Have you ever thought about the progress of our country during the twentieth century? Much of this progress occurred because of the labor movement. Our standard of living and our quality of life greatly improved during this time.

Such things as a forty hour work week, paid holidays, vacations, sick leave, safe working environments, health benefits, pension plans, and wage increases that were adjusted to rises in the cost of living all happened, because groups of workers joined groups, (unions). These workers sacrificed and fought for these benefits. Nothing was given to them. They had to negotiate for everything. They wanted a piece of the pie. They wanted fairness.

All of these demands made things better for a large majority in our country. The middle class expanded and our standard of living and life expectancy went up. We saw progress.

Today we see corporations and businesses trying to take back these benefits and a shrinking middle class. Regressive bargaining tactics like those going on in the present labor dispute in Rice Lake is a microcosm of what is going on in our country. Dues deduction and fair share (closed shop) are the lifeblood of the union. Unions give members a better standard of living.

If these regressive activities continue, I believe we are on our way to a lower standard of living. The countries that are buying our debt and where our jobs are being outsourced, will be the new countries of power—China, India, and possibly Japan. It is time we all look at the big pictures of what is happening.

I don’t believe we want to go back to the life Upton Sinclair depicted in his book The Jungle. Union workers fought and sacrificed to get our present standard of living, why regress?

Dee Taylor
Rice Lake, WI