Unions affect wages

With the shrinking of union membership in this country, the working citizens had little to celebrate on Labor Day.

Since 1950, union membership has declined from 35 percent of the workforce to 11 percent of it. This has had a negative impact on the median family income. Unions had their greatest influence from the end of World War II until 1980. During this time worker productivity increased by approximately 100 percent and the median family income adjusted for inflation also increased by approximately 100 percent. Since then unions have steadily lost influence. Between 1980 and the present, productivity increased almost 200 percent, but the median family income adjusted for inflation only rose by 13 percent.

For unions to increase membership, it would help to legalize the card check sign-up system. Under this procedure, employees sign authorization cards stating they want a union in their workplace. The signed cards are submitted to the National Labor Relations Board, and if cards for more than 50 percent of the employees are submitted the NLRB requires the employer to recognize the union.

Another problem is right-to-work laws. Right-to-work laws allow employees to benefit from union representation without paying dues or a fee. This weakens a union's ability to participate in politics and negotiate for better wages. In other words, right-to-work legislation is really a sponsorship of the right to work for less money and fewer benefits.

If our politicians care about wage stagnation, I suggest that they support unions on these two issues.

JOHN PIEPHO, Cape Girardeau