Re: Why Get an Education?



"Jerry Okamura" <okamuraj005@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1138209908-sch@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
> I would think if the wages the union is able to get for their workers
> is the
> measure, that the longshoreman and concrete truck drivers union is
> stronger.
[snip]
> As for who has more
> muscle, if
> the definition of "muscle" is the effect on the economy, then in the
> short
> term it would have to be first the longshoremen, since they can
> cripple
> the
> entire economy of the State, to a lesser degree the concrete drivers,
> since
> all they do is cripple construction.

Jerry - I think at this point you have a very plausible answer to the
question you pose. A couple of observations:

1. The wages/salaries you decry are negotiated not by the individuals
themselves, but by the respective unions....no?

2. The number one, hands down, no questions asked revenue producer in
the
islands is not education...but tourism. Like, if the teachers went on
strike, how long before the state economy goes down the tubes? And
if the
ILWU went on strike? The Teamsters?

3. This wage/salary situation is not a free market. Instead, it is
one in
which entry is - as far as I know - tightly controlled. Not everyone
who
wants to be a longshoreman can become a longshoreman just by showing
up for
work. Ditto the concrete truck driver and the teacher. Not like
applying
for a clerical position at WalMart or Longs. So if you agree with me on
this issue of controlled entry...who/what is the controlling entry
[the one
that sets entry criteria as well as decides upon applicant entry] in
each
situation? My take (could be wrong):
longshoreman - ILWU
concrete truck driver - Teamsters
teacher - State of Hawaii

> So, I guess you are saying that the longshoremen get paid what they do
> is
> because they have more "muscle"?

Good pun.

.