On the Editorial Page:

Union to get the Shaft?

Dear Editor,

It doesn't matter that the Pacific Rim is bouncing back after the disasters of a few years ago. The working men and women of the Manchester mills have always turned out the best product at the best value as far as textiles in this country go. To think that, after years of concessions in the name of keeping competitive with the overseas markets, that we cannot ask for a basic cost of living and benefit increase from the mill management is totally ludicrous.

They want us to produce good product, fast and cheap, they want the Manchester people to produce more workers for the future, who have technical skills that require college, yet don't see that we have to pay to send our kids to the schools that will let them stay competitive. We need money and the assurance that a kid with a broken arm or an earache won't break the bank because of a huge emergency room visit.

It's reasonable, after 5 years of minimal COLA to our wages, to ask for the little bit extra to assure that we can have a brighter future. If the Owners of the mills can't see that, then they simply are no better than the owners of the old days--and we know where that went. It's time for a partnership, and the 21st Century is a great time for change.

Manfred Wallace
Manchester