Laborer as Employer

Back in the early 70s, I was a resident of Detroit.

As a resident of The City, I faced an issue with a teacher strike against the Detroit Board of Education.  The schools were shut down for several weeks after the usual start of the year because "the teachers" wanted better wages.

I worked as a journalist, and was involved in organizing workers in my news outlet under The Newspaper Guild (TNG).

At that time TNG represented writers, editors, and advertising sales people for the Detroit Free Press, the guards and custodians at The Detroit News, reporters at the Michigan Catholic, and writers working for the UAW world headquarters in Detroit (Solidarity House).  My unit, Associated Newspapers, was seeking recognition from an outfit known as Panax, later publishers of the Washington Times (before Sun Myung Moon bought it), and a publishing empire in South Africa where apartheid labor practices more mimicked the corporate attitude toward workers (look for John P McGoff on the web -- may he rest in peace with his riches).

As a taxpayer, I disliked the idea of "workers" asking for more wages at the expense of my taxes.

But, once I considered what I was doing in my workplace, I realized that as a Union member, my allegiances changed when I became a taxpayer.

Being the Christian sort, I wondered if what was good for me was likewise good for my fellow man.

Believing in the words of Jesus, I discovered the meaning of his "do unto others" counsel.

If I expected an employer to respond to my needs as a worker, when I became the employer (as in being a taxpayer), I had to agree that those who worked "for me" deserved the same.

I rejected the Jerry Fallwell / Jim Baker counsel to "do unto me; and forget about those not as worthy as me."

The issue is what the workers in Wisconsin face with their public employees.

It's one thing to be the employee and "demand" justice from the employer.
It's another to be the "employer" (as in taxpayer) and recognize that my "employees" are owed the same respect I demand in my behalf.

Doesn't mean the tension of finding an economic common ground should be ignored.  Just means that the right to seek that ground belongs to public as well as private employees.

My enemies are those who take from all, not those who are trying to make their families as secure as I choose to make mine.