Honolulu Weekly, November 9-15, 2005 Subject: letter to the editor: "Union Rights vs Human Rights"

To the Editor: Ian Lind’s story on the alleged abuse of inmates at the Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility brings attention to an ongoing tragedy. However, the story’s slant, exemplified by its headline “Union rights vs. Human rights,” is more appropriate in a right-wing, corporate news source than an “alternative” weekly. Suggesting that upholding due process and the contractual protections of workers is an abuse of power only serves the purposes of those in power. The argument made in the article echoes the so-called “victims’ rights” crusade, which uses the genuine anger of crime victims to push for more draconian laws and reductions in the civil rights of the accused. Union rights are workers rights, and workers rights - including the right to due process - are human rights. And, like defense attorneys in a criminal case, unions are bound to ensure that the rights of their members are protected to the fullest extent. So, if Lind has the story right, the real conflict is one between the human rights of the guards and the human rights of the inmates. The conflict should be resolved either under the terms of the contract or by the law. Unfortunately, the story itself raises too many unanswered questions. Given Gov. Lingle’s anti-worker bias (just look her attempts to gut workers compensation), the animosity between her and the public workers unions, and the fact that the State will be liable if the claims are true, it’s not surprising that she would seek to place the blame for this situation on the workers and their union. It is sad, however, that the Weekly would buy this claim so unquestioningly. For example, Lind uncritically states that unions “hold a distinct advantage over their state counterparts” at the Hawaii Labor Relations Board. Says who? Well, the State, lots of union-busting corporate attorneys, and, interestingly, Ian Lind (see his October 15, 1998 article in the Honolulu Star-Bulletin, “Bias on the Labor Board?”). The Weekly’s duty as alternative newspaper is to ask the real questions about this case. Why did it take a special investigation by an outside agency, the ACLU, to bring the situation to light? How long has this been going on, and why didn’t the State know about it - and take action - sooner? That’s a story worthy of investigation, not more union- and worker-bashing. Steve Dinion