Letters To The Editor
BUSINESS AND LABOR
Boeing chiefs demonstrate dedication
An article in the Business section recently reported Boeing President Philip Condit and his CEO giving up their bonuses for 1998 because of the poor earnings for the year. This shows true concern for the business they run. When a business is having poor profits and cutting its work force, cuts should also be made at the executive level.
Condit and Boeing’s CEO turning down their bonuses on their own shows a great respect and dedication for their company. Maybe Kaiser Aluminum owner Charles Hurwitz and CEO Ray Milchovich should do the same thing, since they say Kaiser is in such trouble. Maybe the amount of their bonuses would cover the millions they lost due to the strike they caused. Rod Van Slate Post Falls
Pizza Rita’s kindness will be repaid
Scott Ballard, area manager of the Spokane Pizza Huts, says, “We’re in the service industry so we can be the bad guy on both sides.” (“Blood is thicker than job,” March 5). Sorry, your company is just the “bad guy” period.
Hats off to Pizza Rita. Their policy of delivering a free pizza to the pickets for every pizza delivered to Kaiser is a decent, compassionate and healing way of handling this dilemma. Owner Brian Dickmann has shown by this very kind gesture that he and his company care about this community and the divisiveness caused by this lockout.
Pizza Rita will get all of our pizza business from here on out. This is a local company with a heart. And their pizzas are great, too.
Bonnie Rae Spokane
Non-rich, non-greedy, it’s your fight
As I was watching an excellent program recently on how the devaluation of labor, confiscation of property and the concentration of power and wealth into the hands of a relatively few wealthy persons helped destroy the Roman Empire, I couldn’t help thinking about Kaiser Aluminum, Charles Hurwitz and the Steelworkers. Like the legionnaires whose land was looted while they were fighting Rome’s wars and who were left begging on the street, Kaiser’s Steelworkers fought Kaiser’s economic battles only to have management loot the company out from under them, renege on its promises to share the wealth, and finally evict them from the property they fought to save, leaving them - well, guess where?
Hurwitz is the Caesar of his empire and he and his ilk are doing to America what the elite did to Rome - drive it into the ground. From the end of World War II to the Reagan administration, labor drove the prosperity of America’s middle class and everyone’s standard of living improved. Since Reagan, the gap between the richest and poorest has been widening every day. It will only get worse as the Hurwitzs of the world manipulate the laws of this country and “buy” the very people who are supposed to represent us all - beginning with the Senate.
If you work for a living - whether you are a teacher, accountant, nurse, fry cook, bus driver, fireman or whatever - you had better support the Steelworkers now. They’re on the line protecting your future. Steve D. Blewett Spokane
Mischief no way to conduct strike
I was in the neighborhood of East Rockwell on March 6. I was amazed to see a fairly new Camaro sitting beside the curb with slashed tires, broken windows and “SCAB” spray-painted on the car. The car had been destroyed on behalf of Kaiser strikers.
I don’t know if it was actually Kaiser strikers who did the damage, or someone who thought it would be fun. The car didn’t even belong to the “scab”; it belonged to his girlfriend.
Regardless of who did it, it had the same results.
I’m ashamed for the Kaiser workers. A reckless individual has destroyed a lot of trust.
The poster in my car window has been changed. It says I no longer support Kaiser employees. Russell L. Dupper Spokane
Kaiser salary crew at it again
If you lie down with dogs, you get up with fleas. That’s just the way it is and then you have to deal with the consequences.
After 26 years of working at the Kaiser Trentwood plant, I don’t have warm, fuzzy feelings for many of Kaiser’s salaried people. We all know many of them got their company jobs by “making their bones” - helping Kaiser bosses attack fellow union members in one way or another. Often, those attacked were women, members of minorities or people going through a medical or family crisis. This lockout is just an extension of that corporate mentality.
The best that can be said about many of Kaiser’s salaried workers who are not directly involved in causing the lockout is that once again they are working hard and thereby giving tacit approval to those who did cause it. This behavior deserves no respect. Margaret Larive Spokane
Kaiser hirings are illegal
In The Spokesman-Review, Kaiser ran an ad wanting to hire craft people, electricians, millwrights and garage mechanics. The company offered $18 per hour plus $27 for overtime, to include $20 per day retention bonus and $500 per month living expenses for out-of-town workers.
