LA Governor's Unions Assault

Jeff Landry has been governor of Louisiana over two months. Two Months may be a short time in a four-year term, but when one looks at what the governor has done after waiting eight years to sit where he currently is now, the next 45 months surely will undo what John Bel Edwards did in 8 years. Landry is as about as right-wing as other southern governors, as he told voters what his intentions were long before campaigning started, perhaps when it became known early who Republicans in Louisiana were replacing Bel Edwards. He led off with his signature message of being tough on crime, an always campaign issue that strokes voters’ passion even though crime was trickling down. He picked out several metropolitan areas in the state as to where he was going to start his “tough-on-crime” crusade that angered many residents in the cities of Shreveport and New Orleans. In a special session, the governor got many of his crime legislation bills passed/signed and made it even more easier to carry guns in the state by just about anybody who wanted a gun. We will see how much of an effect on crime that will be sometime in the future, but it astounds this writer as to how many guns there are in a so-called Christian nation. Is it “in God we trust” or in our guns. Remember, God will not share the glory with anyone/thing else whether live or inanimate. But that’s another article.

But one of the things that Landry has set his sight on should come as no surprise to many, especially working people. Landry, as governor with a super-majority conservative legislature and conservative Attorney General, will do all that he can to gut unions in an effort to further weaken them. Well, not all of them. Landry is also taking a harsh look at workers who are injured and receiving compensation for those injuries and on the most vulnerable of all—child laborers. We are living in the 21st century, aren’t we, but if things continue, conditions might be as those were a hundred years ago. Republicans have always been against unions because unions give workers a voice when no one else will speak up for them when it comes to improving working conditions. Somehow Republicans are forgetting that the American worker, no matter what profession they are in that powers this nation economically, and educationally. Some politicians need not apply. Democrats has always been on the side of the “working man/women”, whether in factories and in the classroom. But there are bills currently in Baton Rouge that will make it difficult for teachers’ union to operate. Not just teachers’ union, but all for all people who want to unionize, taking away what bargaining power that workers could have. There are bills that will severely limit how injured workers can receive compensation, as Republicans are not known for taking a strong stand when it comes to workers’ safety. There are bills that will shorten periods when disable workers can collect pay, and even limit the rate at which doctors can be paid for treating workers. Where is the balance when it comes to protecting workers whether they are injured or wanting to have the protection of a union.

But as mentioned earlier, Republicans will touch at least two unions that we know of, and those are the fire and police unions. What makes them different. Landry is being mum on that one. Bills to outlaw collective bargaining for unions would be like David fighting Goliath where the giant would win if Republicans get to have their way. But fire and police unions won’t be affected. Is there a double-standard when it comes to worker’s rights to unionize? It appears that some lawmakers will back down from challenging fire and police unions because they have become very powerful with the backing of legislation passed by—guess who, politicians. Yet they will get the behind the “law-and-order” vote card, seemingly discarding the concerns of “everyday hard-working”(teachers and others) people in the community, unlike the men/women of the fire/police departments, of which we all (teachers) depend on when it comes to protecting or backing those in unions. No, this is not about anti-union for fire/police and Landry knows this, but he is making it a political issue to secure the votes and perhaps a return trip to the Governor’s Mansion. But instead of being “for the people”, the governor appears to be showing just who the people are that he is standing for. In the world that Landry is in, it looks like Goliath will be the victor.