Don’t solve ills on backs of unions

In the last two weeks I watched hours of footage covering the 9/11 attacks, and the 10 years since at ground zero.

There was a common thread running through everything I watched. It was first represented by the response of thousands of firefighters and policemen when the attacks occurred. Some died as a result of doing their jobs — those “lazy bums.”

After the initial response by the New York departments, 50,000 firefighters, policemen and other workers appeared on New York’s doorstep to help: “lazy bums” who took it upon themselves, at their own expense, to drive there and help in any way they could.

After these men and women cleared the area, many now plagued by permanent illnesses, a new group of workers arrived. Carpenters, electricians, iron workers, welders, plumbers, engravers, crane operators, truck drivers, all worked long hours to start rebuilding and to create a beautiful site for the bereaved to honor those they’d lost 10 years ago.

These workers may have had to follow the plans of architects with a vision. But every day, sun, rain, snow, hot, cold, they were out there making use of their training. The first group came home when they could, their souls weary with what they’d witnessed, their anger and concern making them clear the area in a time frame that none thought possible. The second arrived with exhilaration, knowing they’re participating in building something with which New York and the country can state to the world that we are Phoenixes.

As my family watched the hours of event and rescue footage showing thousands of people using their skills to raise ground zero, I sarcastically commented to my lineman husband, “Perhaps New York could save some money by cutting their pensions.”

The common thread? They are union workers. This nation cannot continue trying to solve its financial woes on the backs of those who build it.

Paula Coughlan

Elburn