I have serious issues with the published article from Michael Reagan in the Feb. 24, 2011, issue of the Tribune.

Obviously these thoughts come from a man born with a silver spoon. I am not good with a pen and pencil and I don’t own a computer.

What I do possess is something politicians should work on: common sense.

My greatest issue is about public unions holding Ohio citizens hostage.

It is overlooked that with enough “yes” votes, little debate and a drop of the gavel, legislators can issue raises to elected officials that union members can only dream of.

How do you think elected officials’ salaries got to where they are today? I guarantee it was not collective bargaining.

As a former negotiator for my local union I can tell you in a past administration we negotiated eight months for a 22-cent raise.

In another past administration, we received no raise for two years of a three-year contract.

The third year we gave back a 25-cent negotiated raise while the then-mayor accepted a $5,000 state mandated raise. Now how’s holding who hostage?

Larry Wells

AFSCME Local #771

Ironton