Green jobs must mean good jobs that respect labor

Green jobs can never help rebuild our economy if the industry is not built with respect and dignity for the workers who will be doing the heavy lifting, write guest columnists and labor leaders Rick Bender and Tom Chamberlain. They discuss examples of companies moving plants across state borders for access to lower-cost labor and richer tax breaks.

in March 2007, SolarWorld purchased a facility in Hillsboro, Ore. The company was lured there in part by $43 million in tax breaks and public subsidies. SolarWorld jumped at this opportunity to move its operation to a new facility. But at the same time, they adamantly rejected requests by the Machinist Union to remain neutral in any efforts to unionize the Oregon work force. New employees at the Hillsboro facility were offered much lower pay than the ... Full Story »

Posted by Dwight Rousu
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Posted by: Posted by Dwight Rousu - Jun 12, 2009 - 2:15 PM PDT
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Edited by: Dwight Rousu - Jun 12, 2009 - 2:15 PM PDT

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Dwight Rousu
4.3
by Dwight Rousu - Jun. 12, 2009

The U.S. is in the economic ditch because of jettisoned jobs and chopped pay under an anti-labor business climate. This opinion piece tells the story of cancerous anti-labor practices infecting the domain of green jobs that are being heralded as saving our economy. The story is told clearly and concisely.

EFCA and trade laws have to protect jobs in this country that pay well.

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Norman Rogers
2.3
by Norman Rogers - Jun. 13, 2009

Green jobs are no different than other jobs. If union jobs get too cushy naturally the employer is going to look for greener pastures.

Unions given too much power are as abusive as any other group. In many cases the employer can get rid of the union or go out of business. The whole union story about "decent" wages, etc. is wrong if they are making way above what other people in the same community with the same skills are making. High wages result from high skills and high productivity, not a contest between employer and union. Most unions seem to have a Marxist view that it is a contest.

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