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WI Capitol Blocks Pro-Union Web Site

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the because-they-can dept.

ISoldat53 writes "State government workers are unable to connect to a pro-union web site, defendwisconsin.org, from the wifi at the state capitol." Someone probably should let Hillary Clinton know.

6 of 377 comments (clear)

  1. If you are at work by ColdWetDog · · Score: 5, Insightful

    You're supposed to be working. Not doing political stuff. While it's a dick move, I rather doubt it's a first amendment violation or the end of the world (as is suggested by TFA).

    --
    Faster! Faster! Faster would be better!
    1. Re:If you are at work by mathmathrevolution · · Score: 5, Insightful

      He's censored the website because he finds it a political hazard; that's obviously a free speech issue. His behavior is evidently not about worker productivity since: 1) If the State Capitol wanted to increase worker productivity, they would block ESPN, not a pro-labor site. 2) It's perfectly acceptable to surf the web during one's OSHA mandated break. The only reason to block the site is a crude attempt to impede the pro-labor movement.

    2. Re:If you are at work by cptdondo · · Score: 5, Informative

      Before you spout, do your homework. While government jobs are good for people in relatively low-skilled jobs, most government workers are paid less than equivalent civil sector workers. The divergence grows as you get more experience and seniority. Show me one job in the civil sector where you run a department or bureau with 500 employees and make less than $150K.

      I'm not especially pro-union, but without unions government workers would be subject to the whim of every politician out there.

      Lastly, union activity is typically specifically allowed on government networks provided it is outside of work hours. So it's legal on lunch breaks, before and after work, etc. Union organizers are allowed to use government networks to disseminate information essential to the union members.

      Governments also have strict limits on curtailing speech.

      So it's a dick move, that violates employer-employee trust, and most likely the first amendment and union agreements.

    3. Re:If you are at work by cptdondo · · Score: 5, Insightful

      "most government workers are paid less than equivalent civil sector workers"

      Bull. Shit.

      Do your own homework. Why let facts get in the way of your lie?

      http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/ecec.pdf

      Page 1. Look at the plots on page 1. Total comp from State & local is $10/hr more than private or Civilian.

      If you actually read that report (ie went beyond the pictures):

      Compensation cost levels in state and local government should not be directly compared with levels in
      private industry. Differences between these sectors stem from factors such as variation in work
      activities and occupational structures. Manufacturing and sales, for example, make up a large part of
      private industry work activities but are rare in state and local government. Management, professional,
      and administrative support occupations (including teachers) account for two-thirds of the state and local
      government workforce, compared with two-fifths of private industry.

      Second, according to a recent study at the University of Wisconsin/Milwaukee, education level is higher among government workers than peer private sector, so your comment of "government jobs are good for people in relatively low-skilled jobs" makes me think you're either making everything up or worse, people in government are reaching for jobs not to their ability yet wanting to be paid like they are working to their ability.

      Actually it's the opposite. A lot of government workers have education and experience beyond the level required for the job, and while using it aren't getting compensated for it. We get people with masters degrees applying for technician jobs that require an associates or 2 years experience.

      Anyway, government jobs are cushy in a recession, and crap in boom times. If government jobs are so well paid and so great, go ahead and apply for one. In a year or so, there will be plenty of openings that no one will want because private sector will pay more.

    4. Re:If you are at work by overlordofmu · · Score: 5, Insightful

      By employers, do you mean rich executives with multi-million dollar homes, vacation homes, more cars that I have digits and really big boats?

      You are right! Those good old boys work damn hard for their exteme wealth. How dare we, the relatively weak, the relatively poor, organize to make sure the wealthy do not divide us and exploit us.

      I mean it isn't like there is a history of employers abusing workers in the USA.

      No one dies from workplace poisoning : http://www.mindfully.org/Health/Chips-Cause-Leukemia.htm
      Consumers in the USA wouldn't buy a product from a company that assfucks the people that make their gadget: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/feb/22/chinese-workers-apple-nhexane-poisoning
      Big business in the USA is good to its employees: http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2007/06/11/100060613/index.htm

      Good god-damn, do not get me started about 19th and 20th century abuses world wide. The industrial revolution has been a violent battle ground for the poor trying to make a living in a world owned by a minority. The minorty holds the vast bulk of the wealth while the majority pays rent to them just to have a place to sleep without being arrested for loitering.

      Remind me again why you are kissing the ass of the rich?

      I remember. You think you will get a big pile of money by cheerleading capitalism. Here is a interesting idea; let me know what you think:
      Insteading designing economic systems built on the idea of unending growth (despite the limited nature of Earth) where the money forms pools around corporations and big pools have leverage to control smaller pools, what if instead we designed economic systems that ecourage money to flow and spread to areas where it best supported society as a whole and not indivials. What if the natural tendency of money was to diffuse and not to coalesce? But you believe this is impossible don't you? You have been taught to attack this concept as naive, haven't you?


      But, if I have you pegged right, you are the kind of guy that really wants a shiny car and a big house you can only use 1/4 of even when your whole family is home. Right and wrong don't matter because your are from the USA and everyone there knows unchecked capitalism is good for everyone. And you cannot get that sort of extreme wealth without someboy else doing shit work (assembling your iPhone) being paid next to nothing so your company (like Apple) can see the profit. See how that works? They work hard, and die for you. Fuck yes! That rocks for you. You pay them shit and all the profit is yours. You don't get rich paying workers a living wage, now do you? Fuck the little guy! You need a BIG car, and a BIG house. And as the poor guy in on the other side of the planet you don't even need to see the poverty that helps to fill your wallet because he is in China. WIN-WIN!

      Now tell me: Do you own an iPhone?

    5. Re:If you are at work by Hutz · · Score: 5, Interesting

      It's a site set-up to support protesters. It is illegal to use government resources for organizing - so no it is not part of your work.

      But on a realism note, unrated sites are blocked by content filters - then you program them to allow the traffic when someone asks or the site gets rated.

      AND -- the first amendment does not include a right to Free wi-fi. They didn't censor the site - they just didn't give free access to it.