Customer Reviews

Betrayal: How Union Bosses Shake Down Their Members and Corrupt American Politics

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(10)

 

 

I found this book to be very informative.

Everyone should read this book especially if you are a union member. The extent to which union bosses are using members's dues to corrupt the political system are very disturbing.

Contrary to what one reviewer posted, Linda Chavez cites a variety of sources including union publications.

Linda Chavez and Daniel Gray tell a shocking account of how unions in the U.S. have ironically gotten more powerful despite their membership numbers falling. The root of union power and political influence comes from the very people they claim to defend and protect: workers. In most states, union dues are forced out of workers' checks without consent. Only a small percentage of those dues are used on bargaining or other worker related activities. The bulk of dues go directly to political activity, almost exclusively to Democratic candidates for office. Forced use of dues wouldn't be so bad except that many workers (roughly %40) do not support the union's political activities (i.e., they vote Republican), and of course, some are bound to be apolitical.

Apart from their political use of dues, Chavez and Gray discuss at length the terrible abuses of union funds. In effect, the average worker is subsidizing the lavish lifestyle of union executives. Travel expenses, luxury goods, even silverware and shoes, are all bought by union excutives because worker dues pay the bill.

Unions boldly act without fear of repercussions. They often intimidate replacement workers, commit acts of terror and lethal violence, continue to forcibly extract the hard earned money of the common worker, and push a far left agenda that very often has very little to do with contract bargaining.

The final section of "Betrayal" outlines various proposals for correcting the rampant abuse of unions. One hopes the Republicans in Congress will atleast begin some efforts at reform, such as forcing unions to disclose their expenses, offer workers a choice in where their money goes, and focus on protecting workers, rather than using them as human chips for a brazenly liberal political agenda.

Highly recommended.

Linda Chavez came up professionally through labor union channels and knows unions from a unique insider's point of view. Added to this are years of experience working with unions and watching the results of their actions. Chavez captures the unfortunate manner in which organizations that were originally designed to protect and advance workers have been irreparably corrupted. Now unions have become little more than political/economic machines themselves that abuse and steal from the very people who support them.
This is an extremely well-written and documented book, presented in the smooth, readable style that characterizes Linda Chavez's works. It is a must read for all who are concerned with the underhanded political abuse that is corrupting the selection process for our elected officials. Buy it today, you will enjoy it.

If union members want more money in their pockets, this book makes it clear that the first place they should look is to the 80% of their dues that are not being spent for their benefit. And moderate Democrat politicians have a chance to reform their party before it implodes. The points are crystal clear. A fact-based, easy and compelling read.

This book is a well-written account of the considerable influence unions have on the US political system. Unfortunatly for American workers - this influence is spent lining the pockets of union bosses.

Linda Chavez once again comes through with an important book that will shake up the status quo.

A book the union leaders would rather you didn't read!

Few teachers, for instance, are fully aware of just how political teachers' unions have become over the years and how their own hard-earned money--paid out each month in membership dues--fuels the partisan political machine that the National Education Association(NEA), for example, has converted itself into. Other major unions have gone down the same road.

As the authors lay out in chilling detail, the union movement in general no longer fights for better and safer working conditions for its members--but rather for revenues and political power. The continued inflow of dues money has become an obsession at union headquarters, and what they're able to do with this mountain of wealth and just how they go about it makes for unsettling reading.

A riveting look at behind-the-scenes American politics.

Wow, this is stunning. I always knew that the unions were big supporters of the Democrats, but what Chavez has uncovered is absolutely mind-blowing. Unions are going to give John Kerry up to $800 MILLION this year, and most of those contributions are probably illegal. All we hear about from Democrats is Halliburton and Enron, but the ugly truth is that the Democrats are much, much dirtier than any Republican. They've sold out to labor bosses who push for bigger and bigger government and higher and higher taxes. And that's just the beginning. You've got to read this. It's explosive.

This book is an excellent resource for cold hard facts about the cozzy relationship between organized labor's leaders and the Democratic party. If you ever thought that a union's national leadership was on your side you may very well rethink that after reading this book and learning what they are really up to. The stories exposed coupled with hard facts and excellent statistics make this book a "must read."

The authors cut right to the chase and provide shocking info about the dark deeds of unions, including teachers' unions. The info is pretty disturbing & quite a revelation...

As an added plus, the writing style is engaging and clips along nicely.

I have worked for a union for more than 10 years and many of the things this lady talks about I have seen with my own eyes. I have been forced to "volunteer" for candidates and give money to people I don't support. Her book tells it like it is.