Letters To The Editor

BUSINESS AND LABOR

All working people have a stake in this

I attended the recent labor rally at the fairgrounds, not so much to listen to the political speeches as to hear what other union people were saying about what’s taking place at their workplaces.

While not a total surprise to me, I learned that most of the very things that put the Kaiser Steelworkers out on strike are very common to all of us: management that does not care about anything but the bottom line and will let us make any sacrifice to get there. Lower wages, longer hours, mandatory overtime - sound familiar? How about contracting-out your work, hiring part-time or temporary workers to do your job?

We all - and I do not just mean union workers but all working people - need to give our strong support to the Kaiser workers. What happens to them will very likely affect us down the road.

It is well known that when union workers do better, so do all workers. Allen A. Anderson International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 73, Spokane

Start those job cuts higher up

I am a union member with the Local 338 Steelworkers and I want to emphasize that I agree with the last statement that Kaiser CEO George Haymaker made to the public about being able to operate the plants with 600 to 900 fewer employees.

The place where our opinions differ is that he feels it should come from union positions and I feel that it needs to come from supervisory positions.

While we have been out on strike the company has made it a point to let everyone know - or at least think - that the plants are running close to 100 percent capacity. This is being accomplished through supervisors doing many of our jobs while we’re out. Who is doing the supervisors’ jobs? It’s obvious to me that their positions with the company are not being filled and things are running smoothly.

Maybe it’s time for Haymaker to take a good hard look at the fact that many of these people in upper management are not needed. It is time to start taking off the fat of the company and start striving toward a better goal for everyone involved. It’s time to trim upper management instead of expecting the union to give up more jobs. Susan Amaral Coeur d’Alene

Reform skills certification law

Kaiser Trentwood had about 90 journeyman electricians until the strike. Fewer than 10 percent have current journeyman licenses.

The Washington state law for journeyman electricians does not cover plants like Kaiser Trentwood, Boeing, etc. Trentwood is one of the most complex electrical sites in the state.

The electrical law has a ratio of one licensed journeyman to one trainee for four years of experience (8,000 hours). Verification of hours has to be by an electrical contractor, IBEW union or training director.

In my case, I was trained to be an electrician by the U.S. Navy and later took electrical college courses to extend my education to become a journeyman. I have been a journeyman for 31 years, with 19 years at Kaiser Trentwood. This should be enough hours to take the general electrical journeyman test.

The national electrical code is filled with exceptions. It’s time to make exceptions and change the law. William L. Keating Spokane

Forget letters and sign fair contract

On Oct. 28, Kaiser sent a letter to its union membership informing them how to cross the picket line.

Three days later, Kaiser big shot George Haymaker tells us that Kaiser will need 900 fewer of us. It seems Kaiser and Haymaker should have gotten together earlier. They could have saved a lot of postage because it’s evident they sent out 900 more letters than they needed. That made the third time they have begged us to cross. It is obviously a scare tactic by the pathetic management they have.

If they want us back, sign a contract. Only make it a fair one. Do not offer me less money in salary and my own stock, and tell me you’re trying to raise my standard of living. If it is such a good deal, why don’t Kaiser big boys work for the same contract?

My next question is, how long before you have more salaried people than workers? That will truly be cost-effective as salaried people make more than union workers. Maybe that will be big shot Haymaker’s next project - to cut the salaried force’s pay or manpower.

Hey Haymaker, do both. I bet you have convinced them they are truly valued, too. I, too, was valued, as long as there was something you could take from me. C. David Lamphier Coeur d’Alene

THE MEDIA

Watch what you refer to as Greek

The Washington State University Greek Affairs staff would like to voice its concern regarding local media coverage of WSU Homecoming weekend. Stories such as “Violence erupts on Greek row” (KXLY Channel 4, Oct. 13) and headlines in the Spokesman-Review (“Violence hits Greek row again,” Oct. 14), the Moscow-Pullman Daily News, (“More troubles for Greek row,” Oct. 13) and the Lewiston Tribune “Violence flares on WSU’s Greek row,” Oct. 14) are inaccurate and sensationalized.

Arrests were made on campus during homecoming weekend and unfortunately, officers did have to physically restrain people. However, no members of WSU’s Greek system were arrested and no violence or alcohol policy infractions occurred at fraternity houses or Greek events.

It appears local news agencies sensationalize reports to increase viewership or readership. This is evident in KXLY News 4 running video footage of last springs’ disturbance during the homecoming weekend story.

Not all campus-area events are Greek events and not all College Hill-area events are considered “Greek row.” We feel that associating all events on Colorado Street with “Greek row” is unprofessional and misleading. Is there a media agenda to slander the Greek system?

Part of good reporting is understanding and accurately reporting facts. In the future, we would welcome inquiries into situations allegedly involving students or situations in the College Hill area. We, the Greek Affairs staff, as well as your viewers/readers, would appreciate reliable, accurate news coverage. Daniel J. O’Connor and Anita J. Cory coordinators of Greek Affairs, Washington State University, Pullman

IDAHO VIEWPOINTS

Bear hassle points up pawns problem

Re: “Counties take stand against bears,” (Oct. 22). Unfortunately, a number of Idaho residents don’t realize the Civil War is over. The states’ rights-vs.-federal government dispute was settled and the Union won. The United States is just that: a strong federal government, not a relatively loose confederation.

Legislators (like Chenoweth, Craig and Kempthorne) promoting Idaho’s sovereign rights above all else while begging for federal funds without fiscal accountability are doing so because the PACs paying their way like the big-fish-in-a-small-pond mentality that has given them a stranglehold on Idaho politics.

It is intellectual stagnation encouraged by the promoters of less education for Idaho’s children. An educated electorate will not allow itself to be dictated to by robber barons and their stooges. Bobbi J. Dalton Coeur d’Alene

Let’s cut down on the surprises

Re: “Mudslide’s size surprised engineers,” (Nov. 1). I think the engineers on this site should seek jobs for which they are maybe better qualified. Richard J. Grantham Bonners Ferry

Rankin in denial, again

Re: “Kids grill the candidates, stage their own election,” (Oct. 29). Kootenai County Commissioner Ron Rankin’s latest in a long line of dismissive statements concerning racism in Kootenai County should not go unchallenged. We have race-based violence, race-based hate literature and racist material submitted in public forums. One would have to be a fool or a liar to deny its presence.

To continue this absurd denial gives aid and comfort to criminals who would commit such violence. That is hardly the stance a leader would take. Jerry Shriner Coeur dAlene