The public sector unions have become very relevant in a most detrimental way ever since President Kennedy signed Executive Order 10988 in 1962, allowing the unionization of public employees. The symbiotic relationship between the public sector unions and the Democratic Party has driven many state and local governments into near bankruptcy. This has been well documented and need not be discussed further herein.

The private sector unions are another matter however. Their membership has steadily declined over the years whereby it is now less than 12 percent of the workforce due to right to work laws, worker apathy and public revulsion over labor leader excesses. This is unfortunate. Collective bargaining by unions carried out in an ethical and responsible manner is important to our society. Our financial system is highly dependent on a strong middle class. During the past few years the top tier have been earning more and more while the middle class and the underprivileged earnings have stagnated or gone downhill relative to inflation, thereby eroding the middle class. Increased union membership with responsible leaders may have mitigated this unfair trend. It is unlikely that the union membership will change, therefore it is imperative that the corporations realize that a large middle class is essential.

-- Jim Watkins, Pasco