The management-labor pendulum

The management-labor pendulum

Thirty years as a union man- were not enough to keep my father from pronouncing that “the unions have gone too far” as I told him about a continuing strike over dental and vision benefit payments the union wanted my employer to cover in the early ’70s. This was how a man who refused to cross a picket line during the “Little Steel Strike” saw it. A guy who routinely came home with holes burned through his clothing by hot steel splatter, and who shared stories of mill jobs that today would result in mountainous OSHA fines.

Dad also allowed that when the unions first organized the steel mills, they were sorely needed. At the time, whether you worked and what work you did in a steel mill were often at the whim of management. “If you didn’t like it, so what” was the way he described management’s attitude. The big bosses had all the cards and the working man had no choice but to work to support his family. Collective bargaining ended that. Yet, by the ’70s, the unions seemed to my father to be as big a businesses as steel.

All this left me with the impression that there was a constantly swinging pendulum in labor management relations and that it could swing too far in favor of either. As a result, I believe any employer, including government, whose employees choose to organise, gave them reason to do so. I believe any employee who thinks that union membership entitles them to dictate the strategic course of their employer, will soon be as underemployed as all the empty land formerly occupied by steel mills along the Mahoning is unused. Both sides must pull their weight or perish together.

Today, governments in Wisconsin and Ohio are trying to eliminate collective bargaining. I think this is a disservice to the very taxpayers in whose name they claim to act. Collective bargaining, and its attendant right to strike, are the only defenders of individual workers against rapacious employers. Conversely, bargaining unit employees should not expect that seniority should be the sole determining factor for promotion, pay grade, or retention. Seniority systems and their attendant work rule minutia generate mediocre work that holds back both individuals and businesses.

There must be a middle ground on which both sides can agree. Workers must be able to express their point of view without fear of reprisal and be entitled to withhold their labor when management is unresponsive. Management must be allowed to lead strategic initiatives required for their business to prosper, without being encumbered by the Walter Reuther mind set of “more money for less work.” I think that reasonable men and women from both management and labor can achieve such middle ground.

The histrionics of politicians and union bosses will contribute nothing to that effort as the former wants to be re-elected, the latter a bigger paycheck than any dues-paying member will ever see.

All parties to negotiations should keep their eyes on the pendulum of their working relationship and realize that moving to the middle is in the best interest of all.

Jim Cartwright, Canfield

GM bonus is good for the area

A letter in last Sunday’s Vindicator claimed GM bonuses make no sense. The writer said the American taxpayers are the ones that have sacrificed the most. Are the UAW workers not American taxpayers as well?

Someone is always complaining the UAW workers make so much money. I wish those that complain would go to work at Lordstown and work the line for just one day and then tell me the workers do not deserve their pay.

No one has forgotten that GM received a $60 billion bailout, but do they remember they have paid more than half of that back with interest. The workers at Lordstown have given up concessions, including their cost of living wage for the past few years, all in attempt to help their company.

If GM fails, so will this Valley. Where does the reader think those bonus dollars will be spent? They will be paying their taxes, buying goods at Home Depot and taking their family out to eat. Everywhere they spend their dollars in this Valley they will be boosting our own economy. It’s a win-win situation for the Valley.

Ginger Leone Kubala, Poland

House will win; Valley, maybe not

It was with sadness I heard of the racetrack/casino possibly coming to our area. To me, it is just another nail in the coffin of Youngstown becoming viable again.

Most casino jobs are minimum wage, and you can’t support a family on that. Only the owners make the big money. Our friends and neighbors could develop gambling problems. Then we will have to pay to rehabilitate them. Gambling brings in drug trafficking, prostitution and mob activity. We sure don’t need more of that.

Gambling has, unfortunately, come to Ohio. Let other cities deal with the problems that come with a racetrack/casino.

Let’s bring in businesses that help and not hurt our city. Something that will bring respect to our area. Gambling just isn’t worth it.

Neil Higgins, Hubbard