no need for typecasting

Letter to the Editor of the New York Times, 27 September 2009, Unpublished
Re “With a Receptive White House, Labor Begins to Line Up Battles”

Stereotyping and theoretical propositions are disservice. The U.S. Government placed tariffs placed on tires made in China in full compliance with international trade law, specifically the WTO provisions accepted by China upon its joining the regulatory institution. The United Steelworkers supported the decision of the U.S. Government to use international law to support their membership. The article cites the “risk” of protectionist outbreak and pain inflicted on other North American workers, both speculations based on theory. In reality there is no commerce that fits the economic models underlying those statements. It also frames the union’s action as “battles”, messaging not so loosely charged against corporations whose lobbying efforts reach the absurd. Tagging the union reinforces a stereotype that prevents progress towards mature industrial relations in the U.S. It would be a service to readers to replace conjecture with more news, perhaps the United Steelworkers campaign for greener energy jobs.