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| Europe |
| "But what about my job, Mr. Warmonger, sir?" -- German unions protest U.S. redeployment |
| 2004-08-19 |
| From the Davids Medienkritik 'blog. EFL, and some internal links omitted. I should be very interested in what TGA has to say about this one. The staff of ver.di, Germany's largest service-sector union and the largest independent, individual trade union in the world, is worried. Its leaders now realize that there won't be enough warmongers around to adequately support members' Socialist way-of-life. They rightfully "fear" that the planned withdrawal of tens of thousands of US military personnel and their dependents from Germany will result in thousands of lost union jobs, particularly in areas surrounding affected bases and installations. "But
warmongers?" You ask. Well sure, that is exactly how ver.di's chairman, union kingpin Frank Bsirske, described the American government and military just last year. . . . Given Mr. Bsirske's strident opposition to the Iraq war, the Bush administration and the US military, one would have thought that he and his union would have been overjoyed at the prospect of thousands of "imperial hegemons" withdrawing from Germany. In fact, the opposite is true. This apparent contradiction highlights the fact that there is indeed something more important to Germany's leftist dominated unions than exploiting anti-American sentiment for political gain. That something is ensuring that union members be able to suck at the teat of the Socialist welfare state into the indefinite future. And if that means accepting money and jobs from members of the US military, people the unions have repeatedly derided and demonized as warmongers from a heartless capitalist society, well, then Frank Bsirske and ver.di are entirely prepared to do just that. As the beautiful Lt. Uhura once said, "be careful what you wish for." |
| Posted by:Mike |
| #12 TANSTAAFL. |
| Posted by: Asedwich 2004-08-19 10:25:38 PM |
| #11 TGA RIGHT ON! I feel for those that will lose jobs but it's time to bring the troops home and end the occupation (sic). I visited Germany while I was stationed in Greece. I found the people, cities, culture, and beer very enjoyable. I saw the Puerto Rican scenario all over this one. |
| Posted by: Cyber Sarge 2004-08-19 10:10:48 PM |
| #10 TGA, thanks for the link. I myself am not so giddy about the upcoming changes, but I do recognize them as being realistic and unfortunately necessary...not because US-German relations have changed, but because the world has. Sigh. |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2004-08-19 6:15:39 PM |
| #9 Just a little story |
| Posted by: True German Ally 2004-08-19 6:05:08 PM |
| #8 The answer is simple. They can earn money in Germany's brothels. I'm sure they'll have lots of French customers, I mean, how often does a Frenchman get to screw a German? No mercy, no compassion - Imperialist Warmonger Party |
| Posted by: Silentbrick 2004-08-19 5:38:58 PM |
| #7 Well, there isn't much to say about a guy (and a union) who is even left of Schröder (and fights his timid "reformist" agenda). But I checked the article that Medienkritik referred to and Bsirske isn't really complaining so much about the leaving "warmongers", he's just trying to milk the state into subsidizing new jobs for those workers and members of his union. That's his job, even if he's an idiot otherwise. In question are the jobs of about 7500 German civilian workers. And THOSE workers certainly didn't subscribe to the "warmonger" thing in the first place. The whole thing just follows the time honored "wash me but don't make me wet" routine... see Puerto Rico. |
| Posted by: True German Ally 2004-08-19 2:17:32 PM |
| #6 Funny to see this posted today. Two hours ago the German ice cream man was asking me how soon we'll leave. He has a yearly contract with the American housing areas. I said, "Hey, I work as a civilian for the Army. I'm not in the loop about those things." I feel bad for some of my German coworkers though. They're good workers and good people. I give it 2 years before we're gone in my area, but then again it's about the time I'm due to rotate back to the states. Also, for those of you that didn't have a clue, since the start of the deployment to Iraq, the Bundeswehr (German Army) has been providing guard and security forces protecting the Army Kasernes and their families. They're some of the most professional soldiers I've ever dealt with. For that we should be thankful to them. |
| Posted by: 98zulu 2004-08-19 1:37:55 PM |
| #5 JFKerry, says the redeployment is bad for US Security. Stupid me, I think its long overdue. I think our Euro buddies have Kerry's ear. |
| Posted by: Lucky 2004-08-19 12:54:51 PM |
| #4 They can always get a job at Subway. |
| Posted by: Chris W. 2004-08-19 11:53:33 AM |
| #3 The re-deployment should have commenced years ago, after the Berlin wall came down. I'm glad that GWB and Rumsfield have the courage to implement what is obvious. I'm happy the Germans finally realize what a beneficial influence the US presence had on Germany's economy. Alas, now they may be forced to go back to a 40 hour work week and 3 weeks of vacation max. |
| Posted by: rex 2004-08-19 11:25:48 AM |
| #2 German implosion, commence! |
| Posted by: mmurray821 2004-08-19 11:14:43 AM |
| #1 Oh, I am soo going to enjoy watching this. |
| Posted by: BH 2004-08-19 10:37:10 AM |