Unions in private and public sectors

Editor:

I respectfully disagree with Father Gregorio’s characterization of Catholics who object to the unionization of public employees as being against unions in general.

Any thinking person knows that unions have been very effective in correcting labor abuses in our country. There is a huge difference, however, between the unionization of employees in the private sector vs. unionization in the public sector.

Our public sector unions have become an unholy alliance between the representatives of public employees and our elected officials, on either side of the aisle, who accept enormous sums as political contributions, then reward these constituencies in kind once in office. There is no profit motive, as in private business, to constrain these officials and the rewards they deliver. The practice and the entire relationship have become abusive and has finally gotten the attention of the American people. The potential loss of these enormous political contributions is what has certain elected officials so exercised over this issue.

Regarding Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, to accept some temporary increase in contributions to pay packages in lieu of a complete overhaul of the way public employees and elected public servants conduct business would leave the entire structure in place for further abuse in the future.

Paul E. Rumley

Haddonfield