But the tour also cast light on the many places at the airport where the right of workers was respected. Airline pilot, police officer, firefighter, painter, carpenter, customer service representative, cook and air traffic controller are just some of the jobs represented by the more than two dozen unions with collective bargaining agreements at the airport. These workers achieved more than an abstract legal victory. The exercise of their right to choose has led to a marked increase in the quality of their lives and the lives of their families. They enjoy a better income, better benefits and a more productive work environment.
Passengers enjoy better service as a result.
The magnitude and sophistication of the attack on that right is unprecedented and poses a threat to the welfare of our communities. That's a story that deserves far better than the silence it recently received. Dave Mazza is a board member of Portland Jobs with Justice and a member of the National Writers Union. Judy O'Connor is executive secretary-treasurer of the Northwest Oregon Labor Council.