I am a member of a labor union. I recognize the good that they do and I also recognize that unions frequently are moved to excess. The same is true for management. In industry, labor and management have different goals, goals that almost always place them in opposition to each other. They have a shared destiny in that if the company fails, they both go down in flames. They share on the upside as well. If a company is exceedingly prosperous, both the stockholders and employees can prosper as well; however, many times if labor prospers it is at the expense of the stockholders and vice-versa.
Management has an obligation to the stockholders. If management were in bed with the labor unions they would be guilty of both malfeasance and misfeasance. Just imagine what would happen if the labor unions at Boeing had the ability to force the company officers out, that is, fire their management. It would not take long before union demands had a very serious impact on company performance. First the unions would deprive them of the cash required to develop new products. Boeing would have to increase their prices resulting in a loss of market share and could result in lower profits (law of diminishing returns).
This is exactly what is happening in Greece. Public employees? Labor unions have learned that they can fire their boss; that is, elected officials. Any elected official who will not support the agenda of these unions finds themselves the target of these labor unions. If they raise tax rates, actual tax receipts go down. They are in a no-win situation. They need more money, but if they raise or lower tax rates, they lose money. Businessmen face the same issue. They can only increase prices so much before they price themselves out of the market; alternatively, they cannot stay in business if the lower prices below their actual costs.
The same thing is happening in California. One state representative, with a sterling record for being tough on crime, found himself the target of police and firefighters labor unions because he did not support a bill that would have allowed them to retire at age 50 at 100 percent of their salary. These unions went door to door. Police officers told people that this representative was soft on crime.
Who are you going to believe, the politician or the police officer? The people believed the officer and replaced him with someone who would vote for the pension package the unions wanted. Now California is unable to meet its financial obligations. Every time they increase taxes, more businesses leave the state or go out of business and they get less money, not more.
Washington is on the same path. Our public employees’ labor unions are out of control. They have financed the campaigns of many candidates for the state House and Senate. They expect a return on their investment. If they don’t give the unions what they want, they will not only lose their support, but become their target. State Sen. Tracey Eide (D-District 30) and State Rep. Mark Miloscia (D-District 30) cannot win re-election to office if they do not give the unions what they want. They also cannot balance the budget if they do give in to their demands. The state Legislature is the Board of Directors for the state. They have an obligation to the voter. Taking money from public employees’ labor unions is a conflict of interest and constitutes both malfeasance and misfeasance.
The state budget has exploded over the last six years, increasing by 17 percent in 2005 and 2006 alone. The budget is unsustainable. All this has been driven by the demands of state employees and their labor unions. Like Will Rodgers said: “We have the best politicians money can buy.” And they are bought and paid for.
If you want the state of Washington to follow the same path as Greece and California, vote Democrat. However, if you want to see a return to fiscal sanity, choose some other course. I know not what course others may take, but as for me, I am voting for Tony Moore and Shawn Sullivan. Tracey Eide and Mark Miloscia do not deserve to be returned to office. They are a big part of the problem. Tracey is the floor leader for the Senate Democrats and as such owns the current fiscal disaster.
Paul R. Stone, Federal Way
