My problem is not so much with the pay and benefits that the union workers receive, though I agree with your comments about CEO's, of both the auto and banking industries. What bothers me about the union is their ability, and insistance, on resisting modernization of the auto industry, changes which would tend to lead to more reliable manufacturing capabilities and lower per-unit costs. True, the industry has managed to force some changes through, despite the unions' resistance. But it's not enough.

The problem, of course, is that much of the modernization would eliminate jobs in the factories, and that means fewer union workers and thus fewer dues payments. That's the union's real problem.

But even that is not the major complaint I have. I oppose the idea of the closed union shop, the fact that only union members may work in these factories. I think it would be better, for the automakers and for the average worker, if union membership were not mandatory. Force the unions to woo the workers to their side in some way rather than force them to join and follow some archaic union regulations.

It's been many years but I was once a worker in a union shop. Since I am the kind of person who feels that my employer deserves a full day's work for a full day's pay I was constantly at odds with the shop stewards. I was reprimanded more than once for doing more work than they thought I should have done. I was threatened for refusing to vote in union elections, although I had no idea who the people were who were being voted upon. And I was threatened again when the union voted to strike and I refused to man the picket lines, opting instead to take another job somewhere to tide me over.

These are the problems I have with the unions. It is my experience that they are only willing to protect those members who do not want to actually do any meaningful work but who still expect a paycheck. Loosen their stranglehold on industry and industry will rebound in this country.