Hardworking Union News Today

Roughly maybe 350,000 workers. the united automobile workers, everybody can own a car in america. the history of unionism has been inextricably linked to the growth of the middle class, as you know, over the last 60 years of american history. the right-to-work legislation that has passed now in 24 states, i dont think you can dem demonstrably prove that it leads to higher wages, that it leads to marginally -- >> but whats wrong with giving people the freedom to work where they want to work? >> t...

Demonstrators tearing down the tent belonging to americans for prosperity, the conservative advocacy group with ties to the koch brothers. according to "politico," the group says it is sharing the video to show, quote, the true nature of unions. the group has already sent out a fund-raiser e-mail including this video. also yesterday a contributor for fox news says he was attacked by union supporters who were unhappy about the new legislation. >> [ bleep ]. >> you just assaulted me. >> thats terr...

Howard here. howard, we were making your blood boil when we were talking about the union story. >> really? >> help us out here. there has to be a middle ground because if theres not, its bad news for unions because, obviously, right-to-work is spreading even across michigan. so if i say to you your union shouldnt have a right to compel me to write a check, its about my freedom to choose, you could then say to me, yeah, but you know what? im negotiating with management. and youre going to get a f...

Dues extracted from their paycheck because they dont put a value on it. will those workers accept the pay raises that the unions negotiate for them? >> well, again, theyre essentially told they have to be in that relationship. its an exclusive relationship that the unions have with the employer. so they dont have an option with that. >> so thats a rather divisive workplace in the future. >> again, in right-to-work states, you dont see that division. actually, we had good people up here in michig...

And i would have to suffer those consequences. >> i know thats very libertarian and sounds terrific and very practical and all that. >> it sounds kind of fair. it sounds like personal responsibility. >> i think most people would say that was compelling people to join a union as well. i know what youre trying to do. if you wanted to do it, what you really need is campaign finance reform. if you dont want big corporations and unions and so forth to be influencing politics on your behalf because yo...

♪ working in a factory like chevy like the volt snoelts you plug it in and you win ecologically because if it was an actual race you would not actually youve got to dues correct for the union or robots are going to come and take away our jobs or to the chinese kids with the tiny hands the work will go ♪ ♪ this opportunity comes once in a lifetime, yo ♪ welcome back to "morning joe." a live look at times square in new york city. the sun has yet to come up. everybody neats to wake up, th...

Care debate with emergency rooms and so forth. >> in other words, you didnt put any money in, youre getting the higher wage and the benefits the guys who paid the money are receiving, youre still getting them, but you didnt pay for them. its a free rider system. >> i mean, there are closed shops, there are open shops, right? that decision can be made there, correct? >> yeah. i think. >> if im a union guy or woman, id say, okay, well, lets negotiate for union members. >> yeah. >> and union member...

Answered -- >> stronger middle class in union states. >> thats the question that has to be answered, what willie put out. i think there are other factors. >> rhetoric inside the capitol building was also heated. before the bill passed, democratic state representative douglas geist painted the repercussions in stark terms. >> were going to pass something that will undo 100 years of labor relations. and there will be blood. there will be repercussions. we will relive the battle of the overpass. >>...

Unions pay -- play an absolutely critical role, especially in an era where the rich are getting richer. the poor are getting poorer. ceo salaries have exploded over the past 25 years in a grotesque manner. >> so how well are they doing? >> unfortunately, though, union leverage is being stripped away by globalization, by an i.t. revolution, by outsourcing that certainly does -- >> but you asked the fundamental question earlier, and mike, one of you may have asked it, right-to-work states have, be...

Because the way i view it is, workers now have freedom to choose. >> hang on. are you serious? are you serious? this is not anti-unions? at its core, undermines the ability for unions to organize. you can make any argument you like -- >> all right, richard. lets let him answer the question. >> this does not deal with organizing or collective bargaining, this has nothing to do with the relationship between an employer and union. this is about the relationship between unions and workers. and this ...