My father was a construction electrician. Attending trade school after World War II under the GI Bill (he was in the Army Air Force, serving in North Africa), he then apprenticed through the electrical workers union, the IBEW (Local 134). He made a good wage, especially for a man with only a high school diploma.
He worked hard and long hours, sometimes, always hoping for "overtime," especially those Sunday, holiday and overnight shifts when he earned "double bubble" wages. He would point with pride as we would sometimes go into Downtown Chicago, traveling from our comfortable, but modest, home in the north suburbs, to the skyscrapers that make Chicago's skyline one of the most beautiful in the world: the Sears Tower (now the Willis Tower), the AON Building (then the Standard Oil Building), the John Hancock Building, McCormick Place, and so many others.
He helped build my alma mater, the University of Illinois at Chicago, and the vast expansion many years ago of O'Hare International Airport. He was a lifelong Democrat, teaching us that the labor unions made our lives possible. When he died, the IBEW took care of my mother, who was legally blind, helping her stay independent in many ways with my dad's union pension and medical coverage.
The Republicans would have us believe that labor unions are evil, the bane of forward progress in this country. They must be sought out and destroyed. The Repulbicans are wrong.
We look derisively down at China and other countries where labor is cheap, working conditions are horrific, and where we acquire nearly all our own goods. Made in the U.S.A. is a great slogan, but I'll bet you that fewer than 20 percent of your clothing is made here, and nearly none of your (or my) electronic gizmos. Yet, it wasn't so long ago that American factories and mines were sweatshops, or places so unsafe or unhealthy that worker mortality was common. Wages were barely enough to eke out a living, much less give your children a better life.
Unions helped build the great middle class, helped make this country strong and prosperous for our generation. They are not evil; they have been, and still are in many ways, the hardworking backbone of our nation. Tough economic times call for compromise, and the unions have done that, saving airlines, auto companies, school districts and more, understanding the great stake they have in the success of their industries. They are not perfect, but neither are the companies they help build.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Igor
You're right, Barbara.
2 - barbara barnett
That "I built that" mentality, so lauded by the Republicans these days made me furious. My thoughts landed on my dad this morning, and I simply had to channel them.
I wonder what Studs Terkel would have written about "I built that."
3 - Glenn Contrarian
You and I both know what Studs Terkel would have thought, but because he would have had an opinion that would have been, shall we say, unflattering of today's GOP, he would have been instantly branded either a socialist, a communist, a fascist, a tool of the left-wing MSM, a moonbat, a bleeding-heart liberal, and as someone who "just doesn't understand America".
4 - Not the liberal actor
Barbara, I must agree with your assessment of unions as worker representatives. But they have lately become political hacks, not their initial or intended purpose. This link and this link and this link illustrate my point. If unions return to their original purpose, they will do a great job. If, however, the union "leadership" continues to force members to contribute to a single political party, then criticism will continue.
Plus, I seem to remember that Barack Obama and Elizabeth Warren said, "You didn't build that." Are you, as you apparently in comment # 2 are, saying they are wrong?
5 - barbara barnett
Warren B--But destroying the unions (as the GOP seems bent on doing for a variety of reasons) is not the answer either. The unions, flawed as they are have for decades in this country in many ways have forestalled the decline (if not destruction) of the middle class.
They said "they didn't build that..." without a lot of help. They referred to "the evil" government. I extended the argument to everyone else involved in creating one success.
6 - Not the liberal actor
Re: comment # 5, Barbara, I don't remember anything in my comment # 4 saying that unions be destroyed, just return to their ORIGINAL purpose. And have you seen this link?
And, you say, "They said "they didn't build that..." without a lot of help. They referred to "the evil" government. I extended the argument to everyone else involved in creating one success." Can you offer substantion, or is that your interpretation and/or opinion?
7 - Glenn Contrarian
Warren -
Can you offer substantion, or is that your interpretation and/or opinion?
