Legalize Extortion, Buy A Governor

Via email from a reader, and appearing in yesterday's Cedar Rapids Gazette:

Gov. Chet Culver and Sen. Mike Gronstal say unions represent and work for everyone in a workplace, and that they should be paid by everyone, even those who don't want to join a union. Culver and Gronstal want to replace Iowa's right-to-work laws with union rules.

When the union first came to my employer, I gave it a chance to represent me. I signed up for payroll deduction and tried contacting stewards. For six months no one returned my calls. I was notified of meetings after they were over.

When I called payroll to stop dues payments, I got some nasty surprises. By union rules, payroll couldn't tell me at the outset that I'd signed up for 12 months. By union rules, I could not stop paying them. By union rules, there was a four-day window at the one-year anniversary of my sign-up when I could stop payments. If the paperwork wasn't done right or didn't reach payroll in time, I would pay another 12 months. My call to payroll was the only notification I would get, by union rules.

The union didn't care about my participation. It just wanted my money. The union's rules showed what was really important to them.

Over the years, I've seen the union attack hard-working, long-time, dedicated employees. I've seen horrible behavior rewarded. I've seen issues blown way out of proportion. I don't want them representing me or using my money for their so-called issues.

Union membership is at an all-time low of 12 percent because unions do not represent the average worker.

Culver wants new laws requiring the unwilling 88 percent majority to pay union dues. These new laws would legalize extortion. Unions will do anything for money, power and political influence. Buy a governor? Sure. Represent workers? No way.

Diana Johannes, Wellman

Ouch!