"The truth about unions"

[FLAprogressive]

Saw this LTTE in the local paper the other day and I had to post....

Truth about unions

Regarding the letter "Democrats' union ties":

I belonged to the AFL-CIO for 35 years before retirement and, in all my 35 years, was never required to make a political donation of any kind that I did not freely want to give.

In regard to the auto bailout, I find it amusing that the union was forced to the table not once but twice to give concessions that the workers had earned over the years.

Now that the fat cats in the automobile industry are back in the money and earnings are back in the billions, the fat cats are once again passing out bonuses while the union workers are stuck with the concessions given during the bailout talks. So I don't want to hear about how this administration caters to the unions.

I also wonder how it is that the unions can be forced to the table to give concessions, but the bankers and Wall Street people cannot be brought to the table to do the same.

As for the Republicans' fairness (I am an independent now), how many times have the Republicans ever given a wage hike to people on minimum wage? The Republicans always present the same old, sick argument that it will cost jobs to give people on minimum wage who live below the poverty level a small increase, but they have no problem annually giving themselves a tidy cost of living increase.

Neil Woofter

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20100815/LETTERS/8151017/2163/OPINION?p=2&tc=pg