Letters

<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   HAVE YOUR SAY Feel strongly about something? Share it with the community by writing a letter to the editor. You’ll need to include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) We reserve the right to edit letters, but if you keep yours to 250 words or less, we won’t ask you to shorten it. If your letter is published, please wait 30 days before submitting another. Send it to: E-mail: letters@heraldnet.com Mail: Letters section The Herald P.O. Box 930 Everett, WA 98206 Fax: 425-339-3458 Have a question about letters? Contact Carol MacPherson (cmacpherson@heraldnet.com or 425-339-3472).   Published: Tuesday, August 19, 2008 UNION BANNERS Tactic seems to rely on intimidation As president of Associated Builders & Contractors of Western Washington, I have monitored the carpenters union bannering campaign against numerous open shop contractors here and in other states. The union's campaign alleges that the targeted contractors don't pay "area standard wages" and should be dismissed by their project owners. When clients choose not to dismiss the contractors, the union engages in a bannering campaign against the project owners claiming that the client is in a labor dispute and that clients such as Housing Hope "hurt the community." The bannering does not mention the contractor but implies that the client hurts the community due to a labor dispute. The contractor's first knowledge of the union allegation of a labor dispute comes with a copy of the letter sent to their client. Prior to that letter, the contractors have no knowledge that they are in any dispute with the union. The letter asks that the client cease working with the contractor or the union will conduct a "highly aggressive information campaign" against all of the owners' businesses. In Western Washington, that has meant nonprofits, health care providers, churches, banks, restaurants and educational facilities. The point seems to be to intimidate the owners into stopping work with open shop contractors. Bannering is currently legal, but the tactic begs the question of ethics and motive. Ask open shop workers if they would prefer to join a union and they will most likely answer that they are well compensated and treated as individuals with their open shop employer. They are free to join a union at any time and have chosen not to. Even though there is an enormous labor shortage in the construction industry, union membership is on a steady decline. Is this truly an information campaign or one of intimidation? What is the union's real motivation -- worker parity or market share? Kathleen Garrity Mill Creek

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