Anti-union ads (The Center for Union Facts) target state workers

[Omaha Steve]

FULL STORY: http://www.lsj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060824/NEWS01/608240350/1001/news&template=printart



Anti-union ads target state workers
Campaign blaming unions for high wages outrages members

By Chris Andrews
Lansing State Journal

A Washington-based group is waging an aggressive advertising campaign suggesting that government and public school workers are overpaid and that unions are to blame.

The Center for Union Facts has been advertising in newspapers and on television in cities in Michigan, Oregon, Nevada and Montana.

Full-page ads ran in the Lansing State Journal on Sunday, as well as in today's newspaper.

The ad features a menacing-looking woman glaring with a "Michigan Government Office" sign behind her. " 'Service' Like This Doesn't Come Cheap," the ad's headline asserts.

[Nikki Stone 1]

1. Teachers are OVERpaid?!!

Oh my god!

I'd like to see these PR whores try ONE day in an LA Unified school. Just one.

[bronxiteforever]

2. I bet the people who wrote the ad and backed the ad make plenty

of money and live in large houses and bemoan the fact that social security exists
here is more-Source: USA Today, July 31, 2006

Rick Berman, the corporate lobbyist and front group king who runs Berman and Co. is probably smiling all the way to the bank, no doubt enjoying a prominent profile in USA Today headlined "Got a nasty fight? Here's your man." The article quotes Berman's critics, including CMD's John Stauber who says "He obviously has made a very monetarily successful career out of bashing, smearing and attacking environmentalists... He's perfected the art of the personal attack and the personal smear. We know from political campaigns that it is a very effective device." Most public figures would cringe, but for Berman the piece is simply good advertising and will probably win him more corporate clients who pay him to be their high-profile attack dog while they stay hidden from scrutiny or responsibility. The USA Today article continues, "He seldom mentions his clients ... and he represents them through a variety of non-profit groups he has set up. His targets range from Mothers Against Drunk Driving to the Ralph Nader-founded Center for Science in the Public Interest, which works on food issues, to labor unions." The article notes that Berman now has a staff of 28 and an annual budget of $10 million dollars, but "only Berman and his bookkeeper/wife know for sure what he makes."

[Bluzmann57]

3. Since State workers are paid via taxes

What would this Center for (so called) Union Facts do with all the savings they'd like to have? Wait, I know I know! They want to pocket it while the hard working Union Brothers and Sisters starve. Fuck that right wing piece of shit outfit.

[Monkeyman]

4. yep and what you said oh my lol

[LostinVA]

16. Many State workers don't get any raises many years

and, when they do, it is 2-4%. MAYBE. Getting one 3% raise every two -three years doesn't really keep your head above water. And, hiring freezes mean you do more work for less pay... and can't even get promoted because of the freeze.

[hollowdweller]

5. Unions should picket the TV stations that show them. Boycott sponsors

We've got to fight back. Before long they will be contracting all those jobs out and illegals will be doing them at $4 an hr.

[Blue_Tires]

6. well....i hope those anti-union fuckers never lose THEIR jobs!

[iverglas]

7. it doesn't seem to have its own web site

and no wonder:

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Center_for_Union_Facts

In May 2006 the Center for Union Facts, launched its first TV ad campaign. The 30-second spot
http://www.unionfacts.com/ads/downloads/tv_unionBosses.wmv,
running on Fox News and local markets, has "actors posing as workers" saying "sarcastically what they 'love' about unions," like paying dues, union leaders' "fat-cat lifestyles," and discrimination against minorities. The ad campaign cost $3 million, which was raised "from companies, foundations and individuals that Mr. Berman won't identify."

Oops, it does:

http://www.unionfacts.com

Hey, you can make a contribution.

That first link has everything you'd ever want to know, though, and links if that isn't enough.

Sarah Longwell, spokesperson for the org --> Intercollegiate Studies Institute --> Collegiate Network. Bells?

http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Collegiate_Network

The Collegiate Network - "the home of conservative college journalism" - a part of the Intercollegiate Studies Institute, provides assistance including funding and ideological direction to more than 70 conservative student newspapers in the United States.

Back to unionfacts:

The paper reported that while Wal-Mart Stores denied funding the group it stated that "it has a relationship in which it exchanges union information with Berman, the group's head."

[Gman]

8. The teachers kicked the Terminator's ass over this last year

Michigan's a good union state. Some people are just plain stupid.

[The Anti-Neo Con]

9. Ahh the old Center for Union Facts.

These bastards think EVERYONE should be working for $5.15 an hour, or even less.:mad:

[PinkyisBlue]

10. First they came for the factory workers,

but I wasn't a factory worker, so I stood by and watched.

Next they came for the middle managers,
but I wasn't a manager, so I stood by and watched.

Then they came for the school teachers and public school employees,
but I didn't work in the schools, so I stood by and watched.

Later they came for unionized government employees,
but I wasn't a government worker, so I stood by and watched....

[jaybeat]

11. Same folks ran full page ad in Oregonian newspaper

Very offensive... The paper got (and printed) some nice reponses from some angry readers:

http://www.oregonlive.com/letters/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/editorial/115637552876740.xml&coll=7

Funny, too, how when I went to the DMV not long ago, I got what I considered to be terrific customer service. Not so if I have a problem at a bank, or an electronics store, or... But of course, the private sector always does things better than our dreaded....government. Or so these freeks would like us to think.

[Blue_Tires]

12. welcome to the site!

[brentspeak]

14. One of the letter-writers provided some info on the anti-union group:

"Oregonians should know that this is not a local group (just look at the phone number at the bottom of the ad). It is headed by right-wing lobbyist Rick Berman, who, according to the Center for Media and Democracy, "has built a lucrative career establishing industry-funded front groups" that bash whatever group might make life difficult for those industries (www.prwatch.org/node/4458)."


(my bold above)

[newyawker99]

18. Hi jaybeat!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[brentspeak]

13. This is a GOP operative group that wants to undermine

traditional Democratic constituencies. In this case, they're seeking to pit municipal union employees against private industry union employees. It's 100% about attacking the Democratic party, 100% politics.

[madville]

15. Most of the teachers here make

Most of the public school teachers here make between $30,000-$60,000 depending on years of service and they will retire on 50% salary after about 30 years. Not great but they aren't really starving either especially if they are in a two-income family which most I know are.

Teacher pay and class size are big issues with the state elections here this year. Cops, nurses, firefighters, prison guards, etc. should make more money also, teachers always seem to get the most attention though. I always want to ask how much exactly would be enough ?

[w4rma]

17. Join a union and you can be "overpaid" too. (nt)

[Name removed]

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