Acting for the Public Good

Rating:  Worthy
Author:  Fred Wedemier, Dallas/Downtown
"Acting for the Public Good"

Congratulations to the voters of Ohio for voting down Issue 2 limiting collective bargaining rights. This is an obvious vote for the public good.

Now, when those collective bargaining agreements come up for renewal, let's hope that the Ohio unions also consider the public good when negotiating wages and benefits for their members.

Do we have a right to expect to expect this of them? You bet we do.   Shall we hope for the best and expect more?  Yes.

I grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, the stronghold of the Teamsters union.  What often passed as being in the union members interests was too often that which was in the sole interest of the higher echelon of Teamsters' union and the members were the least of those considered.

In the south, where I find myself now, the "union" public persona has too often been the image of corruption and illegality.  Thereby, painting with a broad brush, an image of union members as out for their own benefit, no matter the cost to everyone else.

We have an absolute right to expect that those who deliver the message they represent the common worker conduct themselves in such a manner in the future that such workers not necessarily be a member of their union, but any one who supports their union through paying for those things deemed public goods, such as public sanitation services , highway improvements, and public safety with their taxes, conduct themselves in a manner reflecting an understanding of from where that support comes.

Let us hope for more though. Hope that union members realize going forward, that what we want will always be greater than what we need.  That belonging to a special "class" of workers doesn't remove us from the "class" of workers in general.  And, most importantly, that the voters in Ohio gave them back an important privilege, and not a right.  Something which can be taken back as easily, through voting, as it was given.

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