Proud union member

I’m not a stupid person, and I recognize and accept the need for many reforms. I’m a taxpayer and am as disgusted by my $12,000 property tax as anyone. But I resent the way Gov. Chris Christie demonizes teachers (I am not one) and public employee unions.

I understand why teachers balk at the idea of merit pay. As a nurse, I worked under that system and watched all full-time employees get one raise while part-timers got a lower one. That’s based on merit? I also remember working next to a brand-new RN with no experience who was hired for $3,000 a year more than me after I had been employed at the same facility for eight years. The hospital claimed it needed to pay more to attract new nurses, but there was no consideration given to present employees.

Because of those experiences and others, my coworkers and I organized and joined a union more than 10 years ago. I am proud to say I am a union official and have been trying to locate the horns Christie implies are on my head. I make no apology for negotiating contracts. I still make less than my peers who work in the private sector, but I am able to say that at least we had good benefits and a pension. Let’s see where that it going to go.

Barbara Egger, Stirling