USA Today: Bulk up labor laws so private sector can catch up on benefits

[Omaha Steve]

http://blogs.usatoday.com/oped/2008/02/bulk-up-labor-l.html

Mary Beth Maxwell, executive director, American Rights at Work - Washington

Based on a report released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, USA TODAY says state and local government workers generally enjoy better health and pension benefits than private-sector workers ("State, local government workers see pay gains," USATODAY.com, Feb. 1).

Yet a major underlying reason for this difference wasn't mentioned: More public employees belong to unions. Thirty-six percent of public employees are union members, compared with 7.5% in the private sector.

Without the presence of a union, employees can't bargain collectively, limiting their ability to improve working conditions or receive the benefits and respect they deserve.

Private employees can't catch up unless our weak labor law system is fixed. Without federal legislation such as the Employee Free Choice Act, aimed at protecting the rights of private-sector workers to freely choose union representation, lawless employers will continue to deny workers this right.

By strengthening our labor laws, policymakers can allow more private employees to form unions if they so choose, thereby ensuring that more families can count on the same security many public employees enjoy.
Posted at 12:08 AM/ET, February 13, 2008 in Business issues - Letters, Health care/Insurance - Letters, Letter to the editor, Medical Issues - Letters, Pay/Income issues - Letters | Permalink