had to do all his life because his balls can’t be seen with an electron microscope.
geoffb, I’m just going to say that if that had happened in TX, there would have been 10 body bags carried out.
Which is why it doesn’t. An armed society is a more polite society.
Taking out the trash and perhaps keeping the cleanup costs down.
In number 79 I was speaking more of the leadership and their handpicked goons. The average member is among the ones who have that fear instilled into them daily. They are property of the leaders as in all tyrannies.
Jeb Bush butted heads with the teacher’s unions here and won, and quality of education shot up. Charlie Crist enabled the unions and got denied a Senate seat because of it, or so says I.
This has been brewing for a while. We’ll see if the unions cave again, or decide to fight it out and lose. Up until now, though, it’s been mostly about test scores and merit pay. I don’t know that we’ve looked at decreasing their net compensation.
And if this is portrayed as union-busting, fine. I say that to the extent that unions impede improvements in education, they’ve pretty much brought the busting on themselves.
venus
Eat me.
venus
Michael Moore
ate my arms.
Since we are apparently posting random shit, how’s about this little guy?
I’m just wondering if Satchel is headed in that direction, and which Captains of Crush gripper model he’s training with.
Just blockquoting the whole thing because it’s composed entirely of awesome.
Thanks, bh, but it seems mostly obvious & self-evident. But I’ve been immersed in the battle with the teacher’s unions here (via newspaper only; not through participation) since I moved back here in 2000.
Fortunately our schools have kept the union issues out of the classroom, and the teachers in, where they belong.