Only public sector unions are under siege

Letter: Don't confuse public, private union issues | Submit your letter

I support the labor movement. I was a public employee union member most of my life; I'm now retired.

I read the Newsday opinion piece "Fired up" [March 19] and was in agreement until I spotted what I believe is an attempt at deception.

Philip Dray, the author, stated that social reforms of the New Deal included "the guaranteed right of collective bargaining, which has been under siege today in Wisconsin, Ohio, Indiana and elsewhere across the nation."

The truth is that only the public sector unions are under siege. Another truth is that George Meany, former president of the AFL-CIO, stated, "It is impossible to bargain collectively with the government." And Franklin Roosevelt said, "A strike of public employees manifests nothing less than an intent on their part to prevent or obstruct the operations of government. Such action, looking toward the paralysis of government, ... is unthinkable and intolerable."

I don't necessarily agree with Meany and Roosevelt, but these were their words. We can't win our argument with deception.

Peter Kelly

Medford