Public sector unions for non-businesses - should they exist?

[Argus]

In the private sector, however, they are becoming irrelevant.When you have a Unionized employee that will grieve being asked to do anything above and beyond their role they will not be able to compete with other, more flexible employees.

Your storehouse of cliche's is apparently nearly limitless.

[Boges]

Right. And that has what relationship to them having more unions? Germany and the Nordic countries have very low unemployment.

You said Spain, Greece and Italy have better working conditions. Is that because they can take naps in the middle of the day?

[Boges]

BTW what is the Union Membership rate in Germany? Google tells me it's dropped greatly in the last 20 years.

http://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/jopoec/v24y2011i1p141-165.html

[Michael Hardner]

In the private sector, however, they are becoming irrelevant.When you have a Unionized employee that will grieve being asked to do anything above and beyond their role they will not be able to compete with other, more flexible employees.

You asked what they have done lately - which I responded to. Then you say "they are becoming irrelevant" effectively changing the subject from "why might they be needed" to "what are some of the disadvantages of unions".

Of course there are disadvantages to the employer, but your example doesn't quite make sense. Moving on...

[Pliny]

Right. And that has what relationship to them having more unions? Germany and the Nordic countries have very low unemployment.

The more socialist the lower the unemployment, it seems. The USSR had zero unemployment. Dispenser of toilet paper in the apartment building where you lived was a great job. No commuting and I think there was one deputy per floor at the end of the hall where the bathroom was.

It is very difficult to get hired in Germany because you can't be fired. Do you know how many people live off the State in Nordic countries just doing the work of the State?

I don't know how well you can depend upon employment statistics. The US for example doesn't count many of its unemployed.

[Michael Hardner]

The more socialist the lower the unemployment, it seems. The USSR had zero unemployment. Dispenser of toilet paper in the apartment building where you lived was a great job. No commuting and I think there was one deputy per floor at the end of the hall where the bathroom was.

It is very difficult to get hired in Germany because you can't be fired. Do you know how many people live off the State in Nordic countries just doing the work of the State?

I don't know how well you can depend upon employment statistics. The US for example doesn't count many of its unemployed.

Exactly. And because we live in binary world, let`s be clear: zero taxes is the only other option !

[Argus]

The more socialist the lower the unemployment, it seems. The USSR had zero unemployment. Dispenser of toilet paper in the apartment building where you lived was a great job. No commuting and I think there was one deputy per floor at the end of the hall where the bathroom was.

Are you seriously trying to compare the economy and society in Sweden and Germany to the Soviet Union? You CAN'T be that ignorant.