Letters To The Editor

BUSINESS AND LABOR

Kaiser has made ‘change’ a dirty word

I remember Kaiser siding. There were samples aging in a field in Trentwood. I remember Kaiser foil. I saw a roll left over from a company picnic. I remember plants and products that were part of a once proud “Kaiser family.” All gone now, victims of change.

In the book, “A Special Difference,” a history of Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corp. by Mimi Stein (1980), they talk of change, growth and diversity. “At last count we had 96 plants and larger support facilities in the United States and were operating in 18 countries outside the United States either through wholly-owned subsidiaries or affiliates” (epilogue, page 185).

In the 1991 annual report, “Together We Build,” they state, “The company operates plants and major facilities at 26 locations in 10 states and five foreign countries. Altogether it employs more than 10,000 people.” (first page “description of business) By then, MAXXAM Inc. owned 87.3 percent of Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corp.

We know you want change (Kaiser “open letter,” Nov. 15). Change allowed owners, CEOs and high-ranking officers to extract millions of dollars from the company, increase debt, sell off assets and sell out employees. Change allowed the wage gap between managers and workers to become a canyon. Change is why we now operate only five plants in five states.

I agree that we need change. We need to change from corporate raiding, personal greed and financial callousness to the original values of Henry Kaiser. Oh, yeah, I remember the change at Ravenswood, W. Va., too. Richard M. Prete Chattaroy

Cut from the end that makes sense

Kaiser management wants to cut production jobs to be more profitable. Kaiser’s current management to production worker ratio is 1 to 3 - how can management say Kaiser’s efficient with a ratio like that?

Shouldn’t your first goal to cut costs be changing the ratio to, say, 1 to 6, then follow up by changing that to 1 to 9 and so on, until an acceptable average is achieved?

Since this strike began, your managers have been doing most of the production and maintenance work. Who is doing whatever they did? Probably them. Doesn’t that in itself show that these managers could be doing a whole lot more?

I propose combining management jobs and reducing the size of management to increase profits. It appears this is an area where you have room for reduction. If you cut 600 to 900 production jobs, all you’re doing is making your management-to-production worker ratio worse.

Kaiser, it worked for ALCOA. On their web site (http://www.millproducts-alcoa.com/history/1990.shtml) it tells how they achieved a better-managed operation by reducing management, investing in the mills and giving more decision making to the production workers.

It is time for change, Kaiser. It’s time to take the meat axe to management, not to the workers who actually do the work. Richard A Contabile Spokane

Kaiser gratitude nonexistent

Among the things Kaiser is asking our people to give up are the 40-hour week (forced overtime) and reasonable job security, through allowing the company power do away with our jobs in favor of unlimited contracting-out.

They told us that we should have pride in ownership of our jobs. We do have pride in our jobs. Every time they have a major problem, we work our rear ends off until we are up and running. The new sonic test: The operators and the maintenance personnel improved the output by 30 percent with long hours and a concern to do a well above average job.

Two years ago this month, we tackled one of the most important jobs ever done at Kaiser. We changed out all of the oil circuit breakers on the 7,200 v. switch gear, and replaced them with vacuum breakers. We worked 12 to 14 hours a day for about 16 days. Most of our homes were without power, thanks to the ice storm.

When I got home the first night of ice storm, my wife was cooking on a camp stove. We had no water, no power for the well. Almost all of the people working on the project with me were in the same boat. Nobody stayed home to take care of their personal problems; we all went to work to make sure that the plant was up and running on time.

The thanks we get for our effort is Kaiser hiring scabs to take our jobs before we went on strike.

Thanks, Kaiser! David Joe Gannaway Colbert

Flip a few burgers, then we’ll see

Re: “Ad for scabs hits home” (Letters, Nov. 19).

Sarah L. Cutler, in your letter you stated, “Previous burger flippers, come on down, we need morons like you.” Obviously, your job skills are rather limited or you would understand that the so-called burger flippers aren’t the morons you think they are. Try working in a busy fast food restaurant during the lunch rush. It would be interesting to see who the moron was. Andrew D. Larson Spokane

No-bargaining stance all wrong

Kaiser has been running a series of ads in The Spokesman-Review outlining its position in regard to various items that it has refused to discuss at the bargaining table. In fact, Kaiser has refused to discuss anything at the table for quite some time.

