TERRE HAUTE — Our economy was out of whack long before the pain became this severe. For decades, working families have had to take second jobs, credit cards and toxic loans just to keep the rising health care, gas and grocery bills at bay.
Leading economists point to one disturbing trend in particular: while workers became much more productive over the last 25 years, our wages stayed flat.
So where did all that money go? You guessed it. The wealth that we worked so hard to create was wasted on the wealthy few.
We’ve been held back by a corporate culture that prevents workers from bargaining collectively for better wages and benefits. Every year, tens of thousands of workers are harassed, intimidated and fired for trying to organize unions.
A Gallup poll shows that a solid majority of Americans support legislation that would make it easier for workers to form unions and negotiate for better health care, wages and job security. Millions of Americans want to form and join unions, but they shouldn’t have to risk their livelihoods in the process.
That’s why Congress recently introduced the Employee Free Choice Act — legislation that will let workers decide how they want to form a union. It will put an end to the current company-controlled process and increase penalties for employers who break the law.
President Obama supports this common sense legislation, because he knows that we can’t rebuild a strong middle class without a strong labor movement.
— Bill Treash
Terre Haute
Recycling effort
worth expanding
Recently, there has been much media attention given to the recycling program of plastic bottles at Terre Haute South Vigo High School. As president of the Student Council, the organization in charge of this program, I would like to thank the Tribune-Star and WTWO for bringing this important topic to the public’s attention.
As you may or may not know, members of South’s Student Council have set up many recycling bins for plastic throughout the school at strategic locations. We collect these bags twice a week, haul them to our cars, and transport them to Goodwill Recycling. This program has been going on for the past two months. We have tremendous support from the students, staff, administration at South High School and the Vigo County School Corp., for which we are very thankful.
Our goal is not only to continue this program, but also to expand it (collecting through the summer time, collecting plastics at sporting events, etc.). In the future, we hope that the school corporation will adopt similar programs in all other schools as well.
As much as we want to achieve our goal, we are limited by manpower, time, and resources. We would appreciate public encouragement and continued support from the administration. Thank you.
— Sangeeth Jeevan
President of Student Council
Terre Haute South
Vigo High School
Letters
Readers’ Forum: June 3, 2009 11 pm
Strong labor needed for ample recovery
- Letters
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READERS' FORUM: Feb. 10, 2012
• How about a parade for war veterans?
• Rubber reptiles will chase off crows
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READERS' FORUM: Feb. 9, 2012
• Award proves art teacher’s special
• Technicality hits cancer patient
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READERS' FORUM: Feb. 8, 2012
• City engineer sets high standard
• More than paper to protect rights
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Readers' Forum: Feb. 7, 2012
• Kodak moment for America?
• Let’s not bring back serfdom
• IU-Purdue game a nice diversion
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READERS FORUM: Feb. 5, 2012
• Why does Howey keep attacking Mourdock?
• Thanks for the commitment
• Accurate view of pipeline issue
• Oil pipeline is a pipe dream
• Not all workers belong to unions
• Unions protect working people
• Terre Haute Zoning issue unites neighbors
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READERS' FORUM: Feb. 4, 2012
• Defending Bain, attacking Harrop, praising Romney
• Break a CFL? No reason to panic
• GOP’s timing not so super
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READERS' FORUM: Feb. 3, 2012
• Keep pressure on the Pentagon
• Supportive words for Jim Mann
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READERS' FORUM: Feb. 2, 2012
• There are reasons unions are needed
• Why so hard to get a tow here?
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READERS' FORUM: Feb. 1, 2012
• Better options for Deming Park area
• Tuskegee Airmen had local member
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READERS' FORUM: Jan. 31, 2012
• Science from the heavens
• Unions exist to aid the worker
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READERS' FORUM: Jan. 30, 2012
• Right-to-work bill hurts state’s workers
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READERS' FORUM: Jan. 29, 2012
• Obama wrong on recess appointments
• Thanks for honoring ‘Soup’ at his passing
• Mercury more danger than coal emission?
• Beware employers who cut corners
• All beliefs need to be respected
• People’s decency becomes evident
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READERS' FORUM: Jan. 28, 2012
• Don’t muzzle North’s ‘Woelf Pack’
• The true legacy of coach Paterno
• Bullet holes suggest dangerous gun use
• Union coercion in right-to-work issue
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READERS' FORUM: Jan. 27, 2012
• Labor bill would divide unions
• GOP sure to retain Statehouse control
• Internet lies about liberalism and more
• National debt backs job growth numbers
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READERS' FORUM: Jan. 26, 2012
• Right-to-work law wrong for workers
• Put labor law on the ballot
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READERS' FORUM: Jan. 24, 2012
• Super Bowl raises parking, gas prices
• Obama should OK energy job issue
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READERS' FORUM: Jan. 23, 2012
• Keystone pipeline is needed now
• Great seasons for South Vigo sports
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READERS' FORUM: Jan. 22, 2012
• Distorted view of mine’s practices
• Planning is necessary to ensure free market
• Bring back one-class tourney
• Wonderful book for a great cause
• Liberals no longer hold moral ground
• Another great holiday tourney
• A few things to think about
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READERS' FORUM: Jan. 21, 2012
• Protect our kids from mercury
• Older drivers have safety opportunity
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READERS' FORUM: Jan. 20, 2012
• Workers should pay fair share
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READERS' FORUM: Jan. 19, 2012
• Two sides to labor issue
• Learn more about right-to-work law
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READERS’ FORUM: Jan. 18, 2012
• Facts show labor bill is bad idea
• Rural road needs more attention
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READERS' FORUM: Jan. 17, 2012
• Embracing those liberal definitions
• People responded to help after mishap
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READERS' FORUM: Jan. 15, 2012
• Breaking unions and middle class
• Union dues have favorable results
• Labor law hasn’t hurt fed workers
• Labor bill mean and destructive
• Indiana’s friendly business confines
• Ideal spot for new housing
• Americans need some motivation
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READERS' FORUM: Jan. 14, 2011
• Solutions lie in compromise
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READERS' FORUM: Jan. 13, 2012
• Great stories to warm your heart
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READERS' FORUM: Jan. 12, 2012
Interference? No.
Opportunity? Yes -
READERS' FORUM: Jan. 12, 2012
• Interference? No. Opportunity? Yes
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READERS' FORUM: Jan. 11, 2012
• Music needed for school song
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READERS' FORUM: Jan. 10, 2012
• Who in local Chamber is supporting right-to-work?
• Keep govt. out of labor negotiations
• Usually, Indiana’s primary useless
- More Letters Headlines
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READERS' FORUM: Feb. 10, 2012