How well will a business succeed if there are no taxpayer-funded roads? Or employees educated well enough to do their jobs well? Or government regulation to ensure that the business has reliable access to water, power, sewage, police and fire protection?
Warren, NO business can prosper without taxpayer support, as the above paragraph clearly shows. You get what you pay for - and if you're not willing to pay the taxes necessary to provide for the education and roads and regulation that enable your business to succeed, then you're not willing to pay what it takes to live in a first-world nation.
I do so wish I could take you to the Philippines so you could see what life is like when government is truly small and weak, when tax laws are weak and often unenforceable, where there's little regulation of business and what life is like where what America calls "right to work" is applied on a nationwide basis.
8 - Not the liberal actor
Re: comment # 7, Glenn, you offer your opinion rather than substantion.
Watch this. Glenn, ANY business can prosper without taxpayer support, as the above paragraph clearly shows. See, that's my opinion, worth exactly what yours is worth.
9 - barbara barnett
Warren--Give me an example.
10 - Glenn Contrarian
Warren -
Watch this. Glenn, ANY business can prosper without taxpayer support, as the above paragraph clearly shows. See, that's my opinion, worth exactly what yours is worth.
Oh? Okay then, that means you're saying that ANY business doesn't need roads for its customers or its suppliers, educated employees, or reliable access to water, power, sewage, police and fire protection.
I'll repeat Barbara's question - can you give us a single example of a business that needs zero taxpayer support? Here's a hint: there are none in the modern world - not even online businesses would qualify. But you go right on ahead and give us an example, y'hear?
11 - Glenn Contrarian
And Warren -
See, that's my opinion, worth exactly what yours is worth.
So if my opinion is that 2+2=4 and your opinion is 2+2=chitlins, your opinion is worth exactly what mine is?
Whatever.
12 - Not the liberal actor
Re: comment # 9, Barbara, I TRIED to give you two examples, but twice my response got rejected.
13 - Glenn Contrarian
Of course they did. That's why you were able to post #11. Did your 'examples' use links? If so, just give the names and where they're at.
I can't wait - THIS I've just got to see!
14 - Not the liberal actor
Re: comment # 13, Glenn, including links has worked before - see comment # 4.
But anyway, here goes. Barbara, in response to comment # 9, try this: It documents (not an opinion or interpretation) how Obama bailed out the UAW.
15 - barbara barnett
Warren. Two things. A Heritage Foundation analysis (this, by the way, is an opinion piece) is hardly objective. But I (and Glenn) asked you to give us an example of a business success story that needed no help or support from the government or from anyone else.
16 - seancabrillo
As a navy vet, I was educated by the U.S. navy, University of California undergrad, and NPS . I now run my own secure document and shredding business. Obama should have said: "You didn't build that ALONE." I am grateful for the opportunities govt. gave me. and disdainful of a Romney/Ryan experiment in withdrawing health care, Pell grants, support for public education, etc...
I didn't shed blood, sweat over the books, and bust my butt building my business, to further benefit Romney's billionaire buddies.
17 - barbara barnett
welcome, seancabrillo! Well said. Obama actually did say that. The quote spread by the GOP was truncated and out of context.
18 - Christine
I am horrified to see that so many are still drinking the Kool-Aid. Do you even know what you're fighting about? I guarantee most wouldn't be able to give a half viable argument as to WHAT exactly Obama has done that's so wonderful. However, given the chance at rail-roading the other...?? It seems like it's the popular thing to do. Facts and our country's future are less and less important, but building the "big bad republicans" to be the evil, rich and greedy is done so readily.
Obama has been blaming Bush since PRIOR to day one of his presidency. Of course he wouldn't ever take any responsibility for not digging out of the mess, he condones pushing one's personal responsibility onto the shoulders of fellow-Americans.
19 - Glenn Contrarian
seancabrillo -
NPS? I was in class 8204, where I found out a rural Mississippi education just did not prepare one for NPS, and so I soon became nuke waste - and gained a lot of respect for those who made it through.