They have been hiring out-of-state workers for five months and counting. That is a violation of Washington state law. The county prosecutor will not do anything about this. When can we get the county prosecutors to do their job?
The $18 per hour, plus the $20 per day equal out to $20.50 per hour, not counting the $500 per month living allowance.
The electricians at Kaiser are the highest paid in maintenance; their hourly wage is $15.92. Compare that to the $20.50 Kaiser is paying scabs - a difference of $4.58. That does not include the $500 per month for the out-of-state illegal scabs.
The $4.58 is more than we are asking for. And Ray Milchovich said he wants to improve our standard of living! David Joe Gannaway Colbert
Hurwitz’s contentions don’t add up
How can Charles Hurwitz expects us to believe he has nothing to do with the Kaiser strike? He has sent workers from his lumber mills in Humbolt County in Scotia, Calif., to be scabs at Kaiser Aluminum.
When he lost his logging permits and refused the redwoods deal with the government, he was reported to be sending 800 more workers up here. If he had nothing to do with the strike, he would not be sending workers from his other companies.
I also find it interesting that Kaiser Aluminum is the only one of his businesses that is union and is his most profitable. Kaiser Aluminum Corp. accounts for 87 percent of Maxxam’s revenues. Yet Hurwitz and his associates try to say Kaiser is not profitable.
If this is true, where is Hurwitz getting all his money from? Hurwitz reported $2.5 billion in revenue for 1998. If 87 percent of this came from Kaiser Aluminum, Kaiser could not be in the trouble they would like you to believe. John P. Isaacson Spokane
Stick to facts about unions
Re: Hale Ashcraft’s letter (March 5) about public employees striking.
First, most concerned citizens at least read the initiative. In paragraph 12: “No strike: no lockout,” it says that “At no time may any employee or employee organization engage in any strike, slowdown or work stoppage.” I think that pretty well covers this strike issue.
About his concern that Chicago union bosses will be running the city, I can see his concern. I wouldn’t want Martians running the city either, and I know as much about them as Ashcraft does about unions.
Local unions are run by local people. They decide locally what is in the best interest for their members. They may sometimes ask for help from their international union, or other unions for support, but the local members make the decisions. The word “union” in Idaho has gotten a bad name. Union means to unite or be united. United workers or organized labor are responsible for everything we take for granted in the workplace today: decent wages, safe working conditions, health plans, the weekend, child labor laws and many more.
Before people start running down unions, they should at least do a little research. After all, what has the unorganized labor done for us? Paul (Bill) W. Carter Newport, Wash.
IN THE PUBLIC EYE
Duke still a miracle worker
Patty Duke’s performance in the Spokane Civic Theatre’s production of Tennessee Williams’ play, “The Glass Menagerie,” was a gift to our community that will be felt deeply for a very long time.
Duke’s portrayal of Amanda Wingfield, an aged and embittered Southern belle left to raise two children on her own, was an enlightening embodiment of the complex forces which ruin people’s lives. The audience experienced Duke’s character as a multifaceted woman, trapped in her limited ability to confront her own demons. One moment she was a controlling, almost insane mother, mercilessly dominating her grown children with guilt and humiliation. The next moment she appeared an intelligent and caring woman genuinely trying to find a way to help them.
Duke’s ability to convey these and many other dualities within Amanda’s character allowed the audience to almost literally see the war going on within Amanda’s psyche. She was agonizingly controlled by the vanity of what she tried to appear to be, what society told her to be, shattered dreams of what she thought her life was going to be, and the cold, empty, reality of what she had become.
Brilliant is an understatement of the numerous transitions that Duke was able to carry off in Amanda’s personality so smoothly with living energy, depth and a compassionate, honest display of humanity.
We are truly blessed that Duke shared herself, her time and her extraordinary talent with us.
