Fair is fair

On Wisconsin!

— IT CONFIRMED one of our favorite theories about the principles or at least practice of journalism today: that the most interesting paragraph in new stories tends to be the last. As if the writers, or maybe their editors, were saving the best for last-like dessert. Consider this nugget at the very end of a story this week out of Madison, Wis., about the continuing stand-off between that state’s newly elected Republican governor, backed by its legislature, and labor unions determined to hold on to their power. (“Wisconsin union-rights bill stays mired”-Page 3A, Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, February 22, 2011.) The last paragraph informs the reader about a key aspect, maybe the key aspect, of the bill that has tied that state in knots:

“Unions would face a vote of membership once a year to stay formed, and workers could opt out of paying dues.”

While the unions and their backers may object, it seems a fair enough arrangement to some of us. Aren’t unions essentially a way for workers to combine their bargaining power to further their interests-just as corporations are a way for investors to combine their capital for greater effect? If corporations hold annual meetings at which management reports to stockholders, and is held responsible for the corporation’s performance during the past year, why shouldn’t union leaders be required to get a vote of confidence from their members once a year?

And if investors are free to sell their stock and walk away from the corporation, why shouldn’t union members be free to quit if unsatisfied with the leadership of their union?

It seems only fair. It’s called accountability, and the more of it in a society, the better.

Editorial, Pages 17 on 02/26/2011

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