[geeks] OLPCs for sale...

[der Mouse]

>> I don't see that - the union is charging non-members an extremely
>> high fee for their "no merit pay, everyone makes the same" contract
>> negotiations...
> But how can the union charge a free citizen a fee like that, unless
> the government supports it?

By negotiating a contract with the employer under which the employer
must make union membership a condition of employment.  This is what
"closed shop" is all about.  Government does not have to come into it
except insofar as government is involved in enforcing contracts.

Is that how it's actually done?  I don't know.  But it could be.

/~\ The ASCII				der Mouse
\ / Ribbon Campaign
 X  Against HTML	       mouse at rodents.montreal.qc.ca
/ \ Email!	     7D C8 61 52 5D E7 2D 39  4E F1 31 3E E8 B3 27 4B