Unions need to take realistic approach

I must respond to Dave Lundquist's Dec. 31st letter concerning the automobile unions.

As a retiree, after working for many years in the steel industry, I can see the similarities between the two industries with relation to union involvement. While I cannot absolve management their part in the demise of our national steel industry I saw what union demands did.

With worldwide nonunion, low-wage competition as well as prolific dumping by countries such as Japan, our industry could not stand the constant demands by the steel union.

Here is one example: Our son, while on summer break from college, was able to land a temporary job in one of our Pittsburgh area mills. He looked forward to working hard to do his share to make his efforts worthwhile to the company. What did he find? The union boss on his shift told him, and the other college men, to work for a couple of hours and then find a place where they would not be very obvious.

He didn't want to take the risk of producing more steel that was required of his shift. Another union worker, nicknamed "Pepsi," had, as his only responsibility, the job of getting food and drink items from the vending machines for the other workers. What kind of message does that send? There obviously is a place for unions in this country but it must be realistic.

Don Carlson

Palatine