By Tribune-Review

Published: Monday, March 11, 2013, 9:00 p.m.
Updated: Monday, March 11, 2013

One-sided diatribe

If there were any doubt about the tendencies of the Trib's editorials (“Sure, we lean to the right,” Trib commercials say), consider the editorial “Another union shakedown: Rewarding thugs” (March 5 and TribLIVE.com), which cites Heritage Foundation information concerning government assistance to the now unemployed Hostess bakery workers. The editorial's headline just about says it all, and the diatribe ends with a charge of union “extortionist thuggery,” no less.

The Heritage Foundation has no comment at all, of course, on the $436 million payoff to top execs of H.J. Heinz Co. who are soon to join the ranks of the Hostess workers — which is to say, those without a job.

I am not going to comment on the culpability of the bakery workers in the Hostess demise, whether their unemployment is self-inflicted or not, whether they are much to blame or partially to blame.

I will say only that it seems to me they had conceded wages and benefits twice before, and that in cases of this kind — where the survivability of a company falls to worker give-backs — you can pretty much figure that as the last stop on the avenue of poor management.

In the Heinz matter, hearty congratulations for a job well done. And I certainly do not think $436 million is an obscene amount when you factor in day care and the price of gasoline.

Robert J. Bush

Washington Township

Westmoreland County

1. Diplomatic doublespeak
2. Rights: For people, not fetuses
3. Spanier’s pay shameful
4. North Irwin’s loss
5. Multiple Bibles: It’s OK
6. Local zoning essential
7. Fox sarcasm
8. Guns a public health issue
9. Public will win
10. Unions can, churches can’t?
11. Successful? Tax it!

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