Grandfather Clause, he ain't no Santa

[WingDinger]

All the loss the middle class is supposed to suck up, is wrapped in a pretty enough package called a grandfather clause. Don't worry your pretty little heads, it is not you that will lose. Just the poor schmuck thru the door after you.

Don't fall for it. I was there when the tactic was invented. Fedmart had a sweetheart union contract. We were told that it wouldn't affect us. Well, in short order, all those grandfathered into the old rates and benefits, were soon gone. That is the tactic of those wishing to revamp the American dream. SS, Medicare/cal on and on are promised to not be affected, unless you are unfortunate enough to be born into America 2.0! Those in that camp, are too young to vote or protest. They depend on us, if they are to live lives of any dignity. Should we allow the young to be thrown to the wolves, it is us that will be eaten. And we will deserve it. Just as standing up for the rights of foreigners will protect us. So far, I don't believe we are getting that truth. Oh, it is just illegals. Oh, it is just those over payed teachers and other criminal wage Government types. Not, they are we. You is I. The sooner we get that, the less we will face their real death panels. No safety net, and no wisp of job prospect, and you will be dead, all the same.

Should we stand up for those unfortunate, we are to be blamed for ruining them, and padding our Dem voter roles, just like now. These are the times that will declare us wise and brave, or ignorant and shortsighted. Hiding will get you nothing but blindsided.

Lets roll.

[demodonkey]

1. Yes, PA is cutting its pensions for new teachers and new state hires...

...the claim is that current retirees and those already hired won't be affected; the cuts are only for "new" people. In the meantime, teachers being laid off right and left here in PA.

I am not paid for what I currently do, and with only low-wage Social Security past earnings (and the coming cuts in Social Security) plus perhaps a small pension from my union (if it stays solvent) I am not in good shape for the future.

I expect that when the time comes I won't even be able to afford my own Catfood. I guess they'll just call in the Death Panel for me.

:-(

[SoCalDem]

2. Pitting old vs new-hires is a "valuable" tactic for union-busters to use

It sets up an immediate "other-ness" of some people within the same workplace. These new-hires have an immediate resentment when they realize that there are people in their workplace who are making more than they will ever make, just because they signed on under a "newer" contract ...a worse contract..

Meeting payroll becomes a nasty little game..nastier than ever. The "newer" who are making less will be getting extra shifts and more of these cheaper people means less overtime for the more experienced/more expensive people. Less money spent on payroll, means more profit.

Making work more angst-filled and less lucrative, added to nitpicking and bosses eager to write people up for things that used to be no biggie, leads to more and more experienced/higher-paid workers being pushed out.

[WingDinger]

3. And temps.

[SoCalDem]

4. and outside-sales people who take over stocking duties.

and switching departments from clerks' duties to gen merch. They siphon hours from the more experienced to the lesser paid ones, and through attrition, they eventually end up with people who don;t know a whole lot.

[remember2000forever]

5. Airlines, Back in the day.... RE: Flt. Attendants

Airlines paid a decent, good, wage. And we Flt Attendants worked our butts off. Then.....Airlines created "B Scale" for flight attendants. Kids who they knew would want to get travel benefits, signed on in droves. We, old timers, worked side by side with them. Those of us old timers, who got the job with language qualifications, Jr.and Sr. College Degrees, and in the stupid old days, had to pass many interviews in leotards. (Yes! It was sexist!)were slowly watching our Unions dismantle. I once got paid much more than these kids did and even more than a teaching job. It was not pretty seeing these kids bring home left-over passenger meals. Then, eventually, the Airlines tried to dismantle the Unions, and then example,(Pan Am) went out of business, and we were all out in the cold. Union caused this? No! Government Deregulation! So... did we Wanna work for another airline? Merge? With NO UNION? Some of the smart ones did. And the "Old Timers" are still there. But now "C" scale is the norm.

Geez, Flt Attendants used to qualify for food stamps, in New York, with "B" scale! How are the "C" scale surviving?

But......Now, I kinda envy them. No more serving 4 course meals. They are now just Policemen.

[WingDinger]

6. OMG, read the wiki on it

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandfather_clause

[demodonkey]

7. Yeah, the term "grandfathering" has a pretty horrible origin.

All going back to elections and civil rights.