Unions take extra money
It's that time of year again, and I don't mean the holidays. It's time to write my yearly letter to the union.
I am a state of Alaska employee, and union dues to ASEA/AFSCME are automatically deducted from my paychecks. I have no problem with that.
I do have a problem with the fact that some of the dues they collect (they say it's averaged to 22.44 percent of the total) are not legally required. The extra money funds things like political and other activities for which they cannot force us to pay. To not pay these fees, I must submit a letter informing them I object to the use of a portion of my agency fees for non-chargeable services, and I must submit this letter every year. Forgetting to do so costs me several hundred dollars, because not sending it implies consent. There is a little window of time during which this letter is allowed; if you miss that window you imply consent. And it is "strongly recommended" to send this letter via certified mail and return receipt, which of course costs more and requires a visit to the post office.
The need for this letter year after year outrages me, but Executive Director Jim Duncan and the union ignore my small voice. I consider it unethical to deduct non-legally-required extra dues from our state workers via "implied consent," just because they don't send in a letter over and over every year, objecting. Most of them don't even know about this extra deduction because it's referenced in fine print on a buried page in a thick notice full of legal jargon and accolades for the union, which is mailed out to fee payors each year.
A few years ago an ADN article referenced the firefighters' win against their union for this exact same practice. That is what needs to happen for state employees!
— Lisa Good
Anchorage
Pebble questions remain
I enjoyed reading the Dec. 8 commentaries on the Pebble prospect. But I found Gen. Hamilton's stance a little weak in a couple places. He writes of "willful distortions and premature judgements" about the prospect and of "society's growing inability to reason and make sound judgments based on observable facts." Well, I have seen the remnants of open pit mining in Bisbee, Arizona, and Butte, Montana. I have seen the tailings ponds surrounded by barbed wire at Globe, Arizona, and watched the horror of the failing containment dam at the Mount Polly mine in British Columbia in August 2014. I think those qualify as observable facts.
Pebble has the potential to become the largest open pit mine in North America. The Pebble Partnership will submit a permit application for a much smaller project. How will the smaller project work out financially? Not mentioned by either commenter is the need for construction of a deep-water port, approximately 95 miles of road, and an electrical infrastructure to power the mine. It has been the policy of the state to assist with the development of such projects. But to what degree is the state capable of doing so now?
— Pete Panarese
Eagle River
Suicide views outdated
We read the article by reporter Laurel Andrews, Dec. 6, "Department of Correction at fault for inmate suicide in 2014, jury finds."
The state's attorney in the case put forth the idea that suicide is often committed by cowards. It is the state's misguided opinion that has Alaska about 20 years behind best practice when it comes to treating the mentally ill.
Individuals with a mental illness to the point of a disability in jail need better and up-to-date treatment.
— Faith Myers and Dorrance Collins
Mental health advocates
Anchorage
Changes hurt bus service
The removal of all bus service for Independence Park is not right and unacceptable. Our residents are complaining they don't want to walk over a mile to catch a bus. I don't understand how taking away residential service and just keeping bus service along an arterial not even close to a community filled with apartments, starter single family homes and duplexes increases ridership.
Independence Park is being asked this spring to fund roads, school repairs with none in our area and now service relied on by residents was taken away. This issue is not going away. There have been two articles in ADN both complaining about the lack of service. Helping one area (Midtown and Muldoon) at our expense is not going to get us to vote for these other issues confronting Anchorage this spring.
I have asked my neighbors, our tenants in our four-plexes to vote no and not support the current administration this spring on this issue.
— Duncan Harrison
president, Freedom Square Homeowners Association;
board member, Autumn Ridge Homeowners Association;
member, Parkside Homes Homeowners Association
Anchorage
The views expressed here are the writers' own and are not necessarily endorsed by the Anchorage Daily News, which welcomes a broad range of viewpoints. To submit a letter under 200 words for consideration, email letters@adn.com, or click here to submit via any web browser. Submitting a letter to the editor constitutes granting permission for it to be edited for clarity, accuracy and brevity. Send longer works of opinion to commentary@adn.com.