
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, March 21, 1991                   TAG: 9103210455
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-12   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

UNIONS NOT BANNED FOR STATE WORKERS

E. ANNE PAULL'S March 8 letter rightly blasted Roanoke Times & World-News writers for being "ignorant" in referring to professional organizations for teachers, as unions.

Unfortunately, her own ignorance becomes apparent in the statement, "Unions for teachers (and other groups in the state) are illegal!"

State employees are not prohibited from establishing or joining unions. This is a common misconception perpetuated by the media, state agencies and state leaders. The American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) is a national union with chapters in many states, including Virginia.

What is illegal is for Virginia's state employees to collectively bargain (strike) and conduct dues checkoff. These types of limitations, however, have not stopped AFSCME from being second only to the AFL/CIO in national membership! STEPHEN T. PHILLIPS CHRISTIANSBURG

by CNB