Unions and Consumer Interests

I don’t mean to be anti-union. But clear-thinking and logical approaches to the questions and problems that concern the relationship between unions and consumers are never fully answered in the media.

Reporters and columnists are afraid to tangle too hard with unions. Reporters and columnists may have liberal leanings. The media also don’t always think through their subject matter very clearly when they are subject to publishing deadlines. And they may well be union members.

Further fact of life: Unions are in existence primarily for members, not the public. Be they metal workers, autoworkers, school teachers, government clerks, etc. They are not primarily there for the customer or consumer, with whom the union member must deal.

Example: When school teachers go on strike, or insist on higher wages, they are Number One. When they are against school vouchers, which can offer kids faced with inferior schools the better choice, the teachers' concern is not the kids but themselves.

So it is with every union member, except when their self-promotion ads say otherwise.