Anger at unions is misdirected

Everyone is angry at the unions. The workers in unions get better pay and better benefits, and, somehow, that's the reason other workers are underpaid and overworked.

You're missing the point. As long as employers can deal with each worker individually and arbitrarily, the workers will usually not be accorded the respect they deserve. The Walmart model of low pay, few full-time workers, little or no benefits will prevail. And some ”experts” will say that this is good for the economy.

When workers aren't paid a living wage, they cannot pay their mortgages, support their families and spend money to keep businesses going. Big business doesn't care. Their primary goal is to make profits for themselves and their shareholders. They don't care if that means outsourcing jobs to other countries. They don't care if the workers in this country are overworked and underpaid. All they care about is their profit margins.

Unions give workers a voice. Unions require employers, whether in the public or private sector, treat workers fairly and equitably. That is why some Republicans are trying to destroy unions.

Have you noticed their solutions to the deficit and the recession? Extend tax cuts to the very rich, gut regulations to businesses (like the Clean Air Act), reduce the number of IRS agents, (you would think they would want the U.S. to collect as many of their deserved taxes as possible to deal with the deficit), weaken the safety nets like social security and Medicare. Let big business do whatever they like to the middle and lower classes. If someone falls through the cracks, too bad.

Workers should be demanding to be treated as well as those who are in a union, instead of wanting unions to go away. Everyone should be paid a living wage and appropriate benefits.

Linda Dickey

Lombard