To: Sodbuster Date: 25 Aug 1997 07:40:20 EDT Subject: Joe Murray's Opinion article Dear Editor, Joe Murray's rant against labor and unions is absolutely consistent with current conservative thought and the right wing political agenda. His use of mules in an analogy, comparing them with organized labor, say more than he intended. The mules no doubt were fed up with continued mistreatment and rebelled against their owner. He would like us to believe that unions and the labor movement are antiquated relics of another era but the need for them is as great today as it was years ago. It is still the intent of business managers to maintain a work force that is low-paid, without benefits or future. One only has to look at the wages paid by non-union companies, in comparison with union wages, to see the true face of business in the later part of this century. It is still the same mentality at work. It was only through the hard work and dedicated efforts of workers years ago that the status and income of working people rose in this country. When the unions were strong, the workers adequately compensated, that the standard of living in this country rose. Now we have with the decline of union strength, the decline of the standard of living in America. It now requires both parents working a mix of part time jobs, jobs with low pay and no benefits, to survive. Nebraska is one of the pitiful right-to-work states and all you have to do is look at the wages paid workers in this state to see the true face of business. Is it any wonder that so much federal money, via grants, welfare, loans etc. is necessary in this state. Do you wonder why our young people leave this state as soon as they finish school for better jobs elsewhere? People in this state like to point at the "work ethic" that exists here. Work ethic... is it a healthy work ethic that says it is ok to work long hours at low pay with no benefits just to survive??? At every turn business shows its true face. Business is only interested in profit. It is the right and responsibility of the workers to demand their fair share of the proceeds generated by their work. It is pitiful that workers who are in union jobs do not support their union and their fellow workers by crossing picket lines to continue to work during a strike. Yes the drivers and other workers at UPS lost income during the strike but their efforts and sacrifice have made the future more secure for them and for the workers that UPS will hire in the future. It is no secret that working for UPS is a very desirable job and this is largely due to the fact it is a union shop. Leonard Smith Imperial, NE.