Overpaid? I don't think so

Letter to the editor

As a member of a local affiliate of MEA-MFT, the recent Center for Union Facts ad attacking unions was appalling. The ad suggests that an angry DMV employee and a union member has an inappropriate salary and unions have "greased the system.”

The Washington, D.C. based Center is the one that is “greased,” spending a total of $1 million in Montana, Michigan, Oregon and Nevada with anti-public employee rhetoric. The reasons for their ads have to with ballot Initiatives CI-97 (Stop Over Spending) and CI 151 (minimum wage increase).

CI-97 is a threat to us. It proposes to cap government spending. In Colorado, citizens recently voted to repeal their CI-97 (TABOR) because of the devastating effects it had on schools and other governmental units. Learn about the dangers of CI-97 and VOTE NO on November 7th.

CI 151, if approved, will increase our state minimum wage to 6.15 per hour from $5.15. Although this is not a living wage, it will certainly help Montanans. I urge you to vote YES to CI 151 on November 7th.

For more information on each of these and other ballot initiatives, go to the www.sos.mt.gov.

In regards to DMV and other public employees, I say THANK YOU! Imagine the range of customers who come into their office. I was at the Missoula DMV recently, and the opposite of what the ad insinuates is true. I was impressed with the kindness and thoroughness of the staff. One clerk spent a ½ hour with an elderly person making sure she had all of her paper work in order.

Another smiling staff spent time with a young girl explaining the permit process and her responsibility as a young driver, all on a starting salary of $8.37/hour. Overpaid? I don’t think so.

Sue Furey, Missoula, MT

Anti-union campaign

Recent advertisements are outrageous
Letter to the editor

As a member of MEA-MFT and an educator in the Missoula school district, I am outraged by the recent anti-public employee union advertisements running on TV and radio in our community.

It is deeply troubling that multi-billion dollar, out-of-state corporations would choose to attack hard working, democratically-elected Montana union leaders with misleading and openly hostile advertisements.

It is also appalling that they would use a child as their chief spokesperson.

I am proud of my union. Not only does MEA-MFT advocate for education at the local, state and national levels, but also it is continually seeking to find ways to improve education for Montana children.

MEA-MFT has been a statewide leader in providing professional development for schoolteachers and paraprofessionals for many years. The skills and knowledge that I have gained as a result of attending MEA-MFT sponsored workshops and courses over the years have been a tremendous benefit for both my students and me.

No other organization has fought as hard to assure adequate funding and facilities to support the teaching and learning that takes place in Montana's public schools.

The attacks against MEA-MFT and other public employee unions is about discrediting public employees as spokespeople against CI-97, the initiative that would slash funding for the public services in Montana which includes public education. These out-of-state billionaires have no shame!

Thank you, MEA-MFT, for caring about Montana educators and students. We will not let these attacks go unanswered.

Connie Pederson, Missoula