Craig Rickett, Tami Grady, and Michael Hynes, our local members of the cast, expertly held their own on stage and with all those involved in the Spokane Civic Theater, gave the audience an experience not to be surpassed. Gigi Petruzzello Colbert
Clinton not fit to lead military
Through the media I see thousands of uniformed Americans who may have to lose everything in order to serve this country. What really eats at me is that most voters don’t want a commander in chief who is cut from the same cloth as these honorable GIs.
Clinton does not have what it takes to be the leader of our military. Remember, service to others and personal sacrifice are the order of the day. Let’s see how Clinton measures up:
When he deceitfully dodged the draft, who was served? Himself. Who was sacrificed? Whoever had to take Clinton’s place.
During his 20-plus years of serial adultery and habitual lying, who was served? Clinton. Who was sacrificed? All his living sexual objects, his family and anyone believing his lies.
Who was served in the millions of abortions since this abortion president took office? Feminists, who in turn serve Clinton. Who was sacrificed? All the dead children.
Who was served by Clinton’s ambiguous, rambling, verbose, legalistic grand jury testimony? Only Clinton. What was sacrificed? Truth and justice. Just who or what does Clinton serve then? Obviously himself. Who does he sacrifice? Anyone or anything other than himself. How disgusting that he is allowed to lead troops who live by one of the strongest codes man has. Robert W. Webb Chattaroy, Wash.
THE ENVIRONMENT
`Backpacking snobs’ don’t own forests
Opinion Page Editor John Webster’s March 3 editorial, “Policy thinking off by a country mile” was bang on target.
Barring everyone except hikers from our national forests is outrageous, a multibillion dollar subsidy for a comparative handful of well-heeled elitists with time on their hands who want the forests all to themselves, or urbanites with fantasies about forests. The real forests as well as other users will suffer. Wildfire destroyed the heart of the Wenatchee National Forest after a Sierra Club lawsuit prevented thinning some overstocked stands - for which road access is needed - while stands that had been thinned survived.
The restrictions are also a betrayal of the Western states, whose congressmen originally voted for the national forest to provide a reliable source of timber for local industry and water for irrigation. As the population and outdoor recreation grew, multiple use became the management philosophy. Now, hikers want to exclude not only the natural resource industries but any other form of recreation, and Forest Service Chief Mike Dombeck, a political appointee, is listening to the siren song of the campaign contributions and votes of the so-called environmental or conservation groups, most of whose members live in the East and in large metropolitan areas on the Pacific Coast.
Wake up, Westerners, and defend your land. Our forests belong to us all - horsemen, snowmobilers, mountain bikers, wood gatherers, aged fishermen, small children, hunters and berry pickers as well as loggers, miners and cattlemen - not just to self-serving, backpacking snobs or distant daydreamers. Edwin G. Davis Spokane
IN THE PAPER
`Gliding’ informative, in-depth
As a freshman at Mt. Spokane High School, I enjoy reading about people my own age. That’s why I applaud Dan Webster for his informative and in-depth article, “Gliding as one” (Feb. 21).
Also, as a member of the Lilac City Figure Skating Club, I know how hard everyone works, and it’s a relief that something is finally being said about it. Even hosting events here in Spokane, featuring local talents, get about as much coverage in our newspaper as the sport of curling. It’s a comfort that someone eventually put in the time to find out more about one of the most popular winter sports and what makes it so exciting - especially in our community.
Webster must have been taught that great things sometimes have to be sought out.
Thank you. The wait was all worthwhile. Jennah Luck Colbert
Manson story reprehensible
Instead of describing this newspaper as “The Good Paper,” why not use the word “irresponsible?”
Staff writer Winda Benedetti’s article on Marilyn Manson and her glorification of drugs are incomprehensible and extremely irresponsible. Has any of your staff ever seen a teenager who has become unconscious through the use of drugs? I suggest that they visit one of the local emergency rooms and watch these young people come in full of drugs, then remember the article by Benedetti. God help you all. Robert Harrington Spokane
Maxxam-Kaiser story `super job’
Congratulations to staff writer Karen Dorn Steele for her comprehensive, well-written story on the Maxxam-Kaiser Aluminum operation. I know how difficult it is to gather a completely detailed story when the newsmaker is not too accessible.
It was a super job! Sherm Blake Spokane