TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Union abuses

ADVERTISEMENT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 8, 2009

John Shuey's letter ("Union bashing," Nov. 4) tries to point out the evils of management while vainly attempting to show the virtues of unionism. Let me point out to him that while unions did play an important role during the early 20th century in ridding the many abuses that management was guilty of, this is no longer the case.
Shuey calls anyone who doesn't see his point a moron. Perhaps he should look in a mirror. While unions were responsible for the gains mentioned in his letter, they all date back between 50 and 100 years, and he fails to mention the many abuses that unions have been guilty of right up to the current time.
Union thugs have physically assaulted and, in some cases over the years, murdered those who were in opposition to the union position.

Over the years unions have priced themselves out of the market with unrealistic demands. The auto industry is a prime example. Newspapers are another.

Sadly, our socialist-leaning government bailed out GM and Chrysler and handed the unions a juicy portion of the interests in these companies.

Unless the unions that are now attempting to run GM and Chrysler open their eyes and see that there is a point beyond which you must say, "No more," I believe they will be back asking Washington to bail them out again.

Why doesn't Shuey see that our nation has fallen sharply in manufacturing capability (made in China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, etc.), primarily because union demands have priced their jobs out of the U.S. workplace?

Here in Florida, the Tampa firefighters and police unions are hungrily pushing for unrealistic increases in benefits in a very fragile economy. In my opinion, this is pure greed.

The Obama administration is also hoping to reward unions by forcing unions on those who want no part of collective bargaining. It would push through legislation that would take away the secret ballot for workers, who would be required to vote for or against union representation.

This is American?

I end this letter by saying that capitalism is not a bad thing and without it workers would not have jobs.

While a few CEOs (probably less than 1,000) are earning what I also would consider almost obscene compensation, I do not begrudge those who take the risk of creating and running a business being well compensated for doing so.

In today's climate, unions should keep very low key in making demands to help jump-start the economy again.

CHARLES SALZMANN

New Port Richey

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT