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Christian Dorsey of the Economic Policy Institute and James Sherk of the Heritage Foundation on the role unions will play in the 2012 elections.
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Chicago teacher's union has set a date to strike Monday September 10.
-- goal was about to begin an S&P has downgraded the state of Illinois after failure to reach a deal on public pension reform.
The city unions is playing a big role in the presidential campaign joining me now Christian Dorsey in the economic policy institute and James shark senior policy analyst at The Heritage Foundation gentlemen thanks -- hare Krishna wanna start with -- on the simple question.
Is the labor votes going to be crucial come November.
-- absolutely is crucial -- always is and will continue to be despite the fact that no we have people were covered by unions that at their lowest levels.
The unions are are very much important to.
Get out the vote efforts in not only the national picture but also in key.
Swing states and they will continue to play that role.
Even though it's diminished its overall state it's dolby critical for the outcome of this election.
All right let me ask this -- James -- 37 in 2011 sevenths like point six million people in the public sector -- unions have point two million.
And the private sector what do you make of it do you think that that's going to be commercial come November.
Well I think it explains why the union movement has changed so much.
Most of their members now work in government -- you usually think of a union member a big say on the assembly line.
But there's -- twice as many union members and post office -- in the entire auto industry.
Then this is why unions are always campaigning now for more government spending and always against tax cuts both in the private sector I mean -- they endorsed they 63 Kennedy tax -- But remember -- government we don't want lower taxes you don't want less bad thing because that means less money for your members since.
It explains I think the union movement politics mother always -- pushing for higher taxes on.
On working Americans in the private sector.
We don't Christian one of the things that we saw the kid I was fascinated to watch and it comes to unions and politics what is what happened up in Wisconsin with Scott Walker.
I mean that as a -- referendum I would think against the unions and that he you know they try to get him out of office he is still in office Chris Chris -- -- in Jersey went after the teachers.
Big speech this week -- the RNC stated that the tide is changing and that tide is going against the unions.
Well you know you you can only look at the numbers and and clearly see that our unions and labor are swimming up against claim but I wouldn't read too much into those.
Particular instances to -- And overall anti union bias certainly people were in positions of political power of a very clear anti union bias to the detriment.
All of the workers who elected them and who residing their communities in my opinion.
But I don't think we can draw any larger meeting.
Behind the descendants of Chris Christie or or Scott Walker you know he won.
-- he recall vote it was fairly close and us something that was relatively unprecedented and I think the -- -- it.
Showed how unpopular.
His anti union activities in Wisconsin work.
I just -- certainly is not the most popular guy in New Jersey.
What all and he's still the gallery -- AME James did you respond about because frankly I mean this New Jersey that we're talking about.
Chris Christie I mean at the back they get elected in -- part.
Plays with a big deal.
Think he's the most popular New Jersey politician in the past twenty years the media Scott Walker won by a larger margin many did the first time around.
What is showing I think it's a lot of taxpayers.
I have both the Republicans and Democrats are taking a look at what the government unions are due to the state finances -- -- saying we can't afford this anymore.
We need the government be more efficient and less expensive we can't have leave the government unions -- picking the pockets of the working families.
Christian states are broke I mean that's the simple you know -- a simple line here Christian states had huge problems and many blame.
The unions.
Yeah unfairly unfairly you know there is a disconnect in American society where people are are increasingly believing that government employees unionized or not.
Are.
Are just drawing a paycheck and not performing any services the link between.
Services that workers perform.
Has been lost and this anti government sentiment is.
Encapsulated.
Union workers and that's an unfair unfair circumstance of our times but once people really think about it.
And realize that there is a direct link between the services that they.
Either enjoy yeah granted.
An education we're talking library occupations and and we're not talking about.
You know it's the coal mining -- workers were talking about -- -- -- -- go back to teach the not to beat up on teachers but.
You know this the types of jobs that are unionize they think -- were -- -- kind of a change in the thinking of the American public Christian.
What -- -- and it's one of the things Searle that I struggle with because most people identify even Mitt Romney education is the key to America's future investing.
In education being the key to moving us forward.
Yet when it comes to the very people who deliver that education there is a policy sense it's inconsistent sure and I think it's just because people are.
Are very much worried at this point about -- overall economic state and you know it becomes easy to target public employee I.
I want to have you both backed out of the debate on this exact story this is been really fun to talked about the -- -- Christian D'Arcy James shirt gentlemen thank you very much.
Have a good labor direct -- today.
