PROTECTING WORKERS' RIGHTS?: The mythology of the labor movement is just that-- mythology. Here's a glimpse at what the quest for union dues entails in practice:

Hello,
This is Sunshine Voelker.  My father just e-mailed a link to your article "Small Tyrannies" in which I am mentioned.  I just want to thank you for your insightful comments!  This matter of the union is far from over and I am not looking forward to the resolution. 
I recognize that unions can be beneficial and are sometimes employees' only source of support in dealing with an oppressive employer.  The laws that have been created to support the organization of unions and the rights of those employees wishing to organize have gone a long way in oppressing the rights of those employees who do not wish to organize.  I have never been a union member and am learning more about them every day but this is really a pain.  My I have asked my bosses for help understanding everything and for suggestions about how I can fight this.  They understandably want to help me but have to be VERY careful with everything they say or do in order not to appear as leading the opposition or to violate any laws.  They are more observant of the laws regulating this than the organizers are!  The organizers are not allowed to talk to employees while they are working but one particular organizer watched one of our employees clock in and then approached him.  Every time he talked to me (3 times) I was on the clock.  Since I could do my job while I talked to him, I humored him.  It was really stunning how he twisted facts and used misleading statements in an effort to gain my support.  I am middle management (probably the upper rung of those employees that would be included in the union) and thus exposed to information that many employees are not.  I could use my knowledge to refute his statements but I am sure many employees had no idea what he was doing. 
I could go on, but here you can see first-hand what I'm up against. 
I hope you will continue to follow the situation as it plays out and I look forward to reading your comments.
Thank You!
-Sunshine Voelker