Is there any valid argument in favor of Government Unions?

I put this in the rant thread because it's where my last thread ended up, so I figured this would be where I put this thread too. If not, then please move my thread.

I can understand the arguments in favor of unions. Not wanting to be a slave to an entity who's sole purpose is profit. Can you really apply the same thing to government though? They aren't operating on profits, they're operating on a fixed income of taxpayer dollars, so, the motive of "make the most money" isn't really there. Speaking of taxpayer dollars, any negotiations made by government unions is going to affect the taxpayer, who unlike the consumer can't simply choose to fund another government. Granted the union members pay taxes too, but they're not the only ones paying taxes which is exactly my point. Plus, in the event when they do get extra money, they usually just refund it anyways. This isn't going to be like the Gay Marriage thread where I knew there would be no valid arguments, this is a legitimite question. Or if you want to dissect the points I made, feel free to do that too.

In case I worded any of that wrong (which I probably did). Basically:
-Business's goal is to make profit. Government does not have the same goal.
-Government Union Negotiations affect the taxpayer, their main source of income.

No, there is no valid argument for government unions. They should ALL be disbanded.

Mate

There is a little more to it than that.

For example; Think Firemen. Tough Job indeed and can easily be made tougher by cutting staff or freezing pay rates or increasing workable hours and without doubt numerous other fiendish ways. Given what the average fireman has to go through do you think it's reasonable for them to have to fight for themselves or is representation by a union a far more equitable solution?

Cheers

Not here .

Currently I am a member of a union and the total dismay at how they are in bed with management and more than willing to not fight for your rights . Yet they will make back door deals with management without signed letters of agreement concerning their members . If there is corruption in the management ( employer ) , rest assured your wanting to take a stand for your contract rights will leave you being thrown under the bus . ( sacrificed for speaking out )

The lip service or having smoke blown up your &^%$& will leave you breathless . I will be burning my union card when the new year comes along .

Originally posted by watchdog8110
Not here .

Currently I am a member of a union and the total dismay at how they are in bed with management and more than willing to not fight for your rights . Yet they will make back door deals with management without signed letters of agreement concerning their members . If there is corruption in the management ( employer ) , rest assured your wanting to take a stand for your contract rights will leave you being thrown under the bus . ( sacrificed for speaking out )

The lip service or having smoke blown up your &^%$& will leave you breathless . I will be burning my union card when the new year comes along .

except that this is exactly why folks formed unions in the first place.

burn your card sure, then get a few guys together, hop down to the nearby university, grab yourself a law student and over drinks draw up new documents of incorporation. unions draw power from the size of their membership, if they aren't representing you and your coworkers anymore, shrink it.

the day AFL-CIO figures out a way to include illegal immigrants on their membership rolls, is the day they become pro-immigration. it'll happen...just wait.

So basically what you're saying is government or city or state workers should work for peanuts? They don't deserve benefits union representation raises etc.? Just because my paycheck comes from tax payers doesn't mean I don't deserve the same representation perks and benifits that everyone else can get that isn't in the public
Sector. It just seems to me that most people who try to devaluethe public workers are just jealous that they don't have a position in the public job market.

Yes, because government is just as capable of exploiting its workers as private business is - perhaps moreso given their legal monopoly on legitimate use of force.