There is a big difference between private-sector employees and public-sector (government) employees (school teachers, firefighters, police, etc.). That difference means that public-sector employees should not be allowed to unionize.

With respect to private-sector employees, there is a balance of interests when business owners negotiate employment contracts with their employees. Employers have to decide whether or not their businesses can remain profitable if they agree to their employees’ requests for higher wages, more benefits, etc.

However, there is no balance of interests when government employee unions negotiate with elected officials. Union members simply coerce elected officials into giving them what they want (higher salaries, more benefits, etc.) in exchange for voting en masse to keep those officials in office.

That is why government employees have better jobs than the very taxpayers who pay them. That is also why government employees should not be allowed to unionize.

Steven Swan, Dixfield