No need to expand collective-bargaining efforts in Arizona

Independent Newsmedia/Charlene Bisson

OPINION — This is a response to Annarose Lilly's recent letter, Arizonans deserve real bargaining power.

I read Ms. Lilly’s opinion with great interest. She seems to be advocating for labor unions either to be formed or expanded. 

In any event, my vote is firmly no. There is considerable evidence that labor unions, on the whole, have become more of a repository of funds that are ultimately contributed to liberal causes and/or politicians. A particular example is the American Federation of Teachers, which, lately, has done little to promote better educational practices or better classroom conditions.

Labor unions were originally organized to protect employees from exploitation, for example low pay, long hours, unsafe working conditions, no benefits. Their success for many years helped to balance the scales of injustice and inequality in industry. 

However, unions have become so powerful that their influence can affect election outcomes and policy decisions in arenas where they should have no business. Their political influence has evolved into an “it’s good for me but not for thee” philosophy.

Union members pay dues yet have very little or no influence on how that money is used. But most assuredly much of it is given to causes their membership has no interest in supporting.

Arizona’s labor laws are relatively fair, and there should be no need for new or additional collective-bargaining efforts unless and until there is an erosion of ethics and fairness.

This writer is using a pen name. Please submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.