But I'll always be grateful for what I learned in my Naval career - good on you, shipmate!
20 - Glenn Contrarian
Christine -
bin Laden is dead, GM is alive. The Dow is double what it was. We're out of one war and we'll be out of the other in less than two years. Any Republican would be shouting to the rooftops with pride if a GOP president had accomplished these things in his first term given what Obama faced on his first day - an economy in full meltdown losing 800K jobs per month and two wars...but since it was a Democrat, well, THAT means none of what he accomplished counts, right?
And as far as blaming Bush goes, it takes a lot longer to rebuild a house after someone burned it down...but you don't start blaming the one trying to rebuild the house, do you? No, you blame the stupid individual who set it on fire in the first place. That, and you do NOT replace the one rebuilding the house with one whose policies and political beliefs are just as bad but more extreme than the one who initially set the fire.
21 - Chris
Does anyone else see the irony in the GOP using "We built this" as a slogan at a convention dominated by speeches about "how bad things are" in America today?
22 - Dr. Joseph S. Maresca
Labor/Management relations is easier during good times. The hard times bring about more conflicts because there is a smaller pie. During the Great Depression, management took bonuses in the form of stock options. They were rewarded handsomely for their sacrifices after the Great Depression. Labor clearly benefits from the social safety net which government provides along with funded pensions and worker savings.
Infrastructure is physically put into place by the toil of many workers. Professional accountants, lawyers, engineers and others do the planning so that projects can go forward. The government facilitates the process by approving permits and sometimes participating in securing funds in the form of grants and long term financing.
23 - Igor
@18-Chrstine: there's an extensive list of Obamas accomplishments at list of Obama achievements, and every one includes reference citations.
There are several categories, here are the first two:
Arts and Culture
Increased funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to the highest level since 1992. ref, ref, ref
Created an artist corps for public schools. ref
Championed the importance of arts education. ref
Promoted cultural diplomacy. ref
Banking and Financial Reform
BROAD POLICY:
Established the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. ref
Established President’s Advisory Council on Financial Capability to assist in financial education for all Americans. ref, ref , ref
Restoring American Financial Stability Act of 2010. ref, ref
Dodd-Frank (DF) Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the biggest financial reform law since the Great Depression. ref
Managed the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) ref
Assigned a Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program Act of 2009. ref
Pension relief Act of 2010. ref
Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act. ref, ref
Played a lead role in G-20 Summit re: financial crisis. ref
Reformed deferral rules to curb tax advantages for investing overseas. ref
Established new offshore investment policy that promotes in-sourcing. ref, ref
FUNDING:
Cut salaries for 65 bailout executives (Pay Czar). ref
Banks have repaid 75% of TARP funds, bringing the cost down to $89B as of June 2010. ref
Closed offshore tax safe havens, tax credit loopholes. ref , ref , ref
TARGETED ACTIONS:
Created the Financial Stability Oversight Council to monitor stability of the financial system and individual firms (DF). ref
New requirements for reporting financial data (DF). ref
Created self-funded Office of Financial Research (OFR) to collect information from financial firms (DF). ref
OFR employees must wait a year before working for certain financial firms. ref
Provided for orderly liquidation of financial companies (DF). ref
Limited trading activities of banks (Volcker Rule) beginning 2 yrs after passage (DF). ref
Swaps Pushout Rule prevented federal assistance to swaps (including derivatives) traders (DF). ref
Derivatives must be traded transparently through a clearing house (DF). ref
Defined the amount and nature of assets required to meet capital requirements (DF). ref
Originators of asset-backed securities must retain 5% ownership/risk (DF). ref
Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (DF). ref
Stronger client fiduciary duty for broker-dealers (DF). ref
Higher standards for securities advertising and disclosures (DF). ref
