From about the '40's until probably the '80's the unions had a role which actually went beyond the union membership.

Not only did unions bring blue collar workers into the middle class, but because of the pressure of combitition from union shops those industries which had to compete with unionized business had to increase wages and benefits to get employees.

Equally, if not more important was that unions actually acted as the brake on the excesses of business. When government was not willing to act, unions used their ability to mobilize the work force as a tool of control.

Pray, it's important for you keep those two pieces of information in front of you and to think about them. Because when I stated in the previous message about the race to bottom is in fact occuring now, as I write.

Wages are being cut, or rising at a rate below inflation. Pensions plans are going, being replaced by 401K's, some of which are heavily invested in that corporation's stock (Psst - Enron, Fremont), or those defined benefit plans that workers were counting on? Ooops. Sorry, but the bosses needed that money. Medical benefits? Gone. Do you want to buy an insurance policy which works for you as long as you don't need it?

Who, pray tell, is controlling the excesses of business? Is the government? What's the ratio of CEO pay to employees? Where's the regulation of pollution? Notice how quickly the Feds are jumping on the Supreme Court's decision on CO2? Have you heard, o'm'gosh. . .Hershey wants to replace cocoa butter with vegetable oil and call that - chocolate?

Workers loosing income, benefits flying away faster than a speeding bullet, corporations adultrating food, and stealing from their work force. And you say the union's time has passed?

Do you have a better idea.

Perhaps you do. . .Pray