Trying to weaken, destroy unions

To the editor:

I have noticed on news reports that the majority of Americans are against a government loan for auto manufacturers and also believe the workers are making too much in pay and benefits. It is apparent that they have bought into the lies that are emanating from Washington. I have talked to two recently retired auto workers who were making approximately $40,000 annually, and their retirement was cut by two-thirds when they began drawing Social Security benefits. This does not sound extravagant for someone who is trying to support a family and provide some measure of security for the future. I worked on a Ford truck assembly line for four months when farming got tough in the 1980s. It is some of the hardest work on earth.

Now, after giving trillions of dollars to the Wall Street fat cats with no questions asked, our leaders -- who really are not that concerned about domestic enterprises -- want our carmakers and the UAW to go through bankruptcy and restructuring. This will further their aim to weaken and destroy unions. Union scale sets a benchmark for all blue-collar workers. Without this, wages will go into free fall. Isn't this what the globalists want? After all, why are they moving to Mexico and China? American workers had better wake up, and soon.

ALBERT J. ZIMMER, Patton, Mo.