Letters: Where is the state when we need it?; Stand with UPS workers

Where is the state when we need it?

Let us step back from the budget stand-off in Harrisburg and look at the bigger picture and what should really concern us: The failure of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to assume its proper command role.

I realized there was a larger problem during the recent discussion about taxpayer-funded vouchers that would allow students in underperforming schools to attend a private school of their choosing. Whenever I saw an anti-voucher comment (including my own), the response was: The students have a right to a good education so give them vouchers so they can choose a better school. That’s true but creating a voucher system overlooks the real solution.

Whenever a school district is underperforming, the Department of Education should take it over. The state has a constitutional requirement to provide public education so the legal power to take over already exists. School districts are state entities, not local.

Some may argue that even if the state takes over, the unions would resist and wreak havoc. Well, if unions are as good as Gov. Shapiro declared after the rapid repair of Interstate 95, you would think they’d be on board to improve education. And if they’re not, a more direct approach is in order. Decertify the union, fire the teachers and rehire the willing.

We are the state and should be demanding more from the leadership in Harrisburg.

Stand with UPS workers

On July 5, UPS walked away from negotiations with 340,000 of their workers organized with the Teamsters.

UPS didn’t just walk away from those workers: they walked away from our communities. By risking a national strike instead of bargaining in good faith, UPS sent a message they’ll prioritize stock buybacks — like the $8.6 billion paid out in 2022 — over our communities.

Despite company propaganda, they aren’t doing right by their workers. UPS employees kept our economy and our communities afloat during the pandemic, delivering COVID-19 vaccines they weren’t yet eligible to receive. Many of them continue to work six days and upwards of 60 hours a week, forced to work more to keep up with demand and to make ends meet.

The Teamsters have shared how many part-timers rely on government assistance, even as UPS makes record profits. Businesses shouldn’t be able to rake in the cash while passing the cost on to our communities.

The UPS contract expires July 31. It’s up to UPS to come to the table and reach a fair deal with their workers. If UPS refuses to do so, it’ll be up to us to stand with our local UPS workers organized with Teamsters Local 764, because they’re not just fighting for themselves. Their fight against corporate greed, for dignity on the job, and for a livable wage, is a fight for all working families.

Connection with poorest counties

It was interesting to see the article in the CDT on Thursday about the 10 poorest counties in the commonwealth. Not surprisingly, voters in all of them supported Trump in 2020 in proportions ranging from 66.3% (Fayette) to 78.7% (Jefferson). Correlation not being equal to causation, we don’t know whether supporting the party that worships money (and hates people who don’t have much of it) causes poverty or whether poverty leads people to support the party who does not have a single policy that helps those who are less well off. Perhaps it’s a bit of both. I can think of several other reasons but those who supported Trump don’t like admitting them or even talking about them. At least they’re free to have all the guns they want and say Merry Christmas.