GigsVT's Journal: Libertarian: Yes, Union: No

Recently I've picked up a new raft of foes for posting some anti-union flamebait. Some questioned how a free-market Libertarian could be against labor unions.

While people do have a right to free speech, and free association, those rights are limited in some cases. An example, collusion is illegal. Even though people that run companies have a right to free association, that doesn't give them a right to form an alliance to fix prices.

Some Libertarians see nothing wrong with monopolies or collusion, but that doesn't seem like much of a free market to me. Free markets are about rational choices that bring mutual benefit. If there's no choice, there's no free market.

So you might see where I'm going with this. If labor unions are allowed to form, and protected under the law, it's basically putting a blessing on the monopolization and collusion of labor.

Workers sell thier labor to the companies they work for. Allowing them to practice price fixing, bundling, supplier lock-in.. Those things are most definitely not free market ideas.

In the end, everyone loses as unions drive companies out of business that can no longer compete with companies not crippled by unions.

Re:

[account_deleted]

Comment removed based on user account deletion

Re:Conversely

[gmhowell]

Collusions don't matter so long as they aren't enforced. If you can only work for a company if you are a union member (and/or have to pay union dues, er, negotiation fees), then it works against a free market. Same thing with companies; if only OPEC is allowed to sell oil, it works against a free market.

BUT, if you are allowed to go outside the organization, there is no change. Let's say the UAW requires GM to pay $75/hr for a widget polisher. Well, I think $50/hr for widget polishing is enough. I go to GM

I'd consider myself a libertarian...

[shepd]

And I'm against most forms of union. For two reasons, really. The first being that unions, as they are set up in my country, once they are formed, are *required* membership in that company. Looking at libertarianism from the opinion that free association is a necessity, not a pleasantry, it's pretty obvious that is wrong.

My second reason is because I have personally been screwed over by a required membership union for thousands of dollars (Ann Wallace of OPSEU, I'm a skeleton in your closet, and one day

But...

[elmegil]

If labor unions are allowed to form, and protected under the law, it's basically putting a blessing on the monopolization and collusion of labor.

Isn't the creation of a corporation just a different kind of union?