In response to a Nov. 30 letter: I agree it's sad that 18,000 lives have been affected.
However, the letter writer believes that unions have "worn out their usefulness" with the example being Hostess and how the union wouldn't accept a huge cut to pensions, wages and benefits.
Yet the letter writer failed to mention that nearly a dozen executives received pay hikes up to 80 percent last year while the company was struggling. This is what is called corporate greed. The executives of companies are supposed to be leaders (lead by example).
The goal of a union is to have the employer provide employees with health and welfare benefits, a living wage, a safe work environment and make sure that they are treated fairly by the company.
Take a look at states that are right-to-work states, which means employees can be represented by unions but are not required to pay union dues. The unions are busted and no longer exist. The outcome: Wages and benefits have dropped below the national average. Who will pick up the raising costs in medical? Who will help them when they no longer can afford to put food on their table? The federal government?
In the meantime, CEOs and top executives of companies continue to make outrageous pay and benefits. Unions are needed to keep fairness in the workforce. Without unions, the working middle class disappears and we will be left with only the rich (1 percent) and the poor (99 percent).
Joe Medeiros
Kula
