May 1933: Hitler abolishes unions
-- On May 2nd, 1933, the day after Labor day, Nazi groups
occupied union halls and labor leaders were arrested. Trade
Unions were outlawed by Adolf Hitler, while collective bargaining
and the right to strike was abolished.
This was the beginning of a consolidation of power by the
fascist regime which systematically wiped out all opposition
groups, starting with unions, liberals, socialists, and
communists using Himmler's state police.
Fast forward to America today, particularly Wisconsin. Governor
Walker and the Republican/Tea Party members of the state
legislature are attempting to pass a bill that would not only
severely punish public unions (with exception for the police, fire,
and state trooper unions that supported his campaign), but it
would effectively end 50 years to the right of these workers
to collectively bargain.
Collective bargaining is a process of voluntary negotiations
between employers and trade unions aimed at reaching agreements
which regulate working conditions.
Collective agreements usually set out wage scales, working hours,
training, health and safety, overtime, grievance mechanisms and
rights to participate in workplace or company affairs.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collective_bargaining
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collective_bargaining>
First of all, assaulting the rights of workers to collectively
bargain has absolutely nothing to do with any immediate
budgetary issues. It does however have everything to do with
ending one of the basic rights of labor to organize.
Second, and more importantly, the budget "crisis" in Wisconsin
is
both exaggerated and created in part by the new Republican power
base as a tool to attack political opponents.
Walker decreased state revenue when he enacted tax cuts for the
rich and big corporations, who are not surprisingly large
campaign donors for his political campaign.
To the extent that there is an imbalance Walker claims there
is a
$137 million deficit it is not because of a drop in revenues
or
increases in the cost of state employee contracts, benefits or
pensions.
It is because Walker and his allies pushed through $140 million in
new spending for special-interest groups in January. If the
Legislature were simply to rescind Walker's new spending schemes
or delay their implementation until they are offset by fresh
revenues the "crisis" would not exist.
-The Cap Times:
http://host.madison.com/ct/news/opinion/editorial/article_61064e9a-27b0-\
5f28-b6d1-a57c8b2aaaf6.html
<http://host.madison.com/ct/news/opinion/editorial/article_61064e9a-27b0\
-5f28-b6d1-a57c8b2aaaf6.html>
Decimating unions has long been an objective of the rich and powerful.
Growing out of trade guilds in Medieval Europe, they were
banned starting with the Ordinance of Labourers 1349 and Statute
of Labourers in England. It was not until the Industrial
Revolution that labor began to organize again.
-continue reading:
http://newsjunkiepost.com/2011/02/20/may-1933-hitler-abolishes-unions/
<http://newsjunkiepost.com/2011/02/20/may-1933-hitler-abolishes-unions/>
