November 8, 2011Dear Sir,To all the idiots out there for the last time, the 1981 strike had nothing to do with the hotels. It was to do with the underpaid government workers who fought and won the raises that they received. And every other worker in Bermuda wages went up in conjunction with that award the government workers division got. So if you think that that 1981 strike was so bad for Bermuda. All of you go to your bosses office and tell him that he can prorate your wages back to what they would have been prior to that ‘81 strike.And also all of those benefits that you take for granted. Like sick leave, vacation pay, pensions, bereavement leave and maternity leave all came through the struggles of the BIU and its members. Which is mostly made up of blue collar workers. So yes, you may think you have arrived because some of you now may have a nice so-called white collar job and can talk down to another Bermudian worker. So you didn't just wake up one day and all of the niceties of that fancy job that you now have was given because your bosses where such nice people. They had to be forced to give you all those things you now take for granted.And no I am not now a BIU member but I will never forget the importance of a union. Whether it be an employees union or a bosses one. Yes the bosses have unions. In fact they have more unions than their workers ever will. The workers on any job have to go through all kinds of trials and tribulations to become union members. Whilst the bosses belong to several at the same time and nothing is said.The Bermuda Employers Council, Chamber of Commerce, BIBA, Bermuda Hotel Association, Bermuda Construction Association just to name a few are all unions. But I don't hear any of you clowns saying that these unions days are over. All a union is two or more gathered for the same cause. And for all of you who are married get a divorce if unions are so bad.The biggest difference between the bosses unions and the workers unions is that the bosses meet on a regular basis, whilst the workers only want to get together in times of trouble. That is why the companies can get a concession on duties and employment tax. Because they approach the government with one voice. As they say in unity there is strength.So until the bosses in Bermuda fold up their union’s tents there will always be a need for workers’ unions in Bermuda. So workers not just in Bermuda but worldwide you better stick together because your bosses are. United We Stand Divided We Fall.LESLIE SMITHSandys