The various unions that are struggling to justify their relevancy to the workers cause the present quagmire our government finds itself in. Consider the current level to which our labor laws have evolved, the individual worker has all the basic tools to use in seeking redress for his grievances. Thus unions have had to justify their existence by being confrontational and by using demagoguery, maybe I should be more specific and say union leaders, union officials, have become demagogues. So much so that many have sought elective public office and quite a few have succeeded in becoming elected representatives.
It is my studied opinion and belief that we the people should demand of our elective representatives to restore the merit system throughout our government, one similar to the federal government. Individuals earn their salary increases based on production and regular evaluation. Unions permit unmerited increases to undeserving workers, to nonproductive workers. It is not beneficial to our government to have to keep unproductive workers on the payroll as the unions demand. The merit system allows for increased productivity among government workers because there is an incentive for productivity; it is a much fairer system. Most people believe in fairness, therefore we should promote fairness, justice for all. The merit system is the fairest way of the alternatives. The union leaders only seek to justify their existence with government workers, remember the government is all of us. The government is not "them" it is all of us, let us protect it from misuse and abuse. It is our tax dollars that maintain the government. In the beginning people went in to government service out of patriotism, it was a privilege to serve in government. Some others sought refuge in government service as a secure place of employment and did not mind the low pay in exchange for security and fringe benefits. Today employees want everything they do not get in the private sector: Security, fringe benefits and high salary. Very few are willing to sacrifice for the good of the government. They seldom ask: What can I give my government? But they rather ask: What is it all I can get from the government? What a change in attitude and performances over the years!
There are still a few persons willing to give of themselves for the good of our community, of our government, are you among them?
J.J. Estemac
St. Thomas
