Praise of unions not merited

Published 2:51 pm Tuesday, August 18, 2009

I loved Ms.Turner’s defense of unions (“Unions aren’t the bad guys here,” Aug. 12 Kent Reporter opinion page.) I fully agree that unions have contributed a great deal to our society as it is today. Without them we wouldn’t have to be bailing out GM and Chrysler because their workers make twice what Nissan’s and Toyota’s do. We wouldn’t have to be worrying about Boeing moving to South Carolina. School people wouldn’t drive Lincolns and Cadillacs while most of us drive Focuses and Chevies.

I particularly liked her focus on the teacher’s union’s love for children and education. If they are so concerned about quality education, why are they opposed to merit pay for the best teachers?

Everyone loves children. Everyone loves the middle class. The teacher’s union loves teachers. That’s the way it’s supposed to be.

Bob O’Bryan

Kent