TO THE EDITORS:

We will not be satisfied until every member of our community who wants a job can find one that will allow him or her to live a peaceful, secure life. But that requires us to stand up and say no to the special interests that would have us continue to be subservient to a "race to the bottom" mentality that serves no purpose other than to flatten their bottom line at the community's expense.

We agree, government does not, for the most part, create jobs. The economy creates jobs. Employers create jobs. But what government can do is cultivate an environment that supports jobs that pay family-sustaining wages so that taxpayers are not saddled with increased taxes or decreased services because of the strain on our public safety net by workers who are subject to poverty-level wages.

A "race to the bottom" business model that is predicated on assembling a low-wage, low-skill, easily-exploitable work force exacts a tremendous toll on the socio-economic fabric of our community. We need to distance ourselves from this business model.

This is what our opponents and we disagree on.

For many years now, we have advocated a successful approach through the use of a Project Labor Agreement business model that offers increased job-site efficiencies, a steady, local supply of the world's safest, most highly skilled and productive skilled craft work force, along with a pay-and-benefits structure that is reflective of their skill and productivity levels &tstr; and which numerous studies have shown, actually reduces cost for public agencies.

You cannot say you are fighting for the American worker while supporting and enabling a "race to the bottom" business model at the same. You have to choose.

Don Pickle Jr.
Marietta

Field Representative

Bricklayers & Allied

Craftworker Local No. 5