Letters to the Editor

Unions Improve Life For All Workers

Editor, Times-Dispatch:

Unions don't have that same access to workers. Organizers depend on workers to educate and organize their peers. Many union locals don't have the massive budgets to allocate toward organizing that businesses use to prevent a "yes" vote in favor of a union. Passage of this act won't require workers in Virginia to join a union since we are a rightto-work state that prohibits compulsory membership.

Employees typically don't want a union when they are treated fairly and paid livable wages. Unions raise the standard of living for everyone by raising wages and ensuring critical items like job security, retirement, and benefits. In a union shop, management employees are typically paid more simply because union workers have higher wages. Unions also raise the pay scales of workers statewide in order for employers to remain competitive in the job market.

If companies would voluntarily provide the things that the labor movement has always fought so hard for -- a living wage, benefits, and pensions -- then there might not be such an urgent need for unions. In the meantime, we must ensure that all employees have the right to freely organize by passing the Employee Free Choice Act. Businesses and legislators should remember that we need good jobs to pay our taxes to the government, our tithes in church, and the costs of our children's education. The workers are the backbone of the commonwealth.

Breanne Armbrust. Richmond.

The Bulls Are Guarding The Economic China Shop

Editor, Times-Dispatch:

The people largely responsible for many of the problems are now the ones in charge of correcting them -- and one of the primary results of their efforts has been the creation of uncertainty, and an expectation of more government assistance. President Obama does not inspire confidence when he speaks of things getting worse before they get better.

With the pervasiveness of government at all levels, it might not be such a bad thing for Gov. Tim Kaine to become a part-time governor. The more he is out of town, the less time he will have to propose smoking bans, "green" initiatives, new taxes, and other costly or restrictive measures.

It might also be a good thing if more members of Congress spent less time in Washington.

Samuel S. Kemp. Richmond.

Circuit City VP Shouldn't Throw Stones

Editor, Times-Dispatch:

I beg to differ with Besanko. I blame the failure of Circuit City on management. Is it the newspaper's fault that his company started Divix, pulled major appliances, got rid of dress codes, and fired its best employees? How does he justify hiring someone who starts out at $8 an hour and works himself up to $10 an hour only to be fired?

It is Besanko and other executives who should be held accountable for the complete failure of Circuit City. What is he complaining about? It's the hardworking people who dedicated themselves and who support local organizations that I feel sorry for. What does Besanko have to say to them?

Ron Melancon. Glen Allen.

Aren't Board Members Supposed to Be Smart?

Editor, Times-Dispatch:

Which brings us to the subject of the boards of directors of the Big Three automakers. Isn't one of the main functions of these boards to protect the interests of the stockholders? It had been obvious for several years that they were losing market share. Shouldn't the directors have made recommendations for substantive changes in product, marketing, and management?

The board members are usually CEOs in other companies or institutions -- experts in diverse fields, and people who should know what is going on in the world. If they had done some directing, things might be quite different now. Perhaps the shareholders should sue the boards of directors.

Bea Merkle. Richmond.