Look out for the union label

For Labor Day, the First Monday Q&A in the the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Business Section is an interview by Joel Dresang of Greg Junemann, president of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers.

Q. How do you overcome opposition to and apathy toward the labor movement?

A. I think we just need to use the media, send out public messages and say, "Look, these aren't just a bunch of mob-run goons who are trying to line their own pockets." ...

"Mob-run goons lining their own pockets, but so much more." Sounds like a message that would make people less apathetic about unions, but not less opposed. Same for Mr. Junemann's concluding concession.

It doesn't mean suck the life out of the employer. It doesn't mean trying to roadblock productivity or efficiency. That's nonsense, because we've seen the results. When that sort of thing happens, plants close.

"Today's unions: no longer suicidal." Still needs tweaking.