Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, January 14, 1993 TAG: 9301140457
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-14 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
UNION BENEFITS ARE MANY
BOB STEBER of Boones Mill, in a letter to the editor printed Jan. 8, doesn't understand how anyone can join a union. Please allow me to point out a few reasons.
Safety. Talk to any retired coal miner, railroad worker, foundry worker or anyone more than 60 years of age who has earned his living with his hands and back. You will probably hear some heart-breaking stories of loss of hands, fingers, permanent disability, even death due to unsafe working conditions.
You see, safety costs money. The unions have brought safety to the American work force only through contract negotiations. If you work in a safe environment, thank your union. If you have no union, thank the unions that have brought you this benefit.
Fair pay. The unions have helped the working people of this country to earn a fair pay for their labor. Without the unions, we would work for pennies a day, work 12-hour shifts, seven days a week in many of the factories in this country. If you don't believe it, check the history books.
Benefits. When you talk to those retired workers, be sure to compare the retirement and health benefits between the union and non-union workers. I think it's interesting that when a large corporate merger occurred in Roanoke recently, those at the top managed to do very well but not so for most of the employees who had worked faithfully and diligently for years. No golden parachutes for them, only the door. By the way, which union represented those employees?
Benefits cost money. Don't let anyone tell you the company is giving you those benefits. You pay for your benefits with your labor, and the unions have worked hard to bring better benefits to the American worker. DAVE TUGGLE CHRISTIANSBURG