This is highly unethical, if not a violation of labor law. That this is being done this way is a good illustration of how corporate management can divorce itself from all moral and ethical standards. The Steelworkers are and always have been the chosen agent for Kaiser’s hourly employees in this area. In the past, those same union workers have readily chosen to accept contracts that were concessionary in nature, to ensure that Kaiser remains a viable business. Given this fact, aren’t those same workers owed enough respect to at least have these items brought forth on the table?

I remind Ray Milchovich, John Walker, George Haymaker et al that they should have been aware that our contract expired Sept. 30 and that they should’ve tried to formulate their requests by that date. This illustrates again the respect these people don’t have for their workers. Stan A. White Spokane

WAR AND REMEMBRANCE

Arena excellent place for memorial

As a long-silent and well-decorated Vietman veteran, I must reply to “The scared and the profane” (Nov. 19).

I spent two and one-half combat years in Vietnam. As a grunt machinegunner, I saw many of our soldiers fall in defense of the nation’s interests. Again in my consecutive tours, I witnessed more soldiers being maimed, wounded beyond recognition or being killed.

I was interested to read in The Spokesman-Review that a letter of explanation was sent to city Councilman Jeff Colliton by the Public Facilities Board. I personally find no compelling reasoning in their response. This would be an excellent area to place the display cases for several reasons. As a citizen, I would not think about “blood being spilled,” I would come to honor those who left their items in respect to those who paid the ultimate price of war. In essence, such exhibits are healing. Those voting expressed to the public authorities their chosen name, Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena.

Respect, dignity and honor together make up the second reason. This issue is not about a single group of veterans; it is about all veterans of Spokane. The proposed display cases would give visual honor, in the form of history and tribute toward all veterans who paid the ulitimate price for their country.

I am grateful to be alive today and I always honor those I served with who died during combat. They are the true heroes of our nation - lest none of us ever forget. Christopher Bettman Spokane

Facilities board wrong, wrong, wrong

I read with dismay the article, “The sacred and the profane” (Spokesman-Review, Nov. 19).” Obviously, Spokane Public Facilities District board Chairwoman Trish McFarland was brain dead when she denied a request by Vietnam veterans to place a memorial exhibit in the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena for those who died in that debacle.

McFarland’s statement, “The board feels it would be inappropriate to single out one group of veterans over another,” shows her ignorance of the issue and lack of understanding of what the citizens of this community want that public structure to stand for.

The only veterans “singled out” are those who paid the ultimate price for their country in all wars. I’m sure they, and we, would rather have them remembered in things that reflect the feelings of those who buried them than a generic metal sign. It is a sad day for all of us when we see public officials doing battle with the wishes of the people who walked through those hell holes. John B. Ryan Spokane

Arena is dedicated to remembering

Thank you, Doug Clark! I have read your column for years. It took your column about Dave Strand, his Vietnam veterans exhibit and the uncaring reaction of our Spokane Public Facilities Board to cause me to write.

I served in Vietnam from 1967 to 1968. I saw young Americans, some volunteers but most people who didn’t want to be there, pay the supreme sacrifice with their lives. Those of us who survived those traumatic times and came home to an uncaring, sometimes hostile homecoming, also paid a price. We all left a piece of our youth and innocence in that God-forsaken place, and came home with permanent scars; some physical, most mental.

I thank fellow vets like Strand and Jeff Colliton, because only we who were there know the horrors of that war. Evidently, Trish McFarland and the rest of the board are either numb or naive as to why the new Arena carries its name in the first place.

When making decisions regarding the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena, their mission should be twofold: to honor all veterans and to remind future generations that war is hell. To me, Strand’s collection from The Wall does just that. To honor is to remember, not forget or be forgotten. Jack Reber Spokane

I salute Clark and Strand

Thank You, Doug Clark! Dave Strand obviously has an eye for detail and a heart of gold. I, for one, would be proud to have this exhibit in the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena! It would be a great example for the rest of our country; to stand behind all of the men and women who went to war for us. To acknowledge to the families that their loved ones did not die in vain and that we do think of them.

I would like to see the Veterans Administration encourage veterans from all wars (and conflicts) to organize exhibits such as these. It could help them with the turmoil that many have lived with for so long.

