The Truth about Public Employee Unions

For those Teabaggers who think public employees have just sailed along during these hard economic times while the private sector has made all the sacrifices, you might be interested in this little tidbit as reported on the Forbes blog:

“In fact, state and local employee unions around the country have been extremely responsive to the economic realities of their state. In many states and localities, these employees have stepped up by forgoing pension and benefit opportunities that were gained through years of trading larger salaries for a better pension and benefits program. They have accepted the ever increasing number of furlough days that have hit their families hard in the pocketbook.
While the public at large may not know it, the members of the public employee unions have been suffering through these hard times right along with workers in the private sector.”

And then there is this:

“What has truly surprised me are the number of working folks who have no understanding of what the union movement has done for them – even if they have never been affiliated -and have, as a result, taken a position in support of those who wish to end collective bargaining in Wisconsin.
The minimum wage, the forty-hour work week, safety standards in the work place, maternity rights, employee pensions and health care benefits– all of these are just some of things that never would have existed in the United States had the union movement not become a part of the work environment in this country.”

You’ve been lied to.