By Erin McKee, president, S.C. AFL-CIO
JAN. 23, 2015 — As I listened to Gov. Nikki Haley’s State of the State address, I was glad to hear her pay tribute to the men and women in uniform.
She talked about the 4,150 volunteer members of the S.C. Patriot Guard Riders and said, “You’ve all seen these selfless men and women, whether you know it or not.” She spoke about Parris Island and the Marines.
She also spoke about South Carolina being business-friendly due to low unionization. In the past, she has stated that unions are not wanted or needed in this state and has gone so far as to discourage unionized companies from coming here and bringing much-needed jobs.
But I wonder — if she really pays tribute to all soldiers from South Carolina, does she include the thousands of union members who have served?
My dad was a union member from New York who went through boot camp in the 1950s at Parris Island. The current president of the S.C. Building Trades union also was a Marine who went through boot camp on Parris Island. One of the vice presidents of the SC AFL-CIO served in the U.S. Army.
Many union members served in the military. There are union veteran councils and the Building Trades organization I work with has a program called “Helmets to Hardhats” that helps vets get good jobs with benefits through apprenticeship programs — at no cost to taxpayers.
Union members are everywhere. To use some of the governor’s words, you’ve seen all these men and women, whether you know it or not. I know you like them. They work at some of the largest most profitable companies in South Carolina. They are able to support local communities by paying taxes and by having money to spend at local businesses.
They are firefighters, members of police forces and teachers. They deliver your mail, keep your telephone and electrical services going, and may have helped to build the place where you live or work. Yet the governor has said incorrectly in the past that there are no unions in South Carolina because unions are not needed or wanted.
She stated in her address that she was fighting to protect Boeing from the federal government. What does that mean? I thought Boeing liked getting contracts with the federal government. Governor Haley’s constant bad-mouthing of unions tells me she is clearly not representing union members or the many communities and businesses they support.
If she refuses to represent union members, why do union members have to pay taxes and her salary? That is taxation without representation, and it’s in the same state that also makes unions represent workers who don’t pay union dues for their forced representation — and they call that “right to work.” Just doesn’t seem fair.
The governor also spoke about all the jobs she created. I wish she would tell us exactly how many of these promises actually materialized into long-term, full-time positions; how much these jobs pay; and if they have health insurance and retirement, along with what kind of tax incentives were given to those companies.
She doesn’t want to tell the truth about wages and benefits, so she tries to divide us and make union members the bad guys.
South Carolinians deserve to know exactly what’s going on. They deserve better than a bunch of politicized goop. They deserve higher wages, paid sick days, health care and retirement.
I would bet that most of you come into contact with union members every day and you like them. They have served our country in our military. They go to your church or your hunt club. They coach your kids’ sporting events. They’re community volunteers and they’re good patriotic South Carolinians.
I know about 50,000 union workers who are really tired of Governor Haley’s attitude.
Erin McKee is president of the S.C. AFL-CIO.
We Can Do Better, South Carolina!