Comments on: Hollywood Strike Redux http://www.fitsnews.com/2008/06/05/hollywood-strike-redux/ Unfair ... Imbalanced Sun, 22 Nov 2009 06:38:09 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Rob W. http://www.fitsnews.com/2008/06/05/hollywood-strike-redux/comment-page-1/#comment-25633 Rob W. Fri, 06 Jun 2008 13:05:27 +0000 http://www.fitsnews.com/?p=3856#comment-25633 Workers' strikes aren't usually state-sanctioned extortion; instead, they're a great example of the free market in action (or at least they should be). A business has a need for my services, at a price I don't like. I can refuse to work at that price. I can even convince my coworkers that they don't like the price. The business can then increase their price or decide not to hire us. No big deal, and not extortion; just people engaging in consensual business relationships. Perhaps the problem comes when the government gets involved. I think we would agree that the government shouldn't be at all involved in strikes and unions, either to regulate or aid them. Unions are just a group of people that all work at the same place, and should be subject to the same laws (anti-trust, etc.) as everyone else- but not subject to any special laws. Some unions might have turned into giant political action committees, but if they're following the law, we're better off leaving them alone (or joining them if we see fit). Unions can improve working conditions and pay, and as a free-market proponent yourself, they're the best way to do these things without government intervention. Show them some capitalistic love. Workers’ strikes aren’t usually state-sanctioned extortion; instead, they’re a great example of the free market in action (or at least they should be). A business has a need for my services, at a price I don’t like. I can refuse to work at that price. I can even convince my coworkers that they don’t like the price. The business can then increase their price or decide not to hire us. No big deal, and not extortion; just people engaging in consensual business relationships.

Perhaps the problem comes when the government gets involved. I think we would agree that the government shouldn’t be at all involved in strikes and unions, either to regulate or aid them. Unions are just a group of people that all work at the same place, and should be subject to the same laws (anti-trust, etc.) as everyone else- but not subject to any special laws. Some unions might have turned into giant political action committees, but if they’re following the law, we’re better off leaving them alone (or joining them if we see fit).

Unions can improve working conditions and pay, and as a free-market proponent yourself, they’re the best way to do these things without government intervention. Show them some capitalistic love.

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