Unions in France vs. the unions in America

You ever notice whenever a group of workers in France, let's say the teachers go on strike, that numerous other groups like transportation, sanitation and postal workers, will also strike with them in support?

Here you rarely see it and I can't even remember the last time I saw it happen. All I ever hear is, "the teachers are going on strike" and everybody else says, "fire their asses then, my kids need to go to school".

That's why.

EDIT: More specifically, secondary boycotts are illegal. If the carpenters strike a construction company on a contract dispute, it is illegal for the electricians to strike the construction company in solidarity. See how that works?

It should be "One out? All out!"

That's funny :rofl:

That's why the unions in my city are so limp and have no power to get anything done. Our city busted up all the unions 15 years ago and now there haven't been any pay raises for over four years and 3% pay cuts are on the way. Public Works for example now has separate unions for each of it's dozen departments instead of being under one umbrella like in the old days. Back in the old days when they shut the whole public works department down, all the services, people would listen, city leaders paid attention and things used to happen. These days there's so many separate departments that if the road department goes on strike the people over in underground utilities probably don't even know about it.

Works? For who? Not for the union workers anymore.

Thank you, Taft-Hartley. (That was also ironic.)

Not at you. I really appreciate the information :hi:

Sorry -- I've just faced so much anti-union crap on this board my hackles go up prematurely sometimes. Like...I'm still trying to figure out how to reply to the above comment about "real unions."

many union members don't honor picket lines any more. Mostly professionals who belong to a union. Many (union members) accept the pay and benefits, but don't give a damn about the hotel worker and other in low paying union jobs. They go right through a striker's picket line or a guy with a "Unfair please do not shop here" picket sign. without giving it a second thought. We should all think about this as Democrats and union members.

Or a company will set up a second gate so the other unions don't even have to consider the line at all. Drives me crazy.

The cold war was gearing up, the government and unions were all full of commies, and it HAD to be passed to keep the commies from gaining power - and so made real cooperation between unions illegal. No sympathy strikes, support strikes, support picketing, etc.

Capitalist divide & conquer.

Labor has been going down hill ever since.

When Reagan fired PATCO in 81, there should not have been a single union that did NOT strike in protest, but if they had they'd have been breaking the law. It's been open season on the unions ever since.

I just assumed it was because most Americans are so damn lazy and only have the "me first" attitude.

That is why. France must not have a right wing court system?