Regarding the Thursday letter, I answer the question, “Where’s the outcry about unions?” by asking, outcry for what?
Corporations and conservative politicians have for decades sought to weaken the power of unions. The federal government reports that in 1945 one in three workers were union members, and by 1979 union membership had declined to 13.9 percent. Today, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, membership is around 12.4 percent.
Unions may gain some strength with this new Supreme Court ruling, which can be a good thing in the balance of power. Corporations, however, still have a huge advantage and political voice.
Union leadership is accountable to union members. If accountability is missing, members can vote to change leadership much like any political election. I’m an average stockholder, and I haven’t been able to vote anyone off the boards of companies whose stock I own. I wonder why that is?
Michael Dahlstrom
Everett
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