Unions protect workers’ rights, our democracy

Americans owe much to the hundreds if not thousands of Americans who died organizing unions through many decades of pitched battles. Unions gave America the 40-hour, five-day workweek, unemployment insurance, workers' compensation, safer working conditions, and other benefits that we take for granted.

Many Americans believe that unions aren't necessary because businesses can be trusted, and many unions do have ridiculous and onerous rules. However, unions are a necessary counterbalance to management's overwhelming power. If unions can be legislatively dismantled, so can many of the rules that safeguard our democracy. Without union-inspired laws, American workers will be working longer hours for less pay and fewer benefits.

Conservative authoritarian governments fear unions for good reason. Unions check government and corporate abuse of power. If radical legislators in Wisconsin can crush the union, all are threatened by the authoritarian creep of right-wing extremism.

There is no greater illustration of how important unions are when one considers that Poland's Solidarity helped end communist rule in Poland and sped up the collapse of the Soviet Empire.

Please support those brave men, women, students and the 14 senators who are protecting democracy in Madison.

Bill Werner

Cedar Rapids