Letter: Union’s got it all wrong in Wal-Mart fuss

Sunday, Sept. 19, 1999 | 1:33 a.m.

I live in the far northwest. When I first heard Wal-Mart would be building a new store, I was ecstatic. Not only would I now have everything I need within a few miles, I would have them at a savings of hundreds of dollars per year. Leave it to the unions to raise a stink.

First, they try to con County Commissioner Erin Kenny into barring Wal-Mart with a law. When the draft is finally read, it was so laughably stupid, it had to be withdrawn. So now they go out and "find" six workers who allege violations of the labor laws. Get real!

A few points the union is failing to realize:

* Cashiers, stock boys, etc., do not deserve $14-plus an hour. If they want that kind of money, the community college is always accepting new students. Higher-paid workers only result in the raising of prices.

* Uninsured workers are not the massive tax liability they claim. Sure, many can't afford health care, and it is thus provided by taxpayer-subsidized hospitals, but an individual's share of that burden is far less than the raising of prices higher wages would bring about.

* Nevada is a right-to-work state. If someone doesn't wish to work for Wal-Mart, they are free not to. They are also free to work there as they please. Right to work has such a nice American ring to it. Collective bargaining sounds, well ...

ERIK MADISON

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