Unions represent federal workers who don’t pay dues Re: “Labor law needs an overhaul to protect workers,” Editorial, Jan. 30
Your Monday editorial, which described my federal-sector union as a “powerhouse,” asserted that “23 states have right-to-work laws that protect workers who choose not to join unions, and federal employees are not even covered by these laws. The result is effectively a union shop.”
In fact, the federal government is an open shop. No one is required to join a union. What this means in practice is that everyone in the bargaining unit votes for union representation and benefits from the union. Nevertheless, since federal employees do not have to pay dues, most of them in the bargaining unit do not join. We are required to represent them anyway. If we discriminate in favor of union members, we face an unfair labor practice action before the Federal Labor Relations Authority. No union is a “powerhouse” in such an environment.
Unions dislike “right to work” laws because there is no incentive for those in the bargaining unit to pay dues. Thus, unions are much weaker in “right to work” states because they cannot afford to exist in an environment where only 10 percent of those covered choose to pay dues. “Right to work” means no real unionization.
Contrary to your editorial, we are not covered by the Wagner Act. Federal employees cannot bargain over wages, medical benefits and pensions. No dues money can go to political campaigns, and Hatch Act restrictions limit the roles union leaders are allowed to play.
However, unions often save taxpayers money by promoting efficiency and pressing management to be better organized, with less layers of supervision. We are the real ombudsmen in the federal government.
I know The Washington Examiner’s anti-union animus, but you should at least be accurate when making allegations. If you knew the facts, you might even support legislation that strengthens federal-sector unions.
Of course, I do not expect such a change, although I continue to read The Examiner because the price (free) is right and at least the sports and theater sections are objective.
Eddie Eitches
President, Local 476 (HUD)
American Federation of Government Employees
Popular vote’ gives advantage to urban Democrats
Re: “National Popular Vote Compact won’t be popular, or democratic,” Jan. 30
I echo Ed Gillespie’s sentiments regarding the “National Popular Vote” movement, which has snuck through state legislatures across the country and will result in a concentration of voter strength in the largest U.S. cities.
Statistically, this will provide an advantage for Democrats over Republicans. The only jurisdictions that have approved the measure are Maryland, New Jersey, Illinois, Hawaii, Washington, Massachusetts, the District of Columbia, Vermont and California — all bastions of liberal big government.
The way the Electoral College system currently works gives voters in every state a proportional voice. Changing it would severely diminish the voice of millions of rural voters. It’s time we stop this silent usurpation of our republican form of government.
Matthew Hurtt
Arlington
Metro workers take a vacation on the job
Re: “As commuters suffer, Metro demands cash,” Jan. 29
The recent closings of the Woodley Park and Cleveland Park Metro stations convey the fact that Metro had 12-plus workers being paid to do next to nothing. This tells me that I should have gotten a job at Metro instead of pursuing a college degree.
And we Metro riders are now supposed to endure fare hikes?
Brett J. Harris
Bethesda
