ASK JACKSON

The Southeast Missourian asked people about the March 19 union election for Jackson city public works and utilities workers. If approved by a simple majority of 26 votes, then 51 of Jackson's 104 city workers would become members of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 702 based in West Frankfort, Ill.

Thomas Trovillion: "If it's what the employees want and the union has good benefits, and can take care of them, I think it would be great for them."

Virgil Settle: "I'm not against unions, but I don't think government workers should be unionized. I don't like to see anything that could disrupt the government, and that could if a strike happened."

Floyd Anderson: "I think the city workers deserve more than they are getting paid, and they also deserve the kind of benefits that a union would give them. With a union, the city could keep good, highly skilled personnel."

Tonya Buttry: "I would much rather see the workers and city officials work it out among themselves, as opposed to an outside union coming in. I think that would be best for all concerned."

Phyllis Scheper: "I don't think a union is really needed. I think unions have their places, but I don't think this happens to be one of them."