n The Daily Free Press’s editorial “Unions Must Compromise” (pg. 6 1-14) is appalling.

How can you possibly prioritize politics over peoples’ lives?! Every day, these families are fighting to survive. They can’t even pay for both groceries and heat.

How can children possibly stay focused on school under such circumstances (distraught parents, no electricity, etc.) due to political oppression? Yes, both sides need to compromise, but unions have a history of it – in fact, negotiation and unions go hand-in-hand. The issue is that the government will not take the time to sit down and talk. How can compromises and agreements be reached if one side will not come to the table?

Right now there are thousands of families in the Boston area trying to hold it together as they wait (some for over a year) for the government to engage in discussion and create new contracts.

I’m sure these union members love the city of Boston and wouldn’t wish harm on it – they are the foundation of this city. However, they’ve been forced to resort to possibly picketing the Democratic National Convention. They wouldn’t be this desperate had the government cooperated. If the Democratic Party and/or city officials are humiliated, it is their own fault for putting off the talks.

The editors of The Daily Free Press were misguided and indecorous to even suggest that these people should sacrifice their own well-being in the name of politics and for the reputation of the city.

Courtney L. Bajdas

CAS ’04

The writer’s father is a member of the United Auto Workers union.