Services for Free?

I think most people consider the economy of the United States to be built on capitalism.  Most of my conservative friends abhor any intrusion on business by government.  I vividly remember the cries of “it’s General Motors…….NOT Government Motors” when the Obama administration helped guide the American auto industry back from the brink of bankruptcy.  Nope, most people do not want the government involved in any dealings that have to do with businesses.  Which begs the question why they would constantly push anti-union legislation like Right to Work?

What most people fail to realize is that unions are businesses and are subjected to the same rules as most businesses.  They have many of the same expenses that other businesses have, work comp, building expenses, administrative expenses, the list goes on.  Unions are in the business of providing services to their members whether it’s holding a company accountable when they violate the terms of their collective bargaining agreement or holding member education classes or safety trainings etc.

Why in a capitalistic society would anyone expect any business to provide their services for free?  Could you imagine owning a local gym and being forced by the government to allow freeloaders the right to use the gym’s equipment and not have to pay the monthly fee?  How is that different than forcing a union to provide their services for free? 

Politicians like to say that it’s about “choice”, employees should be able to choose whether or not to belong to a union.  What those politicians fail to realize is that when someone chooses to work for a company who’s employees are represented by a union they do so of their own free will, in other words, they CHOOSE to work there.  Most of the time it is because of the better wages and benefits negotiated by the union.  Similar to when a home buyer chooses to purchase a home in a neighborhood with an Home Owners Association, they do so knowing there will be HOA fees and that those fees provide services neighborhood’s without HOA’s don’t have.

The only reason these politicians consistently push Right to Work is because the know it will weaken the unions and give a bigger advantage to their corporate masters.   No one should be forced to provide their services for free.