Strand, don’t give up. You provided a great service. Thank you! Candie Sharon Veradale

U.S. AND THE WORLD

Sanctions against Iraq inhumane

After Nazi atrocities became known, many Americans asked why “good Germans” had not protested their government’s policies. If the question, “are you in favor of genocide” was asked, most Americans, imbued with the myth that they favor the underdog, would answer no.

That myth, however, is at odds with reality. For seven and a half years, the United States, through the United Nations, has enforced a policy of trade sanctions that has included food and medicine against the people of Iraq. These sanctions have caused the death of more than 1.5 million people and continue to kill 4,000 to 6,000 Iraqis monthly, mainly the young, the old, the infirm and the sick. If done by Nazi Germany, it would be called by its proper name: genocide.

Sanctions ostensibly aimed at Saddam Hussein, the wicked witch of the East, bring suffering, misery and death not to Saddam but to the ordinary people of Iraq, who are much like you in their hopes, joys, fears and aspirations.

Sanctions do not affect Saddam personally, nor is there a rational relationship between sanctions on food and medicine and the production of weapons of mass destruction.

Yet the policy of sanctions, imposed by the United States through the United Nations, continues to kill the people of Iraq, and the “good Americans” are silent. Al Mangan Spokane

U.S. should pay its U.N. dues

Twice this year the United States of America saved the lives of unknown soldiers in Iraq through the intervention of the United Nations Security Council. Isn’t it time that we meet our obligations and pay our dues to the United Nations?

Furthermore, what are we doing with our weapons of mass destruction? And why don’t we sign the land mines treaty? Why these double standards? Heide Gohlert Cheney

IN THE PAPER

Race question ‘outrageous disservice’

Re: The Slice on Nov. 13, and the question “Just wondering, do you suppose some people would be less patient with Ryan Leaf if he were black?”

I’m frustrated, angry and disappointed with Paul Turner and the Spokesman for printing this idiotic question. This is the type of thinking that gives the Northwest its racist image. I protest the prejudice behind this kind of writing and I protest the printing of the question.

Very often, the Slice is a waste of space and on the 13th, it was an outrageous disservice to all the people of our community, especially our black friends. Janet E. Bastine Spokane

Waco-OKC comparison faulty

I was amazed and completely bewildered when I read the thoughts that Harvey A. Dunham (Letters, Nov. 16) wrote about memorials for the Oklahoma City bombing, and his thoughts that the people at Waco, Texas, and Ruby Ridge, Idaho, deserved to be memorialized in the same way.

I agree that $24 million does sound excessive, but the innocent victims killed in the Oklahoma City bombing were never given an opportunity to come out before the bomb exploded, such as was done in the killing at Waco and Ruby Ridge. The ones at Waco and Ruby Ridge were given several days to change their minds about staying in the danger they were involved in. Those in the courthouse in Oklahoma City weren’t told by Timothy McVeigh or anyone else to come out before the bomb exploded, killing the 169 innocent men, women and children and wounding many others. Many were left with the pain and heartache of losing loved ones, and this will haunt them for the rest of their lives.

I don’t feel the comparison is justified. Ruth Stroud Spokane

Time is right for home buying

Thank you for the very accurate article by Oliver Staley on home prices in Spokane (“Home prices in Spokane remain flat,” Nov. 18).

Resale prices are running around 1 percent appreciation but that wasn’t always so. Spokane led the nation in appreciation of home values not too many years ago. The average annual rate of appreciation from 1956 through 1996 is 5.68 percent. The average price of a home in Spokane in 1956 was $11,711. In 1996, 40 years later, the average price was $106,704. Not bad!

Year-to-date through October of this year, the average closed-sale price was $116,001.

Through October of 1998, there has been an 8.8 percent increase in closed sales year-to-date - up 349 homes with new owners. A total of 4,284 homes were sold in Spokane County in the same time period.

It pays to own a home. The owner has an investment that has historically gained in value, interest is deductible - and the owner basically lives free.

So while the number of sales are up, the appreciation is a bit low. This actually allows better dollar-for-dollar value for buyers when compared to many other cities. That makes it a good time to buy.

Thanks again for your factual article. Don Walker, communications director Spokane Association of Realtors