Re: Dale Sweitzer's Nov. 25 commentary, "Blame the unions":
Sweitzer seem to be of the opinion that the American automakers' meltdown is the fault of the auto union members -- the ones who do the real work, assembling the vehicles. But they don't determine what kinds they build. No, that's left up to the CEOs. They decided to build those Hummers, Escalades, giant SUVs, etc.
The auto industry meltdown is less than 5 percent of the economic disaster we are now in. I guess Sweitzer also blames the unions for all the problems of AIG, Bear-Stearns, Lehman Bros., Washington Mutual, Citigroup, etc. But I don't think many of them have unions. What they do have in common is way overpaid, incompetent CEOs.
The autoworkers in Detroit make an average of $28 per hour, plus benefits. That is nearly the same as the Japanese plants in the south. The difference is the promised pensions for the former U.S. autoworkers who retired 10, 20 or 30 years ago. I guess Sweitzer would like to throw those old workers out on the street. Who cares about promises and agreements that were given?
The best way for us to help bring back the middle class is by studying history starting after World War II. Because of unions, back then a father could buy a house and support his family while Mom could stay home and raise the kids. During the last 30 years, with the slow demise of unions and benefits, most moms had to go to work just to survive, and the middle class kept shrinking, especially in the last eight years, but most of all, in the last few months.
Vastly inept, overly compensated CEOs and their boards all seem to think that multimillion-dollar incomes, corporate jets and golden parachutes are still part of their entitlement, even if they bankrupt the business. Now the time has come to bring back unions and let shareholders have a say in how these CEOs and boards do their jobs. Maybe we should send these corporate heads down to the assembly line for a few days and they might learn how to actually do a job.
Bringing back unions would revitalize and help restore our middle class. It's time for change. During the last 30 years, the pendulum has gone way too far to the right. It's now time for it to go back to the left and help the common man.
-- John L. Thawley, Santa Paula