Even if the staff of the Reading Eagle are loth to find numbers to support their facts, at least one letter-writer gets the idea, providing better journalism in Berks.
Steve Simone’s letter-to-the-editor June 17 uses numbers to blow away the two Republican county commissioners’ argument that project-labor agreements keep workers out of Berks and lead to harassment and intimidation.
It’s an issue that has caught a lot of attention as conservative Republicans beat their anti-union drums across the country.
In a story May 30, Commissioner Christian Y. Leinbach, a Republican, said project-labor agreements are "a threat by labor union leadership. If you don't sign, you're going to face intimidation and harassment.”
Many reporters would follow up such a charge with a request for examples of intimidation and harassment.
In the article May 30, Commissioner Mark C. Scott, a Republican, said companies are not coming to Berks and job opportunities are being lost because of the influence of organized labor.
But Eagle reader Steve Simone provides facts:
“Since 2000 there have been about 126 publicly funded projects valued at $500,000 or greater put out for bid in Berks. Of those 126 projects 86 have been awarded to nonunion contractors who come from outside the county. An examination of private contracts yields similar results.”
And Simone clearly understands the importance of good local newsgathering:
“Shame on the Reading Eagle for printing these obviously incorrect statements without any follow-up. Your failure to challenge or attempt to verify only serves to legitimize these opinions that results in a great disservice to your readership.”
I hope the Eagle’s leaders understand this and work harder to hold officials accountable for their actions and statements rather than simply providing a platform for their dogma.
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