Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-12-13
Coerced Unionism

A major failing Of defen-
ders of coerced unionism is
their inability to distinguish
between private labor organ
izations and public Govern
ment. Francis ]. Speh's letter
Dec. 81 illustrates that he
sees no difference between
taxes levied by Government
and the tribute employees in
80 States are forced to pay
to union officials as a condi-
ton of earning their iveli-
hood.
Mr.. Speh's ire was directed
at the laws which protect the
right of citizens of 20 States
to work at their occupations
whether they are union
members or not. Our history
reveals that American work.
ers will voluntarily support
responsible and democratic
la Dor organizations. The
growth Of such unions has
not been impaired by State
right to work laws. Employees
who do not wish to be rep
resented by a union should
not be compelled to pay for
representation which has
been forced upon them
against their wishes. Some
unions are dominated by
racketeers and Communist
symp a thizers, and their
control cannot be effectively
challenged by workers who
are required to give financial
support to such union lead
ers.
AS long as they demand a
license to enroll members by
compulsion. union officials
like Mr.. Speh will be suspect
in the eyes of the general
public. I have been a volun-
tary dues paying union
member for the past rs
years. and I am embarrassed
by the opinions and antics of
some union Spokesman.
Where membership in any
organization is compulsory
be it religion, business, politi-
cal or labor freedom is lost.
s. ID. Cadwallader.
President, National Right
to Work Committee
- -
In theory. government ex-
lists to serve the interests Of
all citizens; not just those of
labor. agriculture, business,
religion, or any other seq
ment of society. 1t is for this
reason that each member of
society owes to his govern
ment not only political ale
glance but the financial
support without which gov
eminent could not function.
A labor organization,
however. exists primarily to
serve one particular segment
OF society its membership.
1t does not purport to serve
the interests Of management.
certainly; nor the interests
Of other union memberships;
nor the interests Of nom
members. 1t doesn't even
purport to serve the cause of
labor in general, as witness
the bitter internecine juris-
dictional disputes among
rival unions in the conStruc-
ton trades. Although it is
often true that non-members
in the same bargaining unit
may benefit incidentally
from the efforts of union
representatives, this In no
way implies a responsibility
on behalf of the non-member
any more than a Republican
loves" a contribution to the
Democratic campaign fund
simply because certain acts
of a Democratic admins
tration may have benefited
him in some way.
Despite Mr.. Speh's dis
misSal of right-to-work laws
as transparent devices to
destroy unions" there are
millions of Americans who
have no desire to join a labor
organization or contribute in
any way to the support of
collective bargaining activi-
ties within their factory,
office. or store. The right of
a worker to deal or not deal
with his employer as he may
see fit. and the way in which
he chooses to deal with him,
must remain inviolate if we
are not to surrender another
vital personal right for a
fuzzy, ill-conceived social
right" which may in fact not
exist.
Free Rider.
A union is not a govern
ment. Many seem to pretend
that they are, and the illusion