Regarding the Jan. 16 guest commentary, “SEIU’s dues collection from home-care workers is illegal”: I’m very disappointed that The Herald printed this attack on labor unions without a similar comment in response by the union. The guest commentary was written by a person affiliated with an organization dedicated to ensure all progressive policies enacted since Social Security became law are repealed.
Unions negotiate many things for their members. Salary, health benefits and safety, to name a few. Why should those who refuse to pay into the fund be allowed to benefit from those negotiations? Should we have a two-tiered system where those who pay their dues get the wage increases, medical insurance and other benefits, while those who have opted out are free to negotiate their own contracts? Without the power of the many people banded together in a union, I wish them good luck with that.
The commentary goes on to complain that money collected goes toward political issues members don’t support. This is not an honest statement. It has been law for some time that dues collected from an individual cannot be used for political purposes if the union member requests it. It doesn’t bother me that other points of view are published in The Herald. What bothers me is the misinformation being spread by an otherwise reliable news source under the auspices of “guest commentary.” A number of readers have requested that you fact check these sources, but if you cannot or will not do that, at least allow an opposing commentary to be printed along with those pushing their agenda.
Karen Boe
Lake Stevens
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