One effect of Wisconsin governor Scott Walker’s successful effort to limit collective bargaining by the state employee’s union is that labor unions are once again in the national spotlight. Unions consider this to be a good thing, after years of neglect, since much of the public seems to be taking their side. And now a labor issue of even greater concern to the general public has emerged: The National Football League is headed for a work stoppage. After negotiations over a new contract fell apart, the players decertified their union, a tactic that allowed for court action, and the players essentially locked out the players. Next year’s season is in jeopardy. See NFL talks collapse, shutdown of pro football expected – The Washington Post.
Unions for sweatshops, casualties of the industrial revolution paid subsistence wages, and other cases of the exploited proletariat are one thing. It’s harder to be sympathetic to white collar unions and–what do we call them?–spandex collar unions, especially professional sports laborers who make untold millions and are in a dispute about how to share in additional billions.
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