Randy wrote on Oct 25, 2005 9:16 PM:California Assemblyman Ray Haynes says, "Government employees make about 25 percent more than their private sector counterparts, and get benefits that are without equal in the private sector." But during the last 25 years, private sector corporations like Wal-Mart have cut wages and benefits for their workers to the bone. This economic scorced-earth policy is why government employees' wages and benefits have comparably improved.

Marcus wrote on Oct 25, 2005 10:39 PM:Bravo, Ray Haynes! It is about time that a politician told it like it is regarding the unions. Remember, when you have union officials sitting on both sides of the negotiating table, the tax-payers always lose.

Michael D wrote on Oct 26, 2005 8:52 AM:Using mandatory dues money, the unions buy votes from the Democrat controlled legislature, which then raises taxes on us real working people in order to hire more government union employees and pay them more than the real working people make. In doing so, the union bosses get more membership dues revenue with which to further corrupt Democrat politicians and rip off the real working people. In effect, then, the private sector is actually working for the government, and more particularly, the unions. I suspect that Marx and Stalin would be very proud.

Steven wrote on Oct 27, 2005 6:56 AM:"Assembllman Haynes expresses a lot of anger in his piece. I am a retired teacher, and union member, and proud of it. Contray to the Assemblyman's statement, public schools are NOT run by the unions, but rather by elected school boards. His statement about stealing money from members makes no sense. Union employees can opt out of having political payments deducted from their salaries. Union members are citizens also, entitled to express their opinions on government issues and policies. I assume the Assemblyman is against the corporate donations and lobbying that also goes on in California, which benefits the Republican party. If the Assemblyman had ever worked in a public school, he would be well aware of the pettiness and harassment that teachers can be subjected to by vindictive principals. Can you please stop using the word "Democrat" as if it were a disease ? Thank you. "

Greg wrote on Oct 27, 2005 6:57 AM:"Who do unions benefit? “Just why do we have government employee unions?” Assemblyman Mr. Ray Haynes asks. We don’t have to go back to the days of the robber barons, or reexamine the fire at the Triangle Shirt Factory of 1911 to answer Assemblyman Haynes. We can focus on more recent events. In order to get California working again Governor Schwarzenegger has proposed moving the state’s share of pension costs down to local agencies. He has proposed increasing the nurse patient ratio to unrealistic, and according to some, unsafe levels. He has moved to reduce the survival benefits for family members of police and firefighters who have fallen in the line of duty. He has taken two billion dollars away from our public schools and is on the cusp of taking more. In every instance, it has been the public employee unions who have stood up to the Governor to protect their own rights, as well as the rights, safety and education of the citizens of California. Actually Mr. Haynes, we have government employee unions because we can’t always depend on our elected officials to do what is right for the working people in this state. Who do unions benefit, Mr. Haynes?

Republic Rocker wrote on Nov 5, 2005 10:07 AM:Unions are not progressive nor beneficial to the general populous. The Union Boss's are wielding too much power in the lives of avergae citizen's who work just as hard in the private sector as the government sector. Riding the taxpayer to retirement is unfair. It has to stop. The great stae of California is in decline under the weight of pension and state worker debt. Support Arnold in his effort to SAVE OUR STATE!