At 11:58 AM 1/26/01 -0800, Josh wrote:
>>Nurses, teachers, firefighters, police -- all are getting the short end of
>>the stick.
>
>Since they're all (except some nurses) government employees, what's the best
>solution?
Well yes - but these occuaptions have another thing in common - they are
all heavily unionized. Now, I am not opposed to unions in general.
Rather, I take objection to the *policies* generally pursued by unions.
In particularly, unions persue policies geared to the lowest common
denominator worker. Now, when you are dealing with commoditized workers
doing highly unskilled and routine labor in a manufacturing plant, this is
a very rational strategy. Unionization in these situations will almost
certainly be able to produce some advancements in wage and working
conditions. These strategies become less universally beneficial, however,
in non-commoditized, *professional* occupations, like those listed above.
For example, why is it that our best and brightest children do not pursue
vocations in nursing, teaching, or law enforcement? I suspect that a
strong portion of it is the lack of reward for merit. In business, or
law, or medicine, if you become one of the very best in your profession you
can expect to be very well rewarded. You can be the best nurse or
teacher in the world, however, and you will still only be paid based on
your years of service and the cost of living of your city.
Consider, for example, my situation. I happen to work as an Economist for
the US Government, and based on my employee evaluations, I happen to know
that I am very good at what I do. Now, if I was the type of person who
did not place as high of a value on public service, short hours, and
flexible work schedules as I do - then I might pursue a job in the private
sector, where I could expect to earn substantially more money. Most
employers, though, when faced with the loss of one of their top employees
would likely offer a reasonable pay increase to try and retain said
employee. The US Government, however, bound by its union contract, can't
offer me a cent more to stay. I am paid strictly according to my years of
service with the government. (O.k., there is a bonus system based on
performance, but the bonus for even the top rating amounts to substantially
less than a single week's salary.) This of course, poses a public
dillemma, as our entire civilization suffers when we are constantly losing
our most highly talented nurses, teachers, and economists.....
In this case, the unions are acting to protect the lowest common
denominator worker, but are in fact producing the counter-productive
results of driving the most talented workers out of their profession, and
as a result, we all suffer. This will continue to be the case as long as
our unions insist upon treating labor like an undifferentiated commodity in
occupations where treating labor as differentiated professionals is much
more appropriate.
JDG
P.S. Before you accuse me of hating unions - you should known that I AM
America's Unions - AFGE Local 12.
__________________________________________________________
John D. Giorgis - [EMAIL PROTECTED] - ICQ
#3527685
"Never tiring, never yielding, never finishing, we renew that purpose today:
to make our country more just and generous; to affirm the dignity of
our lives and every life." - George W. Bush Inaugural Address 1/20/01
