Union dues, fair share fees are different

Your recent story about Lincolnshire's consideration of a so called right-to-work zone suggests that "automatically deducting union dues from workers' paychecks" is unfair. Ironically, most labor union members I know would agree with you on that point.

The problem is the writer overlooked the difference between union dues and fair share fees. Any of your readers who do not know the difference ought to look it up before making up their minds on this issue.

Remember that the so called right-to-work lobbyists say that workers in union- organized workplaces ought to be allowed to essentially opt back into the At Will Employment Doctrine. They want to pay nothing and get nothing, in other words.

But that's not exactly true. We know that some workers want the advantages of a union job without paying either dues or fair share fees. It's not really about freedom. It's about the proverbial free lunch.

If the citizens of Illinois really want a special law for them, let's also be fair to the workers who actually bear the essential costs of collective bargaining units - the union members. They are citizens too.

They also deserve the protection of your laws. Ban the free lunches and let the labor unions opt out of providing services to those who pay nothing.

Tom Louderback

Louisville, Kentucky