Unsurprisingly, it isn’t at all terrible, in fact it’s rather good, if you look at rankings from a wide range of groups that aren’t hired by Boeing.
The first thing that has to happen to our discourse is that people stop equating unionization with “bad for business.” Yes, the bidness guys and gals (and certain newspaper owners) want everyone to think that, but that’s only because it’s easier for management to blame unions than to look in the mirror. A highly trained, skilled and well compensated work force is an asset to any region.
Sounds to me like the Labor Council is perfectly willing to entertain constructive suggestions, but I’m guessing “no strike clauses or else” may not be considered constructive. It’s called “bargaining,” not “the unions should give in because they’re unions.”
I truly do not understand why everyone on the right gets to act in their self interest and celebrate it, while anyone to the left-center who does so is vilified. I guess thirty or so years of neo-liberalism permanently reduced the capacity of traditional media and political leadership to do anything but get down on bended knee when the magic word “jobs” is incanted to protect policies that benefit only the business side of the equation.
For the umpteen millionth time, business should have a seat at the table, but problems inevitably arise as they always want to own the table, the chairs, the room and everyone in it, and then attack anyone who objects. It’s ridiculous, and hopefully labor’s new-found voice will start to plow some new ground in this state.
Forbes Magazine said we’re #3 in “Best States for Business”? Wow. LOL
That always reminds me of the whining bitches in EVERY state (most Republican) that SWEAR they have the highest taxes and are the MOST unfriendly to business (unless we let them cut business taxes and taxes for the top %). Logic would indicate only ONE state is the worst and the other 49 are better to some degree, but whatever state you live in, you’ll probably hear it’s the WORST state for business and has the highest taxes!
Reality just doesn’t get in the way of Republicans anymore. To them evolution isn’t true (just ask ALL of their Presidential candidates), the earth is 6,000 years old, and magic rules. Facts and figures will never convince them. Next time you’re in an argument with a Republican, don’t quote Forbes, just tell them Jesus came to you in a dream and said our state is good for business and has a relatively reasonable government. You can’t argue with that…unless they hate Jesus!
OMG–\
Jon DeVore posts an article by David Groves of the Washington State Labor Council (AFL-CIO) as his source for the conclusion that Washington State has a business-friendly environment!!
TOO DAMN FUNNY!!
Did you read this Puddy??
Jon is desperate.
Apparently this article by Groves means Washington is remiss in not raising taxes and imposing more anti-business regulations!
I wished I had time to research this, but are regions with businesses that make things doing better in this economy than the service areas? Off the top of my head, the Puget Sound has Kennworth, Boeing and Microsoft that make things and have well paid, often union jobs, and we are not suffering much.
Does Louisiana or Mississippi have a highly trained, skilled and well compensated work force? I don’t think and those states are usually at the bottom of state achievements. Do they make anything complex in those states?
Seems that Detroit is highly trained, skilled BUT not a well compensated work force and is fading fast.
I agree a bit with cyn, (it can happen!) As long a business can outsource itself to India, China or Alabama, the workers here cannot afford to get too arrogant and greedy.
We have the highest, or nearly highest minimum wage in the country.
The fact is, regionally, or nationally, the single biggest factor that makes for a good business climate is high paying jobs.
As well paying manufacturing jobs disappear, the business climate deteriorates.
@4 So what do we do about that?
The corporate conservatives will say “lower wages, lower taxes, lower regulations.” If that were so, states like Mississippi and Louisiana should be economic powerhouses right?
Get Protectionist?
That Mr. Cynical. Besides being a nigger hater he’s rather stupid as well.
He thinks it’s “too damn funny that” Jon links to a story by the local AFL-CIO to prove Washington is a business friendly state witout realizing the AFL-CIO used ultra conservative business people like Steve Forbes’ study.
Now that’s TOO DAMN FUNNY!!
No wonder why Puddybud hasn’t commented on the “nigger hater’s” question if he read it or not.
Hey, Mr. Cynical, I know you think
African-Americansniggers are lazy and full of bullshit, but Puddy can read and he knows who said Washington was business friendly.BTW it wasn’t the racist and homophobic BIAW.
How’s that spate working out between the BIAW and the MBA?
@3 Unions at Microsoft? What the hell have you been smoking?
GBS @ 6
Cynical thinks it is funny to cite a labor source for asserting that Washington has a good climate for business. On the other hand, do you have any doubt that he would have no trouble citing a business group source for asserting that Washington has a poor climate for business. Of course not. Cynical is never cynical when it comes to those who think like him.
Speaking of things that are business-related and terrible, did you all catch the Washington State Attorney General’s formal opinion – AGO 2009 No. 3 – that finds that the fraudulently named Worker Privacy Act is preempted by the National Labor Relations Act.
Gosh, with all this rapt attention being focused on reporting late breaking news and developments on the business-health front, I would think that the AGO opinion would have rated a post of its own by one of the HA Happy Hooligans.
Or did I miss it???
Of course, in looking at the Washington State Senators who sponsored the silly thing, it’s not surprising they made a total hash of it. For those of us who follow this stuff the illegality of the bill was as plain as the hair on a goat’s hind end. But they persisted in engaging in a wasteful and futile gesture.
So, here’s something that really makes the Washington state business climate better: AGO 2009 No. 3.
The Piper
@2: Better source than folks looking to make more money from loosened worker protections. They’d probably send children into coal mines if they could…
@9: And? The bill died, if you hadn’t heard. Not to mention that the notion that keeping employers from intimidating their workers about unionizing more smacks of thuggishness and greed than a “good business climate”.
But hey, you tell me… what exactly about this law would make the business climate better?
The answer is more education, innovation. The workers of the future will have to be able to interface with Minority Report style user interfaces. That will require a higher intelligence then one gains from a dumbed-down high school diploma.
The other solution is a McJob. Would you like to super-size your fries Sir?
demo kid – unions are so 19th century… Learn to start innovating your own mind!
12
Crusades are so Middle Ages. Perhaps you could aim for at least bringing yourself into the Age of Enlightenment. We’ll work on the 19th century later.
Hey all especially #9 piper scott, Note a similar bill to worker privacy act passed in oregon. So can’t be too illegal. Also note ceo pay went from 28% to 33% of total pay in the USA. Look at history and what happens when that trend continues, it is not pretty and cake is not always eaten.