ANTI-UNION RULING SHOULD BE A WAKE-UP CALL

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/news/opinion/15785323.htm

Posted on Wed, Oct. 18, 2006

Letters | ANTI-UNION RULING SHOULD BE A WAKE-UP CALL

RE "CONGRATS on your promotion! Now turn in your union card." (op-ed, Oct. 10):

Lew Maltby notes that despite a record-breaking Dow Jones and an increasingly productive economy, Americans are working longer and harder for much less. The recent anti-union National Labor Relations Board ruling makes things even harder for workers everywhere who are struggling to provide for their families on less than a living wage.

Without a union, many workers fail to make a living wage and receive no health care. In the suburbs, some non-union cleaning contractors pay as little as $6.75 an hour. Philadelphia itself ranks second among all major cities with a 25 percent poverty rate, second only to Detroit.

This alarming news about the growing gap between rich and poor, and the unfair burden that recent economic growth has dropped on the backs of working Americans, should serve as a wake-up call for government and business leaders.

Wayne MacManiman, District 36 Supervisor

Service Employees International Union

Local 32BJ, Philadelphia

[pnorman]

1. Steve, the link to the op-ed itself should also be posted.

Here it is: http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/news/opinion/15720688.htm

Fraternal regards, Paul

pnorman

[papau]

2. Why this does not get more press is beyond me - 41 million affected

perhaps 11 million of those already in a union - who now will no longer be in a union.

An attack on the Democratic Party by trying to destroy a group that supports Democrats. Of course, the rich and corporate love it.

Another freedom gone - and our media says almost nothing.

[midnight]

3. I'm pro union. I think the unions would do more to gather support

if they also encouraged more efforts trying to bridge pay equity among traditionally male v.s. female jobs.