Mark Newby’s Jan. 6 letter “No more privileges for unions” ignores the many benefits we owe unions: the 40-hour week, health insurance, overtime pay, safety standards and pensions. I worked for 30 years in a nonunion job, but I can thank the union for my pension. Before I retired, my company ended pensions for new nonunion employees. Should I blame the union — or greedy management?
Newby disparages Boeing union workers. According to the Boeing proxy statement, the CEO got a pay increase in 2012 for a total of $27 million. The company responds to record profitability by extorting major concessions from the union and the state, including $8.7 billion in tax breaks. Some people call this corporate welfare.
The most successful national economies involve an equal partnership between government, businesses and unions. Our unions are declining. Government stands idly by, probably because our representatives are dependant upon corporate money to get elected. Corporations call the shots, and the result is the stagnant wages and the rise in inequality.
When everyone is paid less, everyone has less for goods or services, and the economy suffers. Unions can sometimes be corrupt and inefficient, but so can business and government. We need to get back to some balance between the three players.
