No Wonder Union Leaders Are Scared

From the outset. I have always said, the main reason for all the protests in Madison and other capitol cities is not because workers would lose collective bargaining (most workers would be better off in pay if pay is based on the CPI)
However, the union bosses are petrified because it could end their lavish lifestyle. If the government no longer collects union dues, which they shouldn't do anyways, this will result in the loss of union dues.
No, jsonline comes along and does the unthinkable and lists some union leaders salaries. From jsonline: The Center for Public Integrity found compensation for leaders of the 10 largest unions ranged from $173,000 at the United Auto Workers to $618,000 at the Laborers' International Union of North America, and almost $480,000 for the president of the American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees. The latter is the target of GOP governors in Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee and Kansas.
The union reports, filed with the Department of Labor, list compensation for all union employees and officers. Salaries make up the biggest portion, but other benefits can include tens of thousands of dollars for meal allowances, mileage allowances and entertainment. Health care and pension contributions are not specifically addressed.
The reports show that assets of the various labor unions run into the hundreds of millions of dollars, and payrolls rival midsize companies. Among the Top 10 unions, dozens of top officials have salary-and-benefit packages that rank them among the top percentage of income-earners in the country.
http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/117290533.html
Further, the article shows that the unions own the Democrats. The left complains that the Koch brothers own Walker, but they fail to mention that the unions have bought and paid for the Democrats. For instance, the SEIU, which is huge in Las Vegas and Clark County: Service Employees International Union. Membership: 1.8 million; assets: $187 million. The SEIU, whose membership has increased in recent years, has been organizing hospital, home care and nursing home workers, along with local and state government employees, janitors and security officers. The union has nine headquarters officers and employees who earn more than $200,000. The former president, Andy Stern, was paid $306,388 in salary and benefits from the union in 2009. Stern resigned in 2010 and was replaced by Mary Kay Henry, formerly the executive vice president. Over the past two years, SEIU gave almost $2 million to Democratic candidates and $8,500 to Republicans. It has 18,000 members in Wisconsin.
For AFCME: American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees. Membership: 1.5 million; assets: $78 million. AFSCME, one of the fastest growing unions in the United States, was founded in Wisconsin almost 80 years ago. At union headquarters in Washington, 10 officers and employees receive more than $200,000 a year. McEntee was paid $479,328 in salary and benefits in 2009. Over the past two years, AFSCME has donated $2.3 million to Democratic candidates and $78,500 to Republicans.
These union leaders make upwards to 10 times more than their average union member makes.
The bottom of all of this is that the peons or union members, are protesting to protect the lavish lifestyle of the union leaders. Nothing more, nothing less.
This just makes me sick. (actually, it's the flu, been throwing up off and since last evening and the weekend)