As someone who worked hard all of my life, it”s discouraging to read someone”s rant against union workers. Unions may be a reason why some businesses leave California but that”s only a small number of our state”s employers and only a scapegoat for the many other reasons a business may relocate elsewhere.
Most unionized companies here are successful; others may fail or relocate due to poor management or general market factors.
We often see failures in businesses that overpay top executives, make bad business decisions or mistreat good workers with poor working conditions and low pay. Some companies with bad environmental records just prefer relocation to states with tax standards.
Strong unions, in my experience, protect workers from gross discrimination, physical and verbal abuses, unsafe shops and other work sites and secret wage negotiations that pit workers against each other.
Where unions are weak or don”t exist, I”ve seen all of these situations. Good union jobs attract the best workers who are more dedicated, skilled and productive than nonunion workers.
As for welfare recipients, people who work for employers that offer safe working conditions are much less likely to end up on the welfare rolls than those who work without union standards of safety, dignity and a living wage.
Want more jobs in California? Hold company executives accountable for their fabulous paychecks. Companies that succeed with good state schools and transportation infrastructure should pay their share to support our schools, roads, railroads, ports and airports.
Don”t like unions? Move to Mississippi, Arizona or any other right-to-work state.
Wendy J. White
Glenhaven
