Modern School: Koch Bros Finance Union Liquidation (But They Are Not Alone) #wisolidarity #wiunion #weac

Modern School: Koch Bros Finance Union Liquidation (But They Are Not Alone)

Koch Bros Finance Union Liquidation (But They Are Not Alone)

by Michael Dunn

For those who were shocked by Scott Walker’s moves in Wisconsin, or the general assault on unions across the country, Jim Horn does a pretty good job of connecting the politics to corporate profiteering, specifically the Koch Brothers’ goal of lowering wages by eliminating unions. (See Koch Bros. Own Wisconsin's Scott Walker and the Demonstrators Who Support Him).

The article is a well-researched expose of the billionaire energy magnate Koch Brothers’ efforts in Wisconsin, which are significant. However, it is naïve to believe that the attacks on unions are solely the result of a few greedy billionaires. Unions, even the collaborationist, pro-business ones that dominate the American landscape, are a huge impediment to corporate profits. All bosses benefit when unions are weakened or neutralized. While public sector unions do not directly affect profits since they represent workers in agencies that do not make profits, the higher wages they win for their employees result in fewer tax dollars available for corporate subsidies and tax breaks. The wealthy also hate unions because they compete with them financially in the effort to buy politicians and legislation. The effort to crush unions has