Why have unions become lobbyists, built expensive halls?

Years ago, my father-in-law had to walk every day to U.S. Steel and was told at the gate whether there would be work for him that day. My father worked at Standard Railway Equip. & Mfg. Co. in East Chicago. He spray-painted the inside of box cars without any protective gear or clothing. He died too young.

There was a definite need for unions back then. On June 29, 1934, by executive order, the National Labor Relations Board was created. Its role as an independent federal agency was to protect the rights of private sector employees to join together, with or without a union, to improve their wages and working conditions.

In 1971, the Occupational Safety & Health Administration was created. OSHA is the main federal agency charged with the enforcement of safety and health legislation.

There is no doubt that unions have contributed greatly to improve working conditions. But what is the need for multimillion-dollar union halls? And why have unions become lobbyists? Why do unions contribute to political campaigns? Do workers really need to pay OSHA and NLRB out of their tax dollars and union dues directly out of their paychecks? Aren't they, essentially, doing the same thing?

- Cathy Dziubla, Merrillville