Comments

1
Isn't it Amazon's practices they are reacting to? It's not 'anti-Amazon.' It's becoming the 'everything' store and then using some questionable practices with the competition and it suppliers.
2
I'm a little confused having only worked in a few unionized workplaces (cashiers' and carpenters/joiners'). What is an example of a job where an employee is made to pay union dues but is considered a non-member? Is this case about something bigger than these "fair share" fees?
3
@2- As I understand it, nonmembers are those people who work in jobs where there is a union but who don't want to be members of that union. They are required to pay the same union dues as the members even though they don't want to. I can see both sides on this one. They are theoretically getting the same working conditions as the union members, so I get that. On the other hand, if I had some reason that I didn't want to be in a particular organization, I'd probably be pretty pissed that they could still take part of my paycheck anyway.
4
@2, 3 is almost right. This is an attack on unions that can be twisted to sound fair, but ultimately all workers are harmed. A union has an obligation to represent all employees in a bargaining unit, whether they are members or not. In some states unions are prohibited from requiring all employees are either dues paying members or pay a representation fee. This is what is called "Right to Work" or more accurately "Right to Work For Less" In these states, these non-members can freeload and the union can get in trouble with the DOL for discriminating against non-members. In all of these states unions are almost vanishing.

This representation fee is just for activities of the union that benefit members and non-members alike. Political contributions are not allowed in the accounting that calculates this non-member fee. In states like WA non-members have to pay this fee to work. In right to work states like ID, non members don't have to pay anything.

This is like if we made the toll on 520 optional. Everyone who uses it would be glad it was there. A few users would pay because they were fair people. Most users would rationalize why they didn't need to pay. As fewer and fewer people pay, the cost to those that do becomes increasingly expensive.

In ID wages have fallen way behind WA since they became a right to work state. The promised economic boost that people were promised never came. Now Republicans have absolute control of their State Legislature, and the right to work for less laws will never be repealed.
5
Thanks for the response @3/4
6
If there's one thing French consumers don't need, it's free delivery on discounted books.

I mean, seriously, it's one thing to want discounted books, but free delivery too? Jesus fucking Christ!
7
Amazon.fr announces 1 penny shipping on discounted books. /s
8
You forgot to mention that Massachusetts has a tip credit, and AFTER this wage hike is enacted, it goes up to -- wait for it -- $3.75 an hour.

So Forward Seattle's $12.50 without tip credit proposal was actually MORE LIBERAL THAN MASSACHUSETTS. But they're a "fringe conservative group." Ha.
9
@7 (yes, that's me)

Called it.
http://mashable.com/2014/07/11/amazon-pe…

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