opinion

Why doesn't Brodkorb have his union represent him in this unfair termination? ... Whooops! He is a right to work employee with no union representation and can be fired for any reason even one that appears to be discriminatory. ............. Employers do not have to treat all situations the same without unions. They can choose to let some who have had affairs stay at work and fire others for their affairs. .. That's how Right to Work works in states that have it. .... Think something is unfair, unless it falls under the discrimination laws, which I don't believe having an affair as a male vs female does, you are out of luck..... Don't think male staffers are a protected class in this instance.

Today's Republican leadership has great disdain for anyone that doesn't bootlick for them. One need only to look back to then-GOP State Chair Tony Sutton calling 13 former GOP state Legislators "quislings" and saying "there's a special place in hell" for them. Senator Howe's hutzpah is admirable but bucking his party is not in his best political interest, and I suspect eventually he will cave. They don't want "alternative solutions." They want absolute fealty.

You are 100% correct, delefone. Mike was an at will employee that could be terminated at any time for any reason or no reason at all. He has no case whatsoever.

Why you're trimming another mans bush is beyond me. Then try to seek money for it? Loser.

Being in a trade union in MN I can be fired for any reason . This idea that if you are in a union and cannot be fired is absolutely not true. I am an at will employee.

At-will employment does not trump federal and state employment law. The GOP senate leadership had a case for terminating him--his boss had lost her position--but instead they held meetings and group-ambushed him with news he had been terminated. They could have let HR handle it. They didn't. Now they're making it out as a simple termination when they've made about every mistake possible if they didn't want to be sued. He has a right to sue, and in civil litigation he has a right to depose others about how females were treated after they had affairs with male bosses. I don't support the GOP and am not a Republican, but his behavior ina political job is separate from his rights under teh employment statutes.

Yuck, This is just plain GROSS.

Brodkorb is a classic gutless bully. kick everybody else around until he gets his, and then run crying and screaming to the court, cover for his blackmail attempt. "I'll name names!" well, we know them. the folks who rail the loudest about "family values" and "protecting our innocents" have generally been proven to be as far from upright citizens as they are loud and obnoxious.

If you are in a union and get fired for no reason or for a reason that is unfair, your union will go to bat for you with the employer. Depending on what the bargaining contract says, there is normally a written statement regarding the process the employer has to go through before firing you. The employer has agreed to follow that process before any firing in most union contracts. ... Ask your union business agent what your contract states in this regard.

Of course, anyone can sue, but it doesn't mean he will win. And Brodkorb will probably pay a ton of money to his lawyers hoping for a judgment in his favor. ..... Union representation comes with the payment of dues in such cases and what happens is based on the union contract in place and whether the employer followed the process for termination properly and if it was warranted under the contract. .... Simply saying that unions help employees who may have been fired improperly. ..... Sounds more like he is holding the threat of the exposure of other affairs had by other republicans over their heads as a bargaining chip. Just speculating here. Pretty expensive bargaining chip as even if lawsuits are filed, it costs a ton by both sides to defend against it and promote the lawsuit. .... Many times there really is no winner at the end or he may be hoping for an out of court settlement. Can't say what is in his mind. Just an opinion.