California Unions and Their Laws

As I’m getting more and more acquainted with the Golden State, I’m learning about many of the restrictions and guidelines that are in place here. In fact, I was on the road to Cali when I found out about the smog inspection they perform on cars. If you don’t pass the inspection, it’s quite a hefty fine, I understand. Fortunately, I have a relatively new car, so this scenario was only a brief rollercoaster of emotions, not a long Alpine ski drop. (So a quick word to the wise, if you plan on moving to California, make sure your car meets California regulations.) Anyway, perhaps the biggest change I’m adjusting to are the labor laws. Mississippi, being a right to work state, didn’t have the auspices of a union overseeing all the industries. In fact, the labor law in Mississippi goes something like this:

If you want to get paid, you’ll work!

In California, however, it’s an entirely different ballgame. There’s union breaks, union lunches, union parties, union girls, and it mandatory to take part in all of them (except the girls, unfortunately). It’s effectiveness is all in the timing, I think. On one hand, getting a required breather can be heaven sent sometimes, but at other times you may almost be finished with project, and then have to leave it for 10-15 minutes because of an annoying, required break.

So after living in two states who have completely opposite approaches to this, the question is are unions essential? Some claim they’re an antiquated idea from the Depression era that have become corrupt and powerdrunk, the most recent example in Cali being the SEIU spending scandal, rather than benefiting the people. However, it is good to know that you won’t be slave driven at your workplace either, and there are good entitlements for members of particular unions.

My personal observation is the moment the Internet exploded, that was the beginning of the end for organizations won’t abandon conventional ways, which will soon include unions at large. It may not be in the next year or two, but eventually they will be ousted and replaced by something; I know not what. Perhaps the apocalypse will happen soon. Then we’ll have all the break time we need, right?