Guest columns and op-eds are great ways to get our message out

By BERRY CRAIG

AFT Local 1360

There's not much we can do to change the anti-union editorializing of newspapers.

But Tim Donoghue, president of the Northern Kentucky AFL-CIO Central Labor Council, emailed us a good example of how we can effectively get our message out in the media: via guest columns or op-ed articles.

The Community Recorder, a local paper in Tim's neck of the woods, gave Dave Stadtmiller his say in a guest column. He focused on the three union busting-bills the GOP-majority legislature passed at warp speed early in this session: "right to work," prevailing wage repeal and a measure to make it harder for some unions to collect dues through payroll deduction.

Stadtmiller wrote in response to state Rep. Sal Santoro's recent article touting the bills. "You hailed all the great things you did for Kentuckians, but didn't give any details of what these laws were about," he challenged the Florence Republican.

Stadtmiller pointed out that under a RTW law, non-union workers at a unionized jobsite "don't have to pay the union for its work on their behalf. The effect of this will be to bankrupt the unions and give the employees no recourse against their employers."

He added, "without a union you will see a decline in wages, benefits, and fairness in the workplace, quite an accomplishment for the first week in session and a huge detriment to the working men and women of Kentucky. "

He called the paycheck deception bill another "huge loss for unions and the rights of workers in Kentucky."

Turning to prevailing wage repeal, Stadtmiller wrote that "if the union is no longer negotiating wages for workers that give them good pay for a day's work, the Kentucky worker is hurt yet again."

At the same time, Stadtmiller said that Republican lawmakers "give huge incentives (tax breaks and loans) to corporations to move here and take advantage of the worker's plight.

"Mr. Santoro, I believe that if this runaway trains continues to be unchecked, Kentucky will be a 'leader for America’ in what to do in a race to the bottom.

Stadtmiller also called out state Sen. John Schickel, R-Union, for complaining in an article "that he had to attend an ethics and sexual harassment class that took three hours. He introduced a bill to knock it down to 1/2 hour. He doesn't believe that he should have to attend since lawmakers should have 'good values.'"

But Stadtmiller suggested that "The White House failures to give basic ethics classes is what caused Kellyanne Conway and Michael Flynn problems. I just want to know why a state senator feels he is above any ethics training because he has 'good values,' which only serve him and his beliefs, not those of all Kentuckians."

The column ran at the top of the page--the prime spot--and came with Stadtmiller's photo and a brief note that identified him as a computer consultant and former union member.

Take it from this old--67--newspaper reporter. Guest columns and op-ed pieces are far more effective that a letter to the editor. They show a paper believes the writer has standing in the community and has something worthwhile to say, even if the paper disagrees with the writer's opinion.

Readers see guest columns and op-ed pieces the same way.  

So, the next time you want to write a letter to the editor on a union topic, why not call up the paper and ask if the letter can be run as a guest column or op-ed piece? Identify yourself as a union member. If you're an officer, say so. Offer to furnish a good head-and-shoulders photo of you.

Unless the paper's editor is an outright union hater, the odds are he or she will give you a green light, especially if the paper is small. Anyway, if you get a red light, your letter is your fallback.

But whatever your write, keep it short--about 500 words--and to the point. Cite facts to strengthen your argument and don't engage in personal attacks on a legislator or an organization, as tempting as it might be.

We're happy to offer tips and advice on how to write effectively for your local newspaper and how to get better coverage in your local media. Just drop us a line at bcraig8960@gmail.com.