Gov. Bruce Rauner (R, Illinois) is… actually going to go to war with the unions.

I may have to reassess my opinion of the nature of Illinois politics: perhaps somebody actually can achieve statewide office there without also being fully-tied into the Illinois Combine.  New Republican governor Bruce Rauner apparently wants to have a brawl: “Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner struck a first official blow on Monday against the public sector labor unions he has frequently criticized by ordering an end to a requirement that workers pay dues even if they decide not to join a union.” It’s an executive order, not legislation: because – like Barack Obama – Bruce Rauner has a pen and a phone, and is apparently unafraid to use either.  He also has a budget crisis that’s fueled in no small part by the inability of public sector unions to not be quite so greedy, which is one reason why we’re seeing this reform now.

Put another way… Eric Zorn of the Chicago Tribune is bitter, but accurate enough*: “Rauner’s order isn’t animated by empathy or some fastidious concern with constitutional fine points. It’s animated by a desire to put public employee unions into a death spiral, which will ultimately shrink the state’s payroll.” This, of course, is not exactly bad news to anybody who despises public employee unions, which are indeed kind of abominations unto the Lord – but I suppose that the Chicago Tribune might feel differently, given that the Tribune is fully-tied into the Illinois Combine.  Continue reading Gov. Bruce Rauner (R, Illinois) is… actually going to go to war with the unions.

Twinkies to return without union ‘assistance.’

Alternate title: “Sir, the Twinkies are back online!”

Bless you, Scotty!*”

The bankrupt assets of Hostess Brands, Inc., the company responsible for Twinkies, Ho Ho’s, Sno Balls and Ding Dongs, are being put back to work by a buyout firm. What’s not being put back to work are the former Hostess unionized employees.

Basically, the new owners (Apollo Global Management LLC, and Metropoulos & Co.) aren’t subject to the old union contract from the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers & Grain Millers union (BCTWGM).  As you may recall, BCTWGM more or less killed the old Hostess company (which, admittedly, was on life support anyway) last year when it decided to play some rather ill-timed hardball.  When the Teamsters are waving off your strike threats… well.  The BCTWGM has paid for their folly, no? Continue reading Twinkies to return without union ‘assistance.’

Michigan Big Labor ready to sue its own captive membership.

You know it’s bad when a group decides to emulate the Old East German response to people voting with their feet:

The president of Michigan’s largest union is instructing officials to prepare to sue its own members, according to a leaked memo issued after the state adopted right-to-work laws in December.

Steven Cook, president of the Michigan Education Association, circulated an email to local unions officials and staff instructing them to monitor revenue streams in light of the right-to-work laws, which are set to go into effect on March 27, 2013. The law allows workers to opt out of union membership unless they have an existing contract with their employer.

Continue reading Michigan Big Labor ready to sue its own captive membership.

Breaking: Union thug violence towards right-to-work supporters in Michigan.

Charming:

Here’s a picture of the former tent in question.

Moral of the story, besides the obvious? GET A CAMERA. The Left STILL doesn’t get how bad they look when they get recorded Acting Badly.

More over at Twitchy. Much more, including random acts of assault, battery, and the now-deleted tweet where Michigan House Democrats egged on the aforementioned union thuggery.

Moe Lane (crosspost)