OPINION:
Historically, unions were formed to protect the interests of workers from the one-sided actions of company management. Coming together gave the workers a strong voice and leverage in their negotiations, and it brought fairness and balance.
Now, however, union workers are beginning to recognize a disconnect between their own best interests and the interests of union management. Maintaining their power and control appears to be union management’s main objective, as unions seem to have morphed into political organizations rather than true representative bodies.
We are now seeing, for instance, the negative impact the National Education Association in Wisconsin had on the education system. Since the enactment of the new, supposedly despised legislation by Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, teachers can gain pay raises on merit. The end of the old system of protecting less-than-effective teachers in the classroom is resulting in better education for children.
In addition, because the union can no longer force teachers to use their own overpriced insurance products, the result of putting these benefits out to bid in the marketplace has saved the educational districts throughout Wisconsin millions of dollars. Those dollars are going to reduce the size of classrooms and the budgetary stresses in education that exist throughout the state. The children are the real beneficiaries of these changes. Did anyone really believe NEA worked for the benefit of the children?
Top national union officials almost always represent a strong hard line. They bring a take-no-prisoners attitude, refusing to recognize changes in the world economy, and are unyielding in how they deal with employers. They are professional negotiators and do not hesitate to use any method to win.
The tactic of organizing sit-ins in front of the houses of company management or political leaders is one example of their tactics, and it is particularly repugnant and anti-productive. Union workers are starting to question these methods, as they don’t like the ugly image unions continue to project to the public. It is just one of many reasons why union membership continues to decrease as a percentage of workers to the low levels it now experiences.
A new conflict is arising between workers and management - only now it’s union management.
CHRISTOPHER S. MOODY
Gaithersburg
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