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Show APRIL 5,2007 THE GARFIELD COUNTY INSIDER Let's Protect Both Workers and Democracy Page 4 the Navy hymn, Anchors Away, could have been played at a funeral in such a By Todd Stottlemyer way as to sound more like one of our Successful entrepreneurs know that a key factor in running a thriving business regular ftineralsongs but this was played is a good relationship between the owners and their employees. In the current by one of Jim's nieces (I think) and it economy, with nearly full employment and intense competition for good workers, brought tears to my eyes. I have even it's clearly in their interests to foster that relationship. tried to think of a way the Air Force song However, there's a movement in Congress that would not only undermine could be played when my time comes those efforts, but also would attack a sacred institution of American democracy— by Earl Roe but it is a little more boisterous than Anthe right to a secret ballot. wearlroe@yahoo.com • 676-2376 chors away. The way Jessica, Megan A bill with the misleading name of the "Employee Free Choice Act" has been Just a short paragraph to clear up and Rachel Yardley made a medley out passed by the U.S. House of Representatives and will be considered in the Senof other songs was another outstanding ate. The bill would force employers to recognize a labor union without its employ- something that I wrote last week and it musical number. I am sure the mixture was not another mistake. I just did not ees first holding a secret-ballot election. of Military and Religion was just what The bill would force the use of so-called "card-check agreements." Under a have a bit of information I needed to Jim wanted. card-check system, a union gathers "authorization cards" signed by workers to complete what I said. I mentioned meetI had short but interesting visits with supposedly express their desire to unionize. Once labor organizers collect cards ing a former student, Ann MacKay and two other former Panguitch residents. mentioned that she was the daughter of from more than 50 percent of a business' workers, that business is unionized. one of the Middleton twins but I did not Stewart LeFevre who was a teacher and Once you take away an employee's right to make a free, unencumbered choice know which one. Now I do thanks to Principal at our High School and Kay by a secret ballot, you subject them to an environment of potential harassment Marnie Julander. Ann is the daughter of Mclff who was our district Judge from where it's difficult for them not to support forming a union. In addition, the busiVal and has a brother and sister who are 1994 to 2005. Evalyn said the only time ness owner may well be surprised to find their employees unionized without ever she was ever called to jury duty, Judge also twins. having a chance to engage employees and explain the potential effects of a union Mclff was conducting the court. Kay is There were a lot of former Panguitch the son of Eldon Mclff who many of our on the business, which is permitted under current law. Further, once a union presents its contract offer, the owner has four months to residents in attendance at the funeral for older residents will remember as the accept it. If he or she does not, the matter is turned over to the federal govern-3' Jim Yardley. I wanted to visit with some Mclff family lived here for several years. ment for binding arbitration. That means that a bureaucrat with no familiarity with of them but we got to the viewing late Mildred (Mclff) Jensen from Salina is the business, or the industry that it's in, will singularly and solely, without appeal, and it was just too darn cold at the cem- Kay's aunt and was a member of our etery to do any visiting. I did get to meet Class of 1940. Mildred turned out to be decide the wages and benefits that business will provide. This isn't to say that management is always perfect, or to excuse management Allan Setterberg, the National Vice the artist of our class and has done a lot teams that take huge compensation for poor performance, at the expense of em- Commander of the American Legion. of beautiful paintings. ployees. There are always exceptions of owners and managers who don't treat There were other National, State and Steven Marshall asked me to remind employees fairly, and that's wrong. But it simply isn't good public policy to make Regional officials present which showed our readers that our swimming pool is the esteem felt for Jim and honored him open for the season beginning at 6:00 legislation on the basis of a few bad apples. for his 50 plus years as commander of AM each morning for lap swimming and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that union membership continues to Panguitch Post 25. especially for those trying to lose weight decline nationwide. In the private sector, 7.4 percent of workers belonged to a I have attended many funerals and and from 6:00 to 8:00 each afternoon for union in 2006, continuing a decades-long decline from the approximately 35 perusually don't consider writing anything free swimming. Steve says the water cent of all workers who belonged to a union in the 1950s. about them, except that the speakers did temperature is just right and encourages However, while America has become less and less unionized, the economy an excellent job, the music was beautieveryone to take advantage of this fahas become stronger. Real wages are up, productivity is up, interest rates are low, as are unemployment rates. Why would we, as a country, want to go backwards fiil and it was well conducted. This was cility. Lifeguards are on duty at all times. certainly true concerning the services for I guess my hopes that we might see economically? Jim, but there was two special numbers $2.00 gas again has gone down the tube The current system of secret-ballot elections is a legitimate process that's that were so enjoyable that you felt like with the sky rocketing prices. (Perhaps based on a fundamental part of American democracy. Let's not throw it out the you were at a concert instead of a fu- a better phrase would be *Up the pump' window just for the sake of increasing union membership. neral. I would never have believed that rather than 'Down the tube'.) It looks like we might see $3.00?gal. before we STATE SCENIC see $2.00 BYWAY COMMITTEE I still get inquiries about fishing at the REVIEWS lake and all I can give is second hand THE CADDY information. The ice has melted back APPLICATIONS After a long day on the course, the exasperated golfer turned to enough to fish from shore. (This was The Utah State Scenic Byway Comhis caddy and said, "You must be the absolute worst caddy in the before the last big wind so there may be mittee will meet on Friday, March 30, world!" quite a lot oi open water now.) There 2007, to consider applications for U.S. "No, I don't think so," said the caddy. "That would be too much are individuals fishing at the lake but I Department of Transportation, Federal of a coincidence." have had no word as to how they are Highways Administration, National SceCHANGE IS GOOD? biting or the size and condition of the fish. nic Byways Program funding for the FY Bill and Moe had started with only five hundred dollars between them, I still hope to give a first hand report on 2007 grant cycle. The meeting will be but they had built up a computer business with sales in the millions. Their comheld from 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. in the con- pany employed over two hundred people, and the two executives lived like princes. our next warm day. (I remember when temperature did not make a difference.) ference room of the Utah Office of Almost overnight, things changed. Sales dropped sharply, former customers Our Lions Club goes back to two Tourism, Council Hall/Capitol Hill, 300 disappeared, the business failed, and personal debts forced both into bankruptcy. meetings a month in April (The 1st and N. State Street, Salt Lake City. Bill and Moe blamed each other for the troubles, and they parted on unfriendly 3rd Wednesdays) and we would surely The 13 applications represent sce- terms. welcome some new members as our nic byway projects on previously desigFive years later, Bill drove up to a decrepit diner and stopped for a cup of busy season will soon be in full swing. nated roads across the state. , coffee. As he was discreetly wiping some crumbs from the table, a waiter ap- (Hint: we need some young help.) For questions on the meeting, please proached. Bill looked up and gasped. "The millionth mancontact Stacey Clark of the Utah Of"Moe!" he said, shaking his head. "It's a terrible thing, seeing you working in Has joined our ranksfice of Tourism at (801) 538-1373 or a place as bad as this." Of happy shavers - Many thanks " staceyclarkfglutah.gov. "Yeah," Moe said with a smirk. "But at least X don't eat here." — Burma Shave(1933) I \iiCplii\o |