Big Unions shifting to fight Prop. 32

Oct. 17, 2012

By John Seiler

Say what you will about California’s ultra-powerful government-worker unions, they know how to protect their own interests. They have backed Proposition 30, Gov. Jerry Brown’s $8.5 billion tax increase, because they would get the loot.

But now they’re pivoting their support largely behind Proposition 32, which would ban them from grabbing union dues directly from government workers’ paycheck if the money is used for political action. Tax increases come and go, and budget reductions can be lived with; but the unions’ ultimate power must be maintained at any cost.

It’s likely both these propositions will lose. So the unions also are cutting their losses on Prop. 30, but need to bury Prop. 32 as deeply as they can. They already defeated the similar Proposition 75  back in 2005; and Proposition 226 in 1998. They want the message to go out: go up against Big Unions and you lose.

The Times reported:

“Labor unions are unloading tens of millions of dollars against a ballot measure that could limit their political clout in California, but the spending could come at a cost for one of their biggest allies: Gov. Jerry Brown.

“The unions are pooling their money to fight Proposition 32, which would eliminate their primary political fundraising tool — paycheck deductions — at the same time Brown is counting on their support for his tax-hike initiative also on the ballot next month.

“Polls show support for his measure ebbing as election day nears. But although Brown has signed labor-backed legislation and pushed high-speed rail construction that would create union jobs, there’s only so much money to go around.”

So, tough luck, Jerry. He’s fond using Latin phrases to display his sense of superiority over us hoi polloi. After all, he went to parochial schools, not those crummy government schools he presides over.

So here’s one for him: Boni pastoris est tondere pecus non deglubere. 

Translation: It’s a good shepherd who shears his sheep [taxpayers] instead of flaying them.

Here’s another from his background as a seminarian: Nolite confidere in principibus.

Translation: Put not your faith in princes (Psalm 146:2).