LETTERS: MOST DON'T WANT UNION

To the editor:

Regarding the unionization of Jackson city employees: I would like to correct a misunderstanding. All of the television coverage and newspaper articles have, thus far, indicated that this is something every one of the employees want. That is just not the case. In fact, only a small minority of employees have pushed for this union -- pushed to the tune of harassment in some cases. Yet those of us who do not want the union have no means of retaliation, except to vote no. The majority of Jackson city employees who will vote March 19 will vote no. Of this I am sure.

An amazing revelation to me was to find out that two of the employees who are pushing so hard for the union have put their applications for employment in elsewhere, one place which has no union. Is that ironic or moronic?

I have been involved with the city of Jackson for over 15 years, and there have been quite a few times when I felt a particular situation called for an employee to be let go. (If I had been the boss, I would have fired them.) But they were not let go. The administration worked out a solution. That is their way. Nobody works for a perfect boss or bosses, certainly not those working for the government and public of the city of Jackson. But most of the time they try to do what is best or right, even if it is a bit shortsighted occasionally. May the pay is not the best in the world, but it is not the worst. When you add in the benefits, it comes out all right. Also, I can count on one hand the number of people fired in the last 20 years. Job security is not the issue if you do your job.

So why are a few disgruntled employees pushing for a union nobody wants? And why are some of those same employees trying to find jobs elsewhere, even before the vote has been cast? Maybe they are just unhappy with their lives in general and need a change. I say, try making that change in your own lives, not in the lives of your fellow employees. Believe it or not, some of us enjoy our jobs and the people we work with. But this union talk has caused a strain not only between the employers and employees, but between friends and family.

In my opinion, the union will not pass. But will the bad feelings between friends and co-workers, brought about by this situation, pass away? Will the harassment start all over again after March 19? Or will the few who want this keep pushing and stirring up trouble? Will be able to go back to work after the vote without this thick cloud of oppression hanging over our heads?

We can only hope.

LEZAH HARRISON

Jackson