fsrq — that’s way to simple of a perspective… not incorrect, but only a sliver of the full picture. There wouldn’t be unions (of any sort) if there wasn’t a demand for the services the workers provide. However, the unionization of the workers of these services *potentially* causes a distortion of your simplistic demand curve.
In the case of teachers, the demand is not just for warm bodies, the demand is for qualified and *excellent* teachers. However, the UFT doesn’t discriminate and doesn’t allow the market to operate. Utility absolutely comes into play here. A given industry or job is not homogeneous. It’s not Baseball Player or CEO vs Laborer or Sandwich Maker… the issue is Ikea Furniture vs. Handcrafted Danish Modern. Both credenzas hold your napkins and vinyl records… but the latter is better. A crappy teacher fills the chair in the front of the classroom, but the energetic, innovative, hard-working teaching is better!
tyburg- yes I do agree. Yes the laws should be changed so union corruption is brought under control and actually, I think fsrg makes a very valid point about the public sector (again, a little hesitant about lumping teachers in this)unions. And I certainly think there should be a merit system. In fact (I’m foaming at the mouth slightly here), I would love to see a law in place that allows the city to fire public sector workers who don’t perform, and who go out on illegal strike.
Kens- you right, of course. Ans actually that was my point about a Master Carpenter and Head Stagehand at Carnegie. It falls on them, at that level to ensure not only that everything works properly, but that it does it safely. One badly constructed stage set and you have a multimillion dollar lawsuit. the stage lights fall down and catch fire- kiss Carnegie goodbye. But at the average rank and file level- no question the salaries should be commensurate.
benson- this discussion long ago erased the lines between union management and the rank and file. Not to mention the slaps at us “creative professionals.”
Bxgrl – if you’re using Halliburton and fucked up i-banks as the benchmark for saying all CEOs are crooks that’s messed up. There’s plenty of good ones out there.
Thats kinda saying since there have been a few shootings in crown heights – everyone there is a criminal – not accurate or fair.
Mike’s “truth” is much like his previous support of term limits – subject to change.
Bloomy: Past Praise for Foe Thompson Was Just ‘Polite’
NEW YORK (AP/1010 WINS) — Mayor Michael Bloomberg says he was just being “polite” when he once said his Democratic opponent might be the best comptroller New York City has ever had.
The billionaire mayor was asked Thursday about the compliment he gave William Thompson Jr. in 2007, long before they were political opponents.
Bloomberg praised Thompson during a commencement speech at Tufts University, Thompson’s alma mater.
The mayor now says he was just being polite. He says it was a commencement speech — what would you expect him to say?
Thompson has used a clip of Bloomberg’s comment in a television ad.
Bloomberg is not a member of any party but the former Republican is running on the Republican and Independent Party lines.
Yeah ditto I agree on Stuy Town – I mean they couldnt even make it WITH decontrolling those apartments – but what about the other owners who based upon the law and the ok of every Govt agency decontrolled apartments over the last 11 years and are now liable for TREBLE damages. This will be some mess.
fsrq = Fedders Sell Real Quick?
🙂
“not accurate or fair”
Since when has that ever been a consideration in a Brownstoner post???
😉
fsrq — that’s way to simple of a perspective… not incorrect, but only a sliver of the full picture. There wouldn’t be unions (of any sort) if there wasn’t a demand for the services the workers provide. However, the unionization of the workers of these services *potentially* causes a distortion of your simplistic demand curve.
In the case of teachers, the demand is not just for warm bodies, the demand is for qualified and *excellent* teachers. However, the UFT doesn’t discriminate and doesn’t allow the market to operate. Utility absolutely comes into play here. A given industry or job is not homogeneous. It’s not Baseball Player or CEO vs Laborer or Sandwich Maker… the issue is Ikea Furniture vs. Handcrafted Danish Modern. Both credenzas hold your napkins and vinyl records… but the latter is better. A crappy teacher fills the chair in the front of the classroom, but the energetic, innovative, hard-working teaching is better!
When I’d like to read it – probably funny.
Its just an acronym that is easy for me to remember, nothing all that sinister
tyburg- yes I do agree. Yes the laws should be changed so union corruption is brought under control and actually, I think fsrg makes a very valid point about the public sector (again, a little hesitant about lumping teachers in this)unions. And I certainly think there should be a merit system. In fact (I’m foaming at the mouth slightly here), I would love to see a law in place that allows the city to fire public sector workers who don’t perform, and who go out on illegal strike.
Kens- you right, of course. Ans actually that was my point about a Master Carpenter and Head Stagehand at Carnegie. It falls on them, at that level to ensure not only that everything works properly, but that it does it safely. One badly constructed stage set and you have a multimillion dollar lawsuit. the stage lights fall down and catch fire- kiss Carnegie goodbye. But at the average rank and file level- no question the salaries should be commensurate.
benson- this discussion long ago erased the lines between union management and the rank and file. Not to mention the slaps at us “creative professionals.”
Bxgrl – if you’re using Halliburton and fucked up i-banks as the benchmark for saying all CEOs are crooks that’s messed up. There’s plenty of good ones out there.
Thats kinda saying since there have been a few shootings in crown heights – everyone there is a criminal – not accurate or fair.
ditto, the whole Stuy Town investment was a house of cards given the assumptions of deregulation. i don’t know how they sold it to investors
Mike’s “truth” is much like his previous support of term limits – subject to change.
Bloomy: Past Praise for Foe Thompson Was Just ‘Polite’
NEW YORK (AP/1010 WINS) — Mayor Michael Bloomberg says he was just being “polite” when he once said his Democratic opponent might be the best comptroller New York City has ever had.
The billionaire mayor was asked Thursday about the compliment he gave William Thompson Jr. in 2007, long before they were political opponents.
Bloomberg praised Thompson during a commencement speech at Tufts University, Thompson’s alma mater.
The mayor now says he was just being polite. He says it was a commencement speech — what would you expect him to say?
Thompson has used a clip of Bloomberg’s comment in a television ad.
Bloomberg is not a member of any party but the former Republican is running on the Republican and Independent Party lines.
Yeah ditto I agree on Stuy Town – I mean they couldnt even make it WITH decontrolling those apartments – but what about the other owners who based upon the law and the ok of every Govt agency decontrolled apartments over the last 11 years and are now liable for TREBLE damages. This will be some mess.