Expanded “insider loans” (DF). ref
Higher standards for sytemically important ($50 billion assets+) institutions, including annual stress tests and restrictions on bank acquisitions (DF). ref
Executive compensation must be determined by an independent committee (DF). ref
Issued compensation guidelines for bank executive salary and bonuses. ref , ref
Financial agencies must establish Offices of Women and Minorities to promote more diverse hiring (DF). ref
Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act. ref, ref
Credit CARD Technical Corrections Act of 2009. ref
Established a credit card bill of rights. ref
Reformed credit card swipe fees. ref
Created new criminal penalties for mortgage fraud. ref
Congress pursued Goldman Sachs for securities violations. ref
Permanently extended Research and Experimentation Tax Credit for domestic investments. ref
RESULTS:
(Treasury) Sold 1.5 billion shares of Citigroup at a profit. ref
G-20 summit produced a $1.1 trillion deal to combat the global financial crisis. ref
Negotiated deal with Swiss banks to permit US government to gain access to records of tax evaders and criminals. ref
Financial reform has ‘strongest consumer financial protections in history.’ ref
Section curator:
Here's a list of all the categories:
Arts and Culture
Banking and Financial Reform
Civil Rights
Commerce, Trade and technology
Conservation
Economy
Education: College
Education: Health of Children
Employment: Jobs
Energy: Green
Energy: Old
Energy: Oil
Foreign Affairs and International Relations
Government Efficiency
Health and Wellness
Health Care Reform (See also Taxes)
Housing
Humanitarianism
Immigration
Infrastructure
Labor
Law and Justice
Medicaid/Medicare/Social Security
Military and National Security
Military Veterans and Families
National Disasters and Emergencies
National Service
Scientific and Medical Research
Space Exploration and Space Station
Taxes
Transparency and Accountability
Recovery, Progress and Change
Miscellaneous
24 - Bob
@4 You agree with Barbara on representation, but use your first link to prove your point. I see a Union representing it's members. The workers were promised a pension as part of their agreed upon wage package. I am tired of "restructuring" used as a means to steal loyal workers pensions, union or not. Your second link I am guessing you are referring Obama's relationship with the SEIU. Democrats have traditionally been pro labor and pro union. Republicans pro business and corporations. I can say four years ago Candidate Obama did ask the SEIU and other unions for an endorsement. He sat over two hours speaking frankly with the SEIU. There was NO taboo subjects. Can we say the same for the other candidate? Third link looks like someone threw up a website with their beliefs (unless Andrew Dart is someone I should know. lol). There are strict Federal rules covering dues. Union PAC money is seperate. SEIU as by law, allows it's members to optout of political contributions. I worked with members that did optout of the SEIU PAC. IBEW gives you a slip when you accept a job with an employer. You make a choice each time if you like to contribute. IBEW also has merchandise you can purchase whose profits go to PAC. Unions and it's members vote for canidates that are supportive a the labor movement. I have not worked for all Union's, so I can not omment on the others. We do split our vote. Collective bargaining rights and the good unions have done is being constantly attacked. Unions have no other choice but to have a political voice.
@ Barbara, I have been with the IBEW five years now. (Local 176) I am so proud to be part of this family. The compassion and generosity I have witnessed is unparalleled. We know the living wage's and safe working conditions we enjoy came from the suffering and hard work of your father and those before him. Brotherhood to the end, RIP fine Sir.
25 - barbara barnett
It's great to read the discussion generated by my article, whichever side of it you're on! Chris--Fantastic catch about the irony. "I built this." Yep, they surely did build – this mess.
Bob. Welcome! My dad and my grandfather (my mom's father) were both IBEW Local 134 guys. My dad was an electrician on big construction jobs from the time he finished trade school to the week he died in 1980 at a too-young age. The IBEW was there for my mother when he died, keeping us all on his insurance, and making life possible for our mother.
The response to this column makes up for my not winning the Samuel Gompers scholarship (which required an essay) so very long ago (LOL).