Mar 25, 2015 1 min read

I am unable to control the outrage I feel after reading the March 17 letter by John Manning about labor unions.

It seems many workers take for granted what they now consider to be rights: Child labor laws; a fair wage; 40-hour work weeks; paid sick days; paid health benefits; paid vacations; and more. Because people alive now were not subject to the inequities endured by our forefathers, we forget about the deplorable working conditions, unfair labor practices and the sweatshops that existed prior to the labor union movement.

I beseech you to look beyond the term “right to work” and see the true definition is “right not to work.” Remember, union rights are civil rights.

Donna Patrina

Washington

Patrina is the treasurer of Local 2106 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME).