A Union/Sports Story

[MoseyWalker]

I like it! (I can't get the link to work. Sorry. Any ideas?)

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=A9FJqK_bpuNEywQAUwM5nYcB?slug=jp-verlander081606&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

He talks like a kid raised on the principles of Local 2201, and maybe that's because Justin Verlander spent countless hours in a stroller on picket lines. His father, Richard, was the president of the Communication Workers of America union in Richmond, Va., and foolish is the group that doesn't trot out children to curry sympathy.

There is something about union kids, a savvy borne of every shop's code of togetherness. It's why at 23 years old, in his rookie season, Justin Verlander talks about the Major League Baseball Players Association, long considered one of the nation's strongest unions, if not the most formidable, in reverential terms instead of asking why his paycheck gets docked $40 a day for dues.

"The people before me worked hard to get what we have now in the system," Verlander said. "If you don't take advantage of that and learn and realize what the previous guys went through to get where we are now, you can't appreciate it."

Oh, how his dad loves to hear that. Richard Verlander works for the CWA national now, and to see his boy stump for a union like that – well, it feels almost as good as watching him pitch.

more ----

[demosincebirth]

1. I've been a union man all of my life and

I don't consider the MLBPA, or its over payed members, anywhere near a "Labor" union. To do so would insult the working men and women of this country who sacrifice, day in and day out, to support their families.

[MoseyWalker]

2. Well

It is a Union, and collective bargaining is what gives power to the individuals, and I personally don't care what they do for a living - I'm proud of the ethic and the thought processes behind it.

I don't know what union you belong to, but I am happy that you do, and hope they continue to work for you and your coworkers. I'm pleased to know that there are still those who proudly work for unions, wherever and whatever they are.

I salute you. :patriot:

[demosincebirth]

3. I stand by what I sad,

I never met any working man/women that felt any different

[MoseyWalker]

4. They do make way too much money

and the negotiations between agents and teams is ridiculous. I get turned off of sports sometimes for that reason. The unbelieveable money transactions.

I guess I'm just looking at the basics of the story, and the meanings behind it.

I stand by what I said too!

:patriot:

[demosincebirth]

7. I equate the MLBPA to a union for corporate CEO's

[seg4527]

5. yeah, those players sure gotta stick together

or they might have to sell one of their mansions or something *roll eyes*

[MoseyWalker]

6. I'm looking at it from a simpler perspective

the idea behind it that has all but disappeared in this walmart world.

collective bargaining is what made the middle class.

I refuse to belittle the poor little rich kids that collectively bargain for millions, because if I do, I think it makes the idea behind it suspect.

You do know that liberal is a bad word these days also? I'm certain there are many making millions who consider themselves liberal.

Why belittle an idea? I say stand behind the idea so that more are able to benefit.

could be just me. I don't know.

[elehhhhna]

8. 40 bucks a day in dues tells me all I need to know

the country club is cheaper