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https://www.nationalreview.com/2024/04/failing-pensions-expose-union-mismanagement/

Failing Pensions Expose Union Mismanagement
Union members cheer during a rally held by the American Federation of
State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) at MacArthur Park in Los
Angeles, Calif., June 20, 2012.
AFSCME union members cheer during a rally at MacArthur Park in Los
Angeles, Calif., in 2012.(Jonathan Alcorn/Reuters)
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By ISABEL BLANK
April 25, 2024 6:30 AM
27 Comments
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The trend of unions’ growing pension liabilities poses a significant
threat to their viability and effectiveness as advocates for workers.
Unions have historically been viewed as staunch defenders of workers'
rights and collective-bargaining power. However, recent developments
have cast a shadow over this perception, as an increasing number of
unions are in dire financial straits, largely attributed to ballooning
pension liabilities.

The recent turmoil within the American Federation of State, County and
Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 13 in Pennsylvania, for example,
serves as a stark reminder of the endemic issues plaguing many unions.
The union's descent into financial chaos, combined with AFSCME
International’s administrative oversight, lays bare a troubling reality
of mismanagement and fiscal irresponsibility that calls into question
unions' efficacy ...

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27 Comments
ISABEL BLANK is the senior communications director of Americans for Fair
Treatment, a national nonprofit that educates public employees about
their rights in a unionized workplace.

TexicanPilotTeacher
2h
This is the $20 trillion elephant in every state house and every union.
Solution? Transfer all the liability to the federal govt.

For free. Which accelerates inflation.

Only the first few pensions that default will get this golden plan
treatment. So, default early, default often!

JEFFREYSGOLDBERG
4h
Unions exist for two purposes: to enrich union leaders and to drive
employers into bankruptcy.

robertfisher83
5h
At a time when many average Americans are concerned about how they will
afford their own retirements, how well do you suppose they will react to
the notion that their tax dollars may be used to bail out the pensions
of bureaucrats? While some commentators have mentioned politicians'
commercials going on about all they do to protect union pensions, what
will happen when these politicians realize this might not be playing
well with voters who will be paying for, not benefiting from, pension
rescues? "No bailouts for bureaucrats!" could have potency as a campaign
slogan.

3
sonofasailor35
5h
Who allowed these unions to take over responsibility for pensions in the
first place? That responsibility is normally the employer's job. I'm
sure the employer was happy to offload it to the unions, but that
transfer of responsibility is in itself a huge red flag warning of
corruption. In cases like the Teamsters, where employees routinely work
for many different employers, it may make sense to have a single entity
handling pensions, but this should be firmly regulated and not allowed
where it isn't necessary.

2
artboy
5h
Son, why is any entity, other than yourself, responsible for your
pension or retirement?

1
stevieduke
5h
Not to worry. The libercrats will move to forgive pension liabilities &
enact a huge bailout for taxpayers to pay.