Submitted by T Facade, Feb 14, 2008 18:00

What a convenient target the unions have become during the past 20 years. I am proud to work for a unionized employer, and proud to have been elected to a union officer's position. I hate to think what working conditions would have been like in the last 100 years if business interests had had their way. I am also having a hard time coming up with a list of benefits like a 40 hour work week, family health care, some retirement benefits, holidays, and OSHA that the bosses would have given us out of the kindness of their hearts. I know my quality of life is better because I belong to a union. Sure, I earn more, but I am able to save for the future of my family, I can make better financial choices, I contribute to my community, and I work harder. A union contract was signed by management also, and if they didn't want to live by the terms, they shouldn't have done so. I agree that economic conditions change, and so collective bargaining methods should change, but I can't see that organized labor is at fault. I think it is interesting that the National Assn of Manufacturers spends $13 for every $1 labor spends on lobbying.

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