Unions Aren't the Problem

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/31/AR2008013103120.html

Friday, February 1, 2008; Page A20

I was struck by the disingenuous tone and content of Lawrence B. Lindsey's Jan. 24 commentary, " 'Card Check' Caveat."

His attempt to paint an internationally recognized means for workers to gain union recognition as undemocratic was beyond belief. Rather than workers being intimidated by unions, the fact of the matter is that workers are regularly intimidated by employers.

Workers are fired, ostracized and demoted for favoring joining or forming labor unions. Mr. Lindsey is aware of this, I am sure; thus it is far easier for him to flip the script and make it appear that the problem lies with the unions.

Current labor law is so weak that employers regularly act to discourage workers from joining or forming unions. This raises a basic question: Why is it an employer's business whether workers form or join unions? After all, this should be the workers' choice, a point that is in the National Labor Relations Act.

BILL FLETCHER JR.

Co-Founder, Center for Labor Renewal

[LiberalFighter]

1. Because employers dream of the old days when employees

were paid with script and could only buy goods approved by the company and required to live on site in company built homes.

[rfranklin]

2. Otherwise known as "slavery"

There are so many ignorant workers in this country who don't know history. They don't know why they have paid vacation or why theuy don't work 72 hour weeks (though Walmart and others are trying to change that back.) They don't know that people laid down their lives to get benefits and decent working conditions as well as a living wage. Better to curse the homos and immigrants as the source of